Top Franchises on AOL

According to this article, in its recent release of the top searches for franchise opportunities, businesses that offer fitness services and the opportunity to live a healthier lifestyle have entered the top 10 most searched for business opportunities in the competitive franchise arena, which included such well known brands as McDonald's, Subway and Denny's. The growing Colorado-based Fitness Together Holdings, Inc., the world's largest wellness company, made the list with its two franchised business models: Fitness Together® (www.fitnesstogether.com), the world's largest personal training organization; and elements therapeutic massage® (www.touchofelements.com), a massage therapy concept. Scott Wendrych, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Fitness Together Holdings, Inc. said that "In today's economy, people want proven brands for career opportunities that also promote a better society. Today, we are realizing a record number of new people interested in owning their own Fitness Together® or elements therapeutic massage® business."

Fitness Together® began franchising small personal training studios in 1996, has awarded more than 600 franchises and now has 419 fitness studios open nationwide. The massage therapy franchisor has sold more than 100 franchises in 18 months and now has 55 massage studios open in 19 states.

How One Franchise Remains Optimistic in Hard Times

Despite the economic climate, one health franchise continues to expand internationally and attributes its success to a well thought out franchise model. According to this article, Curves is the ninth most successful franchise company in the world and they are setting their sights on Australia despite the growth their of copy cat fitness centers. Curves' founder Gavin Heaves states that, "we have a very affordable program. You know they may quit the expensive gyms, but Curves at $59 a month is one dinner out that you don’t do. So, if we as an organisation continue to go out there and say that your health is important and that they can take 30 minutes three times a week and it were actually a very affordable form of recreation, then … we actually do well during tough economic times and personally I’ve been around for 15 years, so I’ve been through a couple of recessions and if you are proactive and remind the business operators … they really have the power to maintain their business." Interestingly, Curves is quite vocal about its selection of franchisees. "we sell Curves one at a time to usually women that have numbers that are passionate about the programme and the other guys tend to sell them to investors or pretty much anybody who will put up the money. So, we’ve been able to create a community of support with 10,000 locations in 65 countries that stood the test of time."

California Franchisor Expands in Down Economy with New Franchise Locations

Based in Brandon, Florida, i9 Sports is a Franchisor of youth sports leagues, camps, and programs in over 100 locations and several states nationwide. The California franchise is opening new locations each month and apparently participation by youth leagues continues to grow. According to this article, company Founder/CEO, Frank V. Fiume says: "History shows that regardless of the economy, kids play sports. As a business, this is a very attractive aspect of our franchise." He adds, "We work hard and play hard -- but it's all for the love of the i9 Sports brand. The passion that our franchisees and customers share is contagious. It's the ultimate career."

California Franchisee Fitness USA enters Franchise Agreement with LA BOXING

Fitness USA Inv, a health and fitness gym, is the wholly owned subsidiary of Montana Mining Corp. The company has entered into a franchise agreement to "become the exclusive franchisee of LA BOXING for the Beverly Hills/Brentwood area of Los Angeles, California, US" according to this article.

One California Franchisee's Success in a Slow Economy

Shawn Crawford's path to franchising was a result of not wanting to wait out whether his job as director of operations for a physician group was going to be eliminated as the economy took a turn for the worse. He researched opening his own gym but according to this article, "when he started looking into the costs involved in such a venture he became discouraged, that is until he came across some research that showed huge growth potential in health and fitness franchising." From among the various fitness franchises he researched, the Californa Franchisee settled on Snap Fitness, a Minnesota-based fast-growing franchisor of 24/7 fitness centers in the United States and Canada. He is pleased with his success and plans to open a second club in April of 2008. His advice to potential franchisees is to "do some investigative work. Talk to a business broker, pick up and read copies of Entrepreneur and the Wall Street Journal, and when they’re ready to proceed contact a franchisor like Snap Fitness directly. Most franchisor Web sites provide rich information about the business model, financial requirements and much more, and they grant access to executives and franchisees during your discovery process."