FRANCHISE: Fitness Together
FRANCHISEE: Kathie Kilpatrick, Toronto
www.fttoronto.com
A
bout three years ago, fitness pro Kathie
Kilpatrick was crunching the numbers and planning to open her own club when she saw a newspaper item about Fitness Together fran- chises. Aſter speaking with the company’s Ontario re- gional manager and visiting its head office in Denver for one of its “Discovery Days,” she was quickly sold on the company and concept. “I was really impressed with the executives I met,” she says. “They were all for- mer successful franchisees and smart as whips.” Kilpat- rick, who opened her club in 2007, paid $34,000 U.S. for
the franchise and estimates that her total investment is about $200,000.
One of the big benefits of being a franchisee, says Kilpatrick, is ongoing sup- port provided by the head office: quarterly marketing programs, promotion ideas, direct marketing materials, website support, telecon- ferencing support and discounts through preferred suppliers.
“I’ve heard some horror stories about other non- fitness franchises, but I have to give Fitness Together an A+. They’ve delivered on everything they’ve said they would.”
While there will no doubt be more
franchisors appearing on both the U.S. and Canadian scenes, it is still mostly buyer beware, as in any business deal- ing, when it comes to franchising. This is not to say that successful franchi- sors will not take hold in some provinc- es, most notably those where there is more affluence and higher population numbers. In some cases, franchising can be
very beneficial to both parties. In the best of situations, franchisees have ac- cess to a branded company identifica- tion; don’t have to create their own sys- tems; benefit from management and employee training; and have access to researched and selected equipment, services, clothing, etc., often at discount- ed prices. But, in other cases it can be a nightmare for the franchisee. If you’re considering becoming a franchisee, I ad- vise you give it considerable thought. FBC
Michael Scott Scudder operates Club
Management Education & Training Online [CMETO], an internet-based consulting and train- ing service specializing in delivery of education- al webinars, management training and club con- sulting. Contact him at 505-514-0294, on Skype at michael.scott.scudder or at michaelscotts-
cudder@yahoo.com.
FIT RENDEZVOUS IS BACK!
Network, Rejuvenate, & Learn at Western Canada’s biggest fitness conference:
50 plus workshops in everything—from yoga to step to spin cycling—led by the industry’s best presenters.
2009
Mount Royal College, Calgary May 22–24
register online at: www.provincialfitnessunit.ca
of Alberta
March/April 2009 Fitness Business Canada 33
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