In 2003, Peter Taunton had a vision to give consumers a fast,
convenient and affordable workout alternative to traditional "big
box" health clubs and entrepreneurs a practical model to run their
own business. The result was Snap Fitness, a fitness franchise
featuring the same great equipment and workout experience as full
service clubs, in locations close to home with no contracts and
access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Roughly six years later,
and he has grown the company into the world’s fastest growing
fitness franchise, with nearly 2,200 locations open and under
development in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand,
India and the United Kingdom. While the company has continued to
grow through the years, Peter’s commitment to providing both
members and franchise owners with new tools and programs to help
them achieve results.
In 2010, Peter was named Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the
Year,” in recognition of his vision and dedication to making Snap
Fitness the industry leader for compact, state-of-the-art fitness
franchises worldwide.
Before founding Snap Fitness, Peter owned and operated five
America's Fitness Centers in Minnesota. He continued to build and
expand the business over the next 10 years, adding four fitness
centers to the chain, before ultimately deciding to sell his clubs
in order to spend more time with his family and pursue new
aspirations in the fitness industry.
When he's not running his business, Peter spends much of his time with his wife Kristin and children Max, Sunny and Beau. A professional racquetball competitor for eight years - partnering with identical twin Paul - he was once ranked 2nd nationally. He enjoys golfing, travel and giving back to the local community.
BeTheBoss - What is the Snap Fitness franchise opportunity all about?
Peter Tauton – Snap Fitness is the fast,
convenient and affordable workout alternative to traditional “big
box” health clubs. We offer no contracts and 24/7 access to all of
our locations, providing high-quality workouts in a clean,
comfortable environment. For entrepreneurs, we provide a proven,
turnkey business model that is easy to own, easy to manage and easy
to market. In 2009, Entrepreneur Magazine listed Snap Fitness as
the top fitness franchise in North America, and one of the top 5
best new franchises overall. Best of all, 60 percent of our
franchisees are semi-absentee owners, allowing you to keep your day
job.
BTB - Who is your ideal candidate for a Snap
Fitness franchise?
PT - Our turnkey systems make it easy for
anyone to become a Snap Fitness franchise owner, regardless of past
fitness or franchising experience. Or year-round training and
support will provide all the tools you need to become a successful
business owner; all you have to do is follow the
system.
BTB - What type of training and support do you
offer Snap Fitness franchisees?
PT - Pre-grand opening training at Snap Fitness
corporate headquarters. Continuing education through online
newsletter, webinars and phone conferences. Additionally, each club
has a dedicated Franchise Account Manager who serves as their
direct line to the corporate office, allowing them to get help and
information on everything from marketing and sales to
operations.
BTB - What are some of the advantages in being a
Snap Fitness franchisee?
PT - Our clubs appeal to men, women and
families in equal numbers. The competitive advantage lies in the
fact that we are giving customers exactly what they want: quality,
value and convenience at a more affordable cost than larger,
full-service health clubs.
BTB - Are you a member of any
Associations?
PT – Yes, we are members of both the Canadian Franchise Association and the International Franchise Association.
BTB - Tell us a little about the fitness industry market?
PT - Fitness is in. The percentage of people
belonging to health clubs has doubled over the past 20 years. More
growth is expected, fueled by an aging Baby Boomer generation in
search of eternal youth and the reality that regular exercise can
prevent or control diseases that are driving health care costs
relentlessly upward.
Economically, the industry has proven to be recession-proof,
averaging an 8% annual growth rate since the early 1990s.
The health club industry's fastest-growing segment is the 24/7
express fitness segment - and Snap Fitness is the segment's
leader.
BTB - How successful is your company today and
what are your future growth plans?
PT – We currently have 2,200 locations sold worldwide, with clubs in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, India, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. We plan to open sell 200-300 new locations in 2011, and have no plans of slowing down in the near future. Additionally, we are introducing new programs and products, designed to give members more value for their money while creating new revenue streams for our franchise owners.
BTB - What are your franchisees saying about the business?
PT – Our franchisees are happy with the level
of support they receive from our corporate office, both with their
marketing and day-to-day operations. Additionally, they are excited
to see Snap Fitness looking towards the future and continuing to
grow both upward as well as outward to support the long-term
success of our owners as a whole.
BTB - What advice do you have for someone looking
to acquire a Franchise?
PT– The three biggest tips I would give to
someone looking to acquire a franchise would be examine the
infrastructure, in order to make sure the company is set-up for
sustainable, long-term success; identify trends vs. fads in order
to ensure that you’re investing in a concept with longevity as
opposed to a hot-today-not-tomorrow fad of the moment; and find a
concept that motivates you. If you’re not motivated to get up every
morning and really actively work to make your franchise a success,
it probably isn’t the right concept for
you.
BTB - In your opinion, why do you think that Snap
Fitness would be a great opportunity for someone?
PT – Snap Fitness is a great opportunity for any entrepreneur looking to partner with a leader in their industry. Additionally, our business model is perfect for anyone who wants to keep the security of their full-time job, own a semi-absentee ownership business with as few as 1-3 employees, open multiple units and get involved with a healthy concept at an extremely affordable investment level.
