We recently celebrated the huge milestone of opening 50 Alloy Personal Training clubs. Having these up and running is a big achievement for us as we shoot for 100 open at the end of the year. We have already awarded 274 franchises.In this episode, Rick and Suzanne reflect on the lessons picked along the way up to this point.One of the lessons from the open franchises is the importance of leadership. We've seen that the top 30% of performers in our franchise are those who excel in leadership.This involves attracting, hiring, and leading the right group of people and leaning into the business when needed. Leadership is important because fitness is a people-facing business, and the ability to lead effectively can make or break your success.We've also learned that the owners who are willing to lean in and take an active role in their business tend to do better. This commitment to their business trickles down to their teams.Listen in for some of the lessons we have picked as we continue to grow and thrive.Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Leadership is key to franchise success. (02:37)Balancing support for franchisees (08:19)Scaling the corporate team (17:42)Maintaining company culture as the team grows (25:07)Cultivating a relational approach in franchise partnerships (29:55)Additional Resources- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, Rick asks Matt 7 questions about why he does what he does and what he says are the keys to success for franchisees.Matt is Alloy’s VP of Studio Operations and the main franchise business coach.These questions reveal the core of what drives Matt in his role, the challenges he faces, and his strategic insights into fostering successful franchisees.Matt's biggest challenge working with franchisees is getting them to focus on the core processes and operations of the business rather than getting distracted by secondary issues or things outside of their control.He finds it's easier for franchisees to try to generate more leads than to have tough conversations and look inward at their own processes and retention.If Matt could give franchisees one piece of advice, it would be to take a true interest in their actual teams and the communities they serve.He believes franchisees need to be actively involved in their business and understand what's happening with their team and members in order to have a real pulse on the business.Tune in to hear Matt’s perspective on what it takes to succeed in a franchise business. Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Matt’s background (00:25)Importance of consistency in franchising (04:07)Biggest challenges in franchising (05:19)Focus on main business processes (06:14)Teaching and training effectiveness (09:27)Following Alloy programming (12:14)Advice for franchisees (15:04)Future vision for Alloy (16:34)Additional Resources- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

One of the common questions people looking into buying a fitness franchise have is whether they can run it remotely.In this episode, Rick is joined by Casey Kelley, who is a consistent top performer in Alloy's franchise system.He has mastered the art of managing a top-performing gym three hours from home and is here to share some of the lessons he has picked along the way.To effectively manage a franchise remotely, you'll require a pretty good understanding of key metrics and the ability to make data-driven decisions.Another important point is building a culture of support within the business hierarchy, where leaders support managers, who in turn support their teams, ensuring clients receive excellent service.Rick and Casey also discuss the challenges and solutions in hiring the right people, maintaining accountability, and creating opportunities for growth within the business.Tune in to learn about Casey's strategic vision for scaling his business, his innovative management techniques, and the exciting future he envisions for his franchise.Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Importance of support culture (02:27)Casey’s transition from engineering to fitness (06:08)Managing a business remotely (11:09)Key metrics and dashboard insights (15:44)Future growth plans (18:48)Importance of vision for employee growth (21:29)Learning and adapting through different business phases (24:04)Additional Resources- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on  Apple Podcasts!

Mark Fisher isn’t your ordinary fitness guy; he is an accomplished leader and owner of the successful Mark Fisher Fitness in Midtown Manhattan. He also runs Business for Unicorns, a successful gym owner support system.With his experience and industry knowledge, he has chosen to add an Alloy Personal Training Franchise to his businesses.In this episode, he talks with Rick to share his reasons why he bought an Alloy franchise. One of the biggest advantages he points out is the scalability of the model.Franchises provide a blueprint and a proven system that takes the guesswork out of running a business.Franchising isn't a magic bullet. It requires dedication to a specific system, which is challenging for fitness entrepreneurs who have successfully run their businesses before.Tune in to learn more from the rock star himself on the advantages of going the franchise route!Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)The unique culture and branding of Mark Fisher Fitness (06:01)Business for Unicorns (12:09)Mark Fisher's decision to join Alloy Personal Training (16:39)The challenges faced by fitness professionals in a franchise system (20:34)The importance of operational skills and community in franchising (21:45)Mark Fisher's personal development journey through franchising (26:25)Additional ResourcesConnect with Mark FisherBusiness with Unicorns: https://businessforunicorns.com/Mark Fisher’s Gym: https://www.instagram.com/mffclubhouse/?hl=en—--- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Cail Morrison understands a thing or two about the franchising industry. He has been involved in the industry practically all his career in various roles.His time at Anytime Fitness and later at doggy daycare franchising at Camp Bow Wow provided him with a broad perspective on the franchising industry.He was responsible for consulting with franchise owners and helping them grow their businesses. During this time, he developed a strong understanding of the industry and the challenges that franchisees face.He is now involved with Alloy Franchising as a franchise and Franchise Sidekick, focusing on building community-centric businesses. This episode is valuable for aspiring fitness franchising and anybody who wants to understand how the franchising industry works as a whole. Tune in!Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Cail's background in fitness and personal training (04:21)Transition to Anytime Fitness and business growth (07:36)Experience at Camp Bow Wow (17:01)Success with Stronger U Nutrition during the Pandemic (19:30)Choosing Alloy franchise with a focus on trust and experience (26:05)Perspective on being a franchisee (34:14)Importance of resilience and continuous effort (42:27)Future plans and goals (45:10)Additional Resources- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

