Health and Fitness Center

Startup Costs: $100,000 +
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.
Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

The Epic Health and Fitness Franchise is a 24-hour model with a laser focus on results through affordable and flexible personal training, nutrition planning, competition prep coaching, weight loss, general fitness guidance, and proper fitness equipment.

Ask the Experts: Ryan and Kelly Unger, Founders and CEOs of Epic Health and Fitness

Is the Health and Fitness Industry growing?

The industry is growing, especially with emphasized awareness of the importance of health in the past few years and the influence of social media.

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What are the current trends in Health and Fitness, and what type of person is a great fit to try this?

The trend is that people are more interested in their health. Because of the recent pandemic, people don’t like to be in overcrowded gyms, so mid-size gyms are in more demand.  The most important characteristics would be a passion for health & wellness, excellent customer service skills, the ability to sell themselves, and a desire to help others. If you've never run your own business, a franchise may be a good option because it comes packaged with everything to teach you how to do the best job for that franchise. You can learn a business model, but you can’t be taught personal effort and hard work.

How much money can a person expect to make in the first year and five years?

From year 1 to year two is about a 200% increase. After you’ve reached the maximum saturation of your area, a 20-30% growth for years two and on accounts for natural attrition.

• Boot camp instructor - $15-20K for the first year. $50-60K by year 5.
• Studio - $25 to 50K in year 1, $80K+ by year 5
• Twenty-four hours - $20 to 30K in year 1. $75-100K by year 5.
• Mid-size like Epic Health & Fitness - $40 to 50K in year 1. $150 to 300K year 5.
• Big box gyms - $50 to 100K in year 1. $300 to 500K year 5

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What kind of experience/training do you need to have?

It would be best if you had a nationally accredited personal training certification, a nutrition certification or license, or a four-year degree in health sciences or human movement. It would also be helpful to have a business background, AA, or bachelor's in business administration or accounting. When buying a franchise, however, you’re frequently taught all aspects of the business you need to know to run it successfully, with no prior knowledge. 

What do you wish you knew when you were starting?

The most important thing is to know that it comes in waves or cycles. Certain times of the year are much busier; for example - for new year’s resolutions, you get 40% of your annual business in the first two months. Other times of the year, breaking even is a win. Preparing for the slow times by making the most of the busy times will help ensure you make it through the year.

Who are your customers?

At Epic, our customers are goal-oriented, ranging from the novice beginner with modest goals to the most advanced fitness enthusiast with lofty goals. 70% of our membership is referral based, and the rest is due to an online social media presence.

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Are any resources you recommend valuable to get your business off the ground?

Lean on your franchisor if you’re going through a franchise, like Epic Franchise Systems, LLC. They will provide guidance and support to ensure you make the best possible decisions. If you’re going it alone, educate yourself on internet marketing, social media platform advertising, health and wellness knowledge, and business standards. Network in your area to grow your business and be successful.