Long Island entrepreneur Josh York, 30, quit his 9-to-5 job at a marketing firm a few years ago, trading in business suits for sweat suits and becoming a personal trainer.
A well-toned lightbulb went off in York”™s head one day in 2008 when a customer mentioned her schedule was so busy that she wished a trainer could show up at her doorstep with fitness equipment.
York took the first steps of starting GYMGUYZ, a mobile personal training business, tapping into a $15,000 savings account and setting out to bring the gym to his customers. He saw it as a way for people to save time and gas, get a work out in without worrying about crowds and still have enough energy to carry on the rest of their day.
York”™s first business investment was a white Ford E250 van, which he bought at an auction in 2009. With what was left of his savings, he refurbished the van, created a design and logo for the exterior, and stocked the interior with everything from dumbbells and jump ropes to trampolines and kick-boxing gear.
To promote his fledgling business, he dropped off flyers at businesses around Long Island, and even spread the word at swimming pools, places of worship, schools, children”™s birthday parties and corporate offices.
As York advertised his personal training classes, he received multiple phone calls. His fleet of vans grew rapidly to serve 800 clients.
“In a couple weeks, it got so crazy,” York said. “I was fully booked. I wanted to get another van, so I ran the numbers and decided in three weeks I can save enough money to get it. I made a connection with a guy from Pennsylvania, who brought down these vans, cleaned them and set it up. I had to put in the racks and a floor, but once we got the next van, we hired another employee and another and kept growing.”
In five years, York bought 12 vans that travel throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties in Long Island, Manhattan and Queens.
Two months ago, GYMGUYZ took the next step, offering franchises. The company awarded franchises in 14 territories to one franchisee in Westchester County, N.Y. York said he has interest from as many as 24 potential franchisees in Connecticut. The potential franchises could end up in Danbury, New Fairfield, Weston, Greenwich, Stratford and Shelton.
To start a GYMGUYZ franchise, one must have a minimum of $35,000 net worth and $25,000 of liquid capital, York said. The franchisees must also attend mandatory discovery days where they engage in a two-day session of meeting the team, learning about the business, seeing the van and watching a presentation at the GYMGUYZ headquarters in Plainview, Long Island.
All GYMGUYZ trainers must be nationally certified by going through six weeks of educational training. Every staff member and trainer must take classes in etiquette. The company offers nutritional advice and motivation. Each client”™s program is individualized based on 15 different tests. The trainers go through nutritional, fitness and body assessments to test their body structure, endurance, cardio and range of motion.
“We have weekly staff meetings with two to three staff going through every client”™s progress,” York said. “We put them on machines and modify the program to get them the TLC ”” tender love and care. We really want to make sure all our clients get that ”˜wow”™ experience.”
A GYMGUYZ franchise investment ranges from $49,575 and $94,200, depending on the size of one”™s business territory. York said his company offers financing up to half of the initial franchise fee of $20,000 at 8 percent for the first 12 months. Based on 60 weekly sessions, clients purchase packages ranging from $69 to $88 per hour.
Clients can purchase the GYMGUYZ package, which comes with 10 sessions for $80, including one free session. The package prices drop to $69 after purchasing 100 sessions. Group prices range from $15 to $60 per person. For more information visit www.gymguyzfranchise.com.
