Kirstin Field and Hayley Edwards have successfully transformed Anytime Fitness Midvale into a thriving business, so much so that they recently took out the Turnaround Club of the Year title at the gym franchise’s annual awards ceremony.
The pair invested in the Midvale gym in September 2012, and they are set to open a second club in Baldivis in 2015.
The decision making process
Kirstin and Hayley opted for a franchise for peace of mind. “For us it was about having the security of investing in a well-known fitness brand, having a framework to work with, the support of our franchisor and access to ongoing training as well as the system for operating our business day-to-day,” says Kirstin.
They decided to invest in the Anytime Fitness model by virtue of its focus area and flexibility. “Firstly it was about choosing a franchise that would fit with our own passion, which is health and fitness.
“Secondly the brand and franchise model had to fit in with being able to operate our business with our young families alongside us. Anytime Fitness ticked these boxes for us and with a low staffing model in place franchisees have the flexibility to be able to work in the business, work on the business or both,” she explains.
Kirstin notes the pair enjoys a number of benefits as Anytime Fitness franchisees, including:
- Access to a wealth of information via their intranet dashboard
- Access to training and development for both themselves and their staff
- Access to local and international annual events and conferences, which enable franchisees to come together to network and share their experiences
Due diligence tips
Seek advice from professionals yet also conduct your own research, says Kirstin.
“Get professional advice from your accountant and solicitor.
“Read as much information as you can about owning your own franchise, read all of the franchisor documents and agreements and speak to as many franchisees as you can,” she explains.
“Do your homework and ask lots of questions from the franchisor and operating franchisees.”
Funding the investment
“Our funding came from a combination of our own capital, bank loan and finance leases,” Kirstin recalls.
“It took us approximately 18 months to achieve our return on investment (ROI).”
Running a successful club
Kirstin says recruiting the right staff for the business can prove challenging, however she and Hayley are confident in their existing management team.
“We now have an amazing team in assistant manager Jamee Roads and club manager Aaron McNamara, who was awarded Club Manager of the Year at this year’s Anytime Fitness awards.
“Employee development and recognition is very important to us and it is something we continue to support so that our employees can grow personally and professionally.”
Aaron and Jamee run the gym on a day-to-day basis; meanwhile Kirstin and Hayley take care of the administrative side of things. “Hayley and I both have young families so our day starts with getting the kids off to school.
“Each day varies greatly and consists of supporting and managing our staff, attending to emails, planning, marketing, attending meetings and more,” explains Kirstin.
She adds the pair has clearly defined responsibilities. “Hayley and I have our own delegated roles which reflect our strengths, and we also work together for our planning and decision making.”
From her own experience, Kirstin has learned to be successful franchisees need to:
- Be hard working
- Have strong people skills
- Be organised
- Be open to learn from others
- Take the positives and apply them to their own business
The training and support
“Our franchisor provided the initial franchisee training and we have ongoing support from our franchise consultant, who is always quick to answer any questions or provide advice,” says Kirstin.
She adds Anytime Fitness facilitates both ongoing training and networking opportunities multiple times a year. “Our franchisor provides quarterly training for owners and staff along with state forums for owners to come together in each state and work together by sharing thoughts and ideas.
“These types of ongoing training and forums really help us in our business as the content is kept up to date with our market and competition.”