Start a ISI Elite Training Franchise in 2025

2025 Franchise 500 Rank: #431 Ranked #473 last year

Initial investment: $397K - $682K

Units as of 2024: 42 223.1% over 3 years

The first ISI Elite Training gym opened in South Carolina in 2011. By the time the fifth ISI Elite Training company-owned location opened in 2018, the brand decided it was time to begin franchising the concept. Since doing so, ISI Elite Training has opened several franchises throughout the United States.

The initials “ISI” stand for "Iron Sharpens Iron,” a quotation from the Book of Proverbs.

At an ISI Elite Training franchise, gym members work hard to reach their peak fitness through tailored programs.

Why You May Want To Start an ISI Elite Training Franchise

In general, gyms have high drop-out rates. People start training with the best of intentions, but many don't last very long. ISI Elite Training has put a lot of effort into solving this problem. Its programs are challenging, but each workout session is different, and the training regimen rotates to work on different sets of muscles.

Members complete a 50-minute workout that burns around 1,000 calories, and clients are constantly monitored and motivated by ISI Elite Training trainers. An ISI Elite Training client should feel that they are a part of a bigger community. This sense of belonging is reinforced by monthly seminars that focus on general health and wellness.

Opening an ISI Elite Training franchise may offer a more predictable outcome than investing in a completely new brand that could struggle to thrive in an already crowded and competitive industry.

What Might Make an ISI Elite Training Franchise a Good Choice?

A franchisee with ISI Elite Training must share the values of the brand. They will need to motivate their team, interact with clients, and push their team to grow. While an ISI Elite Training franchisee can hire a team manager to manage their location if they choose, they should be fit and healthy and lead by example.

ISI Elite Training prides itself on the quality and depth of its franchisees' support and training. Franchisees attend a discovery day as part of the application process. During the discovery day, franchisees take part in a typical training session. This gives them a real feel for the business and what clients gain as they exercise at an ISI Elite Training franchise.

How To Open an ISI Elite Training Franchise

To be part of the ISI Elite Training franchise team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. As part of your due diligence, you may want to speak to existing franchisees and ask the ISI Elite Training franchising team questions.

As you decide if opening an ISI Elite Training franchise is the right move for you, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if an ISI Elite Training franchise would do well in your community. While competition is healthy, too much of it may not allow for the most possible growth.

Company Overview

About ISI Elite Training

Industry	Health & Wellness
Related Categories	Fitness
Founded	2011
Parent Company	Relentless Brands
Leadership	Adam Rice, Founder & CEO
Corporate Address	5601 77 Center Dr., #215 Charlotte, NC 28217
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2019 (6 years)
# of employees at HQ	16
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.
# of Units	42 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a ISI Elite Training franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$60,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$396,600 - $681,900
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$300,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$200,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	$5,000 off first-unit franchise fee; $5,000 off franchise fee for additional units
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	7%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	2%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	10 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	ISI Elite Training has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	24 hours
Classroom Training	35 hours
Ongoing Support	Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	6-12
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes