At your Service - ALWAYS

Mike Carver Franchise Consultant 2025 Coulter Blvd – Suite 200 Chanhassen MN 55317 Office 1-800-981-7293 Fax 952.426.7161 Email mcarver@snapfitness.com cell 662-609-0967....... Be well

http://snapfitness4sale.blogspot.com/

Snap Fitness new clubs in Bangalore and Mumbai, India.

New club openings jump starts Snap's International expansion CHANHASSEN, Minn., July 24
CHANHASSEN, Minn., July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Snap Fitness, Inc., the rapidly
growing franchisor of compact, 24/7 express fitness clubs, today announced it
will open new clubs in Bangalore and Mumbai, India. The new clubs will be
owned and operated by Force Fitness India Pvt. Ltd., an experienced area
developer of fitness franchises in India.
"With people earning more money in India today than ever before, many have
an increasing propensity for spending their disposable incomes on ways to look
and feel better," said Deepak Lalvani, Director-Sales Snap Fitness India.
"For many of the workers in call centers and other business services that must
work unusual hours, there is great demand for a fitness club such as Snap
Fitness that is open 24/7, and emphasizes fast, convenient and affordable
workouts."
Founded in 2003 by CEO Peter Taunton, Snap Fitness offers fitness clubs
that emphasize fast, convenient and affordable workouts. A typical
2,500-square-foot facility features the same quality equipment as traditional
big-box health clubs, but in a smaller, non-intimidating setting and at a
fraction of the membership price.
Snap Fitness is experiencing phenomenal growth with more than 1,500
locations across the United States and Canada. Snap Fitness opened 86 new
clubs in the second quarter of 2008, has opened close to 200 new clubs for the
year. The company expects to close out the year with over 1000 locations open
with 2000 markets sold. In addition to the two new club openings in India,
Snap is looking to expand internationally throughout Europe, Latin America,
the Middle East and Asia.
The company is the leader in promoting member-friendly policies and
value-added benefits. It offers month-to-month memberships as opposed to
long-term contracts, and allows memberships to be frozen for up to three
months a year with no penalty. In addition, the company provides members with
a host of products and services, such as an Online Health Assessment and
customized supplements, designed to give members better results and more value
for their money.
"We are excited about the Force Fitness group joining the Snap Fitness
team, and even more excited to expand Snap Fitness on an international level
into India," said Taunton. "People all over the world are becoming
increasingly aware that health and fitness is a necessity as opposed to a
luxury. We are looking forward to fast growth in India and throughout the
Middle East, and plan to open 250 new clubs within the next five years
internationally."
About Snap Fitness, Inc.
Fresh off its #3 ranking on Entrepreneur Magazine's list of Top New
Franchises and recently ranked #1 on Franchise Market's Top 100 New Franchises,
Snap Fitness (snapfitness.com) is experiencing phenomenal growth with more
than 1,500 locations sold nationwide, newly-opened locations in Canada and
some 30-40 new stores added monthly. Founded in 2003 by CEO Peter Taunton,
the Chanhassen, Minn.-based franchisor offers compact, state-of-the-art, 24/7
express fitness clubs that emphasize fast, convenient and affordable workouts
in neighborhoods across America.
SOURCE Snap Fitness, Inc.

24-hour fitness facility and pay-as-you-go option, Snap Fitness is offering more flexible options for those wanting to work out.

Fitness facility offers round-the-clock workouts

With a 24-hour fitness facility and pay-as-you-go option, Snap Fitness is offering more flexible options for those wanting to work out.
It is part of a national chain based in Minnesota. Baton Rouge natives Diana Nobles, Keith Nobles and Bryan Belue spent $15,000 to purchase the franchise.
"We liked the concept and thought that it would be a great opportunity," said Diana Nobles about her relocation to Mississippi and new franchise investment.
The Ridgeland gym also has a no-contract policy. With month-to-month agreements, Snap Fitness sets itself apart from other gyms that lock customers into yearlong contracts.
Equipped with plated weights and cardio machines, Snap Fitness carries the latest equipment.
An entry card allows an individual access to any Snap Fitness center nationwide. The chain is projected to have 2,000 locations by the end of the year.
"Ninety percent of people that hold membership at the new Old Canton location live within two to three miles, which makes it easier for them to get in a quick workout daily," Keith Nobles said.
"We were sold on our first visit," said Nancy Germany of Ridgeland, who found out about Snap Fitness from an advertisement left on her door.
"The staff is so friendly and helpful, always taking time to show me how to use the equipment properly," she said.
Rates at the center, which opened June 23, start at about $1 a day for individual 30-day plans.
For more information, call Snap Fitness - located at 7048 Old Canton Road, Suite 1004, Ridgeland - at (601) 383-4445.
Each week, The Clarion Ledger features new, expanded or recently relocated businesses in the Jackson metro area. at (601) 961-7137.

Franchise fee of $15,000.

http://www.snapfitness.com/club_locator/index.cfm

Franchise fee of $15,000.

I always wanted to own a Fitness business

H. Jackson Browne:
Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is.

Fitness is one of the major components of living a healthy lifestyle

Fitness
Fitness is one of the major components of living a healthy lifestyle. The benefits of exercise go well beyond just looking good. Your body, internally and externally, as well as your mind benefit too. When you exercise, you release stress, you strengthen your cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal systems and you release endorphins (happy hormones), all of which helps to promote a happier, healthier you who feels great and looks good too!
. The benefits of exercise go well beyond just looking good. Your body, internally and externally, as well as your mind benefit too. When you exercise, you release stress, you strengthen your cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal systems and you release endorphins (happy hormones), all of which helps to promote a happier, healthier you who feels great and looks good too!

Trust

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. Mother Teresa - Challenges - God -

To have passion, to have a dream, to have a purpose in life. And there are three components to that purpose, one is to find out who you really are, to discover God, the second is to serve other human beings, because we are here to do that and the third is to express your unique talents and when you are expressing your unique talents you lose track of time.Deepak Chopra - Life - Passions - God - Skill - Time

When we find inspiration, we need to take action for ourselves and for our communities. Even if it means making a hard choice, or cutting out something and leaving it in your past." Aron Ralston

"And in life, it is all about choices we make. And how the direction of our lives comes down to the choices we choose." Catherine Pulsifer, from HONESTY. . . A Core Value?

"In every single thing you do, you are choosing a direction. Your life is a product of choices." Dr. Kathleen Hall, from Alter Your Life: Overbooked? Overworked? Overwhelmed?

Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice." Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

We all need to decide whether to "play it safe" in life and worry about the downside, or instead take a chance, by being who we really are and living the life our heart desires. Which choice are you making? Charlie Badenhop

Lean Times Have Little Effect On Fitness Industry

Monday, July 14, 2008

Lean Times Have Little Effect On Fitness Industry
“In today's sinking economy, many businesses find themselves tossing services and workers to remain afloat. The fitness industry, on the other hand, seems to be wading through the tides effortlessly, as new gym owner Drew Schlosser proved, opening Snap Fitness May 30. The gym already has 300 members. ‘It’s been kind of like a phenomenon,’ said Schlosser, who co-owns Snap Fitness at 20041 S. Tamiami Trail in Estero. Schlosser said he and his partner looked into different businesses, such as restaurants, but after more research realized fitness was the way to go. ‘We wanted to make sure we were in an industry that's growing.’ According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, U.S. Fitness industry revenues have increased by 5 percent from $17.6 million in 2006 to $18.5 million in 2007. U.S. Health clubs have increased by almost 1 percent from 29,357 in 2006 to 29,636 in 2007. But club membership has decreased almost 3 percent, from 42.7 million members in 2006 to 41.5 million in 2007. Regardless of the decrease people are still spending money to get fit. ‘When times are tough there are certain mainstays people are going to gravitate to,’ Drumm said. ‘One is the bars - the bars are not going to be empty - and the other is health clubs.’”http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/BUSINESS/807140314/1075
Posted by IHRSA at 7:44 AM

How Snap Fitness Works

How we work to make you successful from Day One
Financing
One-stop qualification analysis and loan approval - with no need for a business plan
Build-out
Site selection assistance, including demographic studies and lease negotiation
Project managers to help you plan, design and build out your club
Turnkey installation of flooring, equipment, signage, security system and more
Pre-negotiated deep discounts and extended warranties with approved vendors
On-site equipment training
Grand Opening
Turnkey promotional campaign - including materials and a proven game plan
Training - in person at our headquarters, including sales, marketing and operations
Operations
Automated member billing and collection - with direct deposit into your account
24/7 web-accessible video surveillance of your club - check-in wherever you are
Marketing & Sales
Turnkey, year-round promotional campaigns with media-planning assistance
Back-end fulfillment system enabling customized production of your materials
Automated, personalized member communications systems to improve retention
Unique products and services to build sales, increase retention and create new revenue streams
Fitness Programming
Personal training program development - with all revenues shared within your club
Turnkey promotional support for personal training initiatives - to build revenue
Quarterly Fitness Adventures that motivate members to exercise and win prizes
Ongoing Training & Support
Free, toll-free Success Coaching program to support sales and revenue growth
Free, toll-free club support service team to resolve operational issues quickly
Year-round schedule of webinars on sales, operational and customer service issues
24/7 access to password-protected portal with best practices and management tools



WHY SNAP FITNESS? WATCH the MOVIE

http://www.snapfitness.com/club_locator/video.cfm

"BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY"

Snap Fitness adds facilities
7/3/2008 8:50:51 AMNEMS Daily Journal
BY DENNIS SEIDNEMS Daily JournalTUPELO - With the multi-billion dollar fitness industry growing about 8 percent a year, it's no wonder many see a vast business opportunity.One of the newest players is Snap Fitness, based in Chanhassen, Minn. Having opened its first franchise in 2004, the chain has grown to nearly 1,400 locations, including 14 in Mississippi. Nine more are scheduled to open this year in the state.Snap has been named among the top franchise operations by several business magazines, including Entrepreneur, Franchise Market and Success.And in Northeast Mississippi, two more of the 24-hour fitness centers have opened, one in Saltillo and the other in Tupelo.Franchise owner Rick Jones, who has several other Snap locations, said the business model is simple:"It's convenient and it's affordable," he said. "And once you're a member of one, you're a member of all Snap Fitness Clubs."For Jones, the Tupelo location is his flagship.It sits in the former Berkline/BenchCraft Furniture showroom near the Mississippi Complex of the Tupelo Furniture Market. Snap fills about 6,500 square feet of the 21,000-square-foot building. "We have plenty of room to grow, and we're already talking about what we might do," said Tupelo Snap General Manager Thomas Cain. The club features Cybex equipment, free weights, 50-inch flatscreen televisions and stand-up tanning beds.There are no showers available, however.Jones said Snap pushes "quick and convenient" and shower facilities aren't part of the program - at least for now.Cain said response to the Tupelo club - and Saltillo, too - has been favorable in the nearly two weeks they've been open."We've got about 200 agreements - that's very good," said Cain, who added that Jones likes to "think outside the box" when it comes to designing his Snap Fitness locations."He adds some of his own ideas, too, and it really shows," Cain said.For example, the typical Snap club is about 3,000 square feet. The Tupelo location is more than twice that, and the Saltillo club is 4,000 square feet."I go larger, I put in cut-