Overcoming the Challenges of Owning a Fitness Franchise

Snap Fitness is a global brand with huge potential. One of our keys to success is putting our members and franchisees at the core of everything we do. As part of our proven fitness franchise business model, we work collaboratively with our franchise partners to ensure operational excellence while overcoming the challenges that can come with new business ownership.

We work to diminish the usual industry conventions that gyms are intimidating and competitive by proving fitness can be done differently and better. We bring this friendly, non-competitive focus to every aspect of our franchise opportunity, from marketing and messaging to how we work with club members.

When you franchise with us, you’ll leverage a wealth of knowledge and expertise in all areas of your business to provide the most inclusive and supportive fitness environment to members of every level of experience. You can count on our support every step of the way: we’ll help you avoid many of the common pitfalls new business owners can face so you can build a thriving club of your own.

What Fitness Franchise Challenges Can You Expect?

Like any new career or job position, as a new business owner, you must be prepared to face some challenges along the way. At Snap Fitness, we get it – we’ve continuously evolved our franchise model because it’s all about simplicity of operations for owners. We’re invested in our franchisees and want to see you succeed, so we’re ready to help you face any franchise challenges that come your way.

We believe collaboration is integral to our success, so we work closely with our franchisees, giving them the support they need to get started and thrive. You’ll have all the tools and resources required to deliver a great service to your members. 

We have an established global network that offers our franchisees access to industry-leading infrastructure and a wealth of experience, enhanced by the business expertise and in-market knowledge offered by our regional support hubs. Every franchisee is guaranteed a robust support system from the very start and at every stage of their journey with us. 

Some of the common challenges to owning a fitness franchise include competition, securing the best location, building and retaining a solid membership base, managing employees, managing bookings and payments, multitasking, and maintaining your well-being. For Snap Fitness franchisees, you can rest assured we’ve found solutions to help you overcome these challenges!

1. Competition

It seems like there are new niche or boutique gyms and fitness centers opening all the time. You’ll need a strong concept and the backing of a leading franchisor to stand out from the crowd, and who better to offer a one-of-a-kind opportunity than Snap Fitness? 

With our decades of experience and unique approach to fitness, we’ve built strong brand awareness and recognition over the years in order to stay competitive. Our convenient, welcoming gyms offer members 24/7 access to premium equipment in a mood-lifting atmosphere with a universally inclusive and supportive approach.

We keep franchisees ahead of the competition by understanding changing market conditions and using that information to continually evolve and improve our franchise model. We’ve introduced new and exciting products and services for our members so they can continue to improve their health and fitness on their own terms in a non-competitive setting and at a valuable price point.

2. Location, Location, Location

Location can be a challenge for any type of business, and a fitness franchise is no different. Securing a good location is essential for success, so we’ve assembled a team of in-house property experts to help you find and develop the right sites. 

We offer franchisees project management support where our team will introduce you to national contractors who can design the space and provide layout suggestions for equipment. We’ll review contractor bids with you and attend site visits during construction. 

Regarding equipment, we’ll provide access to our preferred vendors with whom we’ve established broker relationships, including Matrix, Cybex, Tru Fitness, and Techno Gym. You can save up to 35% with our vendor-negotiated deals compared to retail offerings. Plus, vendor representatives can assist with installation and training on new equipment, as well as offer multiple financing and leasing options.

3. Gaining Members

We’ll help you keep members satisfied, bring in regular revenue, and avoid customer churn with a wide variety of strategies to help you build and retain a solid membership base. Snap Fitness franchisees benefit from our brand awareness and recognition, in addition to global access, best-in-class equipment, value-added technology, loyalty programs, personalized marketing plans, and more. 

Members choose and stay with Snap Fitness because our franchisees provide premium, easy-to-use equipment that elevates their in-gym experience at all of our locations worldwide. Our value-added technology includes instructor-led classes, heart rate monitor tracking, and our Snap App, which enhances our step-by-step approach, enables deeper, all-around health interactions, and promotes long-term retention.

We encourage loyalty with a full recognition program, a communication schedule, outside-club benefits, a special member activities calendar, and gamification through leaderboards. By tracking progress and keeping benefits at the front of our member’s minds, we help them connect to our clubs with the supportive feeling of being part of a community.

Finally, our marketing support includes pre-sale, launch, and continued marketing efforts to keep your gym on the front foot. We provide personalized marketing plans and materials, digital marketing platform management, lead nurturing, presales, grand opening event logistics, opening day, and ongoing marketing plans.

4. Staffing and Managing Employees

We help franchise owners avoid employee hiring and retention issues by providing them access to the best candidates through our recruitment partners to build an effective team. We’ll also provide comprehensive training for you and your team.

5. Managing Bookings/Payments

As a Snap Fitness franchisee, you’ll have access to payment processing and management software that makes it easy to manage bookings and payments. 

6. Operations

With over 20 years of experience, you have our full support every step of the way. Your personal Franchisee Support Team Member is always available to ensure you have the insights and assistance to run your business effectively. Plus, you’ll have our network of over 500 locations in the US and Canada for peer-to-peer support.

We provide an initial 90- to 120-day proof of concept (POC) for all departments, customized pre-sale support, Snap University education course, and tailored business planning support for your grand opening and beyond.

7. Maintaining Your Well-Being

It’s not all worth it unless you can keep yourself healthy, too! You’ll have our continuous support with ongoing operations, coaching, and marketing, so if problems ever arise, you can count on us to help you make it right. We’ll help you achieve your goals and surpass them when it comes to scaling your business, so you can rest assured that when the time comes to expand, you’ll be more than ready.

Whether you’re looking to expand your existing portfolio or turn your passion for fitness into a profitable career, Snap Fitness offers an exciting opportunity to break into the growing global health and wellness market. We’re seeking ambitious, service-oriented entrepreneurs who share in our mission and appreciate the commercial opportunity that results from helping people in your community discover a lasting passion for an active lifestyle. 

Contact us today to learn more about franchising with Snap Fitness and why you should consider our fitness franchise opportunity.