We’ve heard Suzanne Robb, the COO here at Alloy Personal Training, talk about operations and other concepts in the business, but in this episode, she shares her journey to get here.Starting out as a microbiologist, she soon realized that her passion lay elsewhere. Even though the job was intellectually stimulating, she found it socially isolating.She helped her husband set up a medical practice before joining Alloy, first as a client and eventually as a business partner.In this episode, she is interviewed by Melissa LeEllen and Jesse Biondi of the Reimagine Success podcast about her journey, the evolution of the Alloy Personal Training Business to the current franchising model and all the lessons in between.  She also shares her rewarding experiences as a respite foster parent. Tune in!Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Transition from microbiology to business (01:31)Launching the licensing business (04:56)Transition to franchising (07:23)Impact of COVID-19 on the business (09:47)Resuming franchise awards post-pandemic (12:20)Building a supportive community (17:23)Legal challenges in franchising (29:16)Preparing a business for franchising (36:37)Celebrating business successes (51:40)Additional ResourcesConnect with Suzanne: LinkedIn—--- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, we get to hear from Alloy’s COO, Suzanne Robb. She was interviewed by Cameron Herold on the Second in Command podcast.The COOs position is important for the success of any business, and Alloy is no exception. Suzanne works closely with Rick to help Alloy stay true to its core values and main goal. Their complementary skills facilitate strong leadership and a clear division of responsibilities.So far, Alloy has awarded close to 250 franchise locations. 45 of these are already open. 85 others are in the process of opening. This has been a huge success despite the challenge of launching the franchise just before the pandemic disruption of 2020.We get to hear from Suzanne on what it takes to grow a fitness franchise from the perspective of the COO. She talks about what it takes to ensure franchisees get all the tools and support needed to succeed.Tune in for a COO's perspective on building a fast-growing fitness franchise and get to know more about Suzanne Robb!Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Personal training business model and franchising (01:59)Franchise sales and support for franchisees (8:48)Onboarding franchisees with a focus on training and culture alignment (13:43)Navigating franchisee stages, roles, and responsibilities (17:58)Entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth (22:38)Additional ResourcesConnect with Suzanne: LinkedInConnect with Cameron: LinkedIn—--- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

The franchise fitness space has so many options, which makes standing out from the pack a challenge.But Rick built the successful Alloy Personal Training fitness franchise by taking a unique approach, focusing on a niche market with a scalable model and a selective franchisee selection process.Alloy’s story began with a proven fitness concept that thrived corporately for years. He saw a gap in the market for personalized, small-group training specifically targeting active adults aged 45-65.This demographic is often underserved by traditional gyms or large group fitness classes.This focus on quality personalized training over mass classes makes it perfectly scalable and allows us to replicate the success across franchised locations.Tune in to this episode as Rick is interviewed by Michael Benso of the Sweat Success Podcast on the strategic decisions behind Alloy's franchise success.Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Importance of aligning individuals with suitable roles (14:43)Significance of evaluating leadership background in candidates (20:37) Overview of the franchise process leading to Discovery Day (23:15)Emphasis on choosing the right partners and following a structured sales process (25:45)Calculation and optimization of session bookings (34:22)Balancing membership allocations and operational constraints (35:12)Importance of accountability in personal training (38:24)Additional Resources- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, Joe Steele interviews Rick Mayo on his journey from a personal trainer to a successful entrepreneur.He takes us through the evolution of the personal training industry, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the strategic decisions behind expanding Alloy into a franchise.In the early 1990s, personal training was not common at all. In fact, most people had not heard about it. Rick had to educate clients about its benefits.Rick’s business continued to grow and eventually transitioned from one-on-one personal training sessions to small group training. This was the key moment because he could now scale and also offer a better experience to clients.Fast forward to today, Alloy is a fast-growing franchise with numerous locations opening up. The journey to this point has been challenging but rewarding and Rick reveals it all in this episode.Tune in to learn of the strategic moves that led to the growth of Alloy and the lessons entrepreneurs can pick from them.Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Concept of personal training in the early 90s (02:15)Managing financial and psychological aspects of starting a business (05:50)Building a team and initial business operations (10:26)Balancing growth, time management, and financial goals (14:44)Evolution of marketing strategies over the years (19:50)Handling competition and staying ahead with innovation (24:17)Establishing and maintaining the target customer avatar (32:28)The decision to franchise and its implications (39:24)Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business (47:10)Lessons learned and future goals for Alloy (52:32)Additional Resources- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Entrepreneurship isn't always the dream job it's often portrayed to be. Elon Musk famously described it as "staring into the abyss while eating glass."In this episode, Matt and Rick break down this quote to discuss the real challenges of running a business. You'll learn what the "abyss" and the "glass" represent – the constant awareness of potential failure and the unpleasant tasks that come with leadership.We discuss why some entrepreneurs struggle: it's not always about having bad ideas, but often an unwillingness to consistently tackle the difficult parts of the job.We'll also share practical tips to help budding business owners stay motivated and navigate the inevitable "eating glass" moments – like leveraging support systems and focusing on your "why".If you're ready for a real talk about building your own business, tune in!Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Dealing with operational issues in entrepreneurship (04:16)Challenges of switching focus from creative to operational tasks (06:37)Leadership's role in handling personnel and operational challenges (08:08)The importance of accountability in management (11:16)Personnel issues as a core entrepreneurial challenge (13:27)Balancing entrepreneurial optimism with the reality of tough decisions (15:44)The impact of avoiding tough conversations on business health (18:17)Persistent problem-solving and resilience in business (20:10)Additional Resources- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!