Posted:19-March-2025
From Business Beginners to Thriving Franchise Owners
Starting a business can be daunting, but with the right support and belief in what you're offering, success follows. This is exactly what happened for Stephen and Gabrielle, owners of fit20 Plymouth Plympton.
Despite having years of experience in the fitness industry, they had never come across a concept like fit20, a revolutionary training method that helps people build strength in just 20 minutes per week. Fast forward five months, and their studio is thriving beyond expectations.
So, what made them take the leap and how has fit20 helped them turn their passion into a successful business? Here’s their story.
Why did you decide to invest in a fit20 franchise?
“The reason we decided to invest into fit20 was because, mainly, there was nothing else like it out there. fit20 doesn’t compete with anything within the fitness industry. It facilitates for the un-facilitated (those who don’t feel comfortable in traditional gyms or don’t have time for lengthy workouts).
The efficiency and safety of fit20, combined with its ability to push individuals to new levels of strength, is just a game-changer.”
What kind of support have you received from the fit20 Head Office?
“I can honestly say that without the help and support from the fit20 Head Office and fellow franchisees we wouldn’t have even made it to opening. We were complete beginners in business but were guided every step of the way.
From securing the right location and overcoming financial hurdles to launching an effective marketing strategy, the fit20 Head Office played a vital role in getting our studio off the ground.”
How has your growth been since opening?
“Our growth is way better than anticipated, but like I stated before, there are so many people that aren’t facilitated for by the fitness industry, making fit20 unique.
One of the biggest contributors to our rapid growth was leveraging local press coverage. We reached out to local journalists, inviting them to experience fit20 training firsthand. They naturally loved it and created some fantastic content on the studio. The video they shot, they even allowed us to use for free! This, alongside great marketing support from Head Office, is generating a significant number of leads. Our passion for helping people and love for fit20 is what converts them.”
Have you faced any challenges, and how did you overcome them?
“Yes, many. There were issues with the studio. We had no electricity into the property, meaning we could not open or go past a certain point of fitting out the property. We managed to negotiate a longer rent-free period with the landlord whilst this got sorted so it worked better for us in the end.
We had problems with our initial finance but the Head Office of fit20 were full of helpful ideas which helped us overcome the issues.”
If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?
“Check the electricity in the studio before you sign the contract (lol). Genuinely, I think that all we went through has got us to where we are now. I mentioned that we were beginners in business but with the help of fit20, by the time we opened and had overcome the obstacles we felt like business owners and were ready to tackle anything.”
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?
“If you truly believe in what you are doing, that will shine through in your work. If you are only in this for the money, that will shine through too.”
Inspired by Stephen and Gabrielle’s Journey?
If you’re ready to take control of your future and invest in a proven, science-backed fitness business, fit20 is here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us for more information...
Interested and want to know more about fit20?
The fit20 profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
