A Day in the Life of a Fitness Franchisee

When Samantha and Oliver Beltran were only 22, they already knew they wanted to start a business that was fitness related, but they weren’t quite sure where to focus their energy. Oliver went to school for kinesiology but dreamed of owning his own gym; Samantha, a certified yoga instructor, hoped to open a yoga studio. But after seeing the success of a Snap Fitness location in Oliver’s hometown, the husband-and-wife team was ready to join the dynamic fitness franchise industry, and they opened the doors to their very own franchise in Palestine, Texas, in November 2010.

Getting Started: Much of the Beltrans’ initial work was focused on getting members. The corporate office provided assistance with the grand opening marketing campaign by providing direct marketing materials such as direct mail, posters, and door hangers, but the Beltrans kept the momentum going by getting involved in their local community’s events and getting to know other business owners. “We worked hard to engage the community and create partnerships with local businesses in order to create a working relationship and cross-promote our club to their customers and vice-versa,” says Samantha. Their drive paid off and, within the first six months, the center already had more than 700 members.

The Personal Side: Although the Beltrans received ample training and support from corporate, they still faced a steep learning curve, especially in their first year. Despite being knowledgeable about fitness, they possessed no business management experience and had to quickly learn about paying taxes, managing their finances, selling memberships, and doing bookkeeping. And though their youth filled them with boundless energy, Samantha’s father had to lend a helping hand when their non-existent credit -- due to their age -- prevented them from leasing the equipment they needed.

A Typical Day: With staffed hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Samantha spends up to 35 hours a week in the club depending on the season, with January and February being the busiest months. When she’s not cleaning, giving tours, or teaching yoga classes, she’s out in the community marketing the business or behind the scenes working on the budget.

Secret for Success: “Our passion to succeed in fitness can be attributed to our background, but even someone with no fitness experience can run a fitness franchise,” says Samantha. “The systems and processes make it very turnkey and easy to follow, but you should definitely have a passion for fitness and helping people get results.”