Investing in your team – the importance of a strong franchise support office

As Snap Fitness continues to expand across the UK & Ireland, it’s essential that our support office team grows alongside it.

With an increasing number of locations and a strong pipeline of ambitious franchisees set to open, we are focused on continuing to provide comprehensive support at every stage of the journey.

This is why in the final quarter of 2024, we’ve welcomed five new team members to our support office, with four of these roles specifically created to meet the demands of our growth. Franchising thrives on partnership, and these talented new additions will play a crucial role in delivering enhanced support to our franchisees and their club teams.

But why is a strong support office so important? Our CEO Kevin Yates picks out his top five reasons:

1. They inspire confidence - people choose franchising over going it alone so they have a team of people that have the knowledge and experience to support their success. Our team collectively has vast experience across the fitness industry and their specialist areas, giving franchisees reassurance that they’re part of a franchise that knows what works and guides them on what to do and what not to do. This is why having no fitness industry experience is not a barrier to becoming a gym owner

2. They unlock unrivalled knowledge and connections - particularly in our world, a franchise support team also relies on its suppliers. Whether it’s finance, property or gym equipment, a strong support office will utilise best-in-class partners to help make your business the best it can be

3. Problem-solving – as much as we’d like it to be, it’s not always plain sailing in business! Unexpected challenges can arise and a strong support office will be on hand to provide solutions and advise you based on best practice and previous franchisee experiences

4. They keep you ahead of the curve - franchisors are responsible for innovating and adapting to changes within the market. Particularly in the fitness industry, you need to provide consumers with compelling reasons to join your gyms over your competitors. A strong support team will engage you in discussions around the evolution of the brand’s strategy and provide franchisees with updates, training, and tools to implement new products, or technologies, keeping the brand relevant. 

5. You’re never in it alone – the great thing about franchising is that if your franchisees are winning, everyone wins. A strong support office will always put your success first, monitoring performance to ensure you’re maximising your investment and getting the most out of your business and your team 

In essence, a strong support team is the backbone of any successful franchise, providing both structure and flexibility to maintain a successful, cohesive network of franchisees. This support enables franchisees to thrive independently while benefiting from the brand's established reputation and resources. 

Considering becoming a Snap Fitness franchisee? Request a free franchising information brochure at https://www.snapfitness.com/uk/why-franchise-with-snap-fitness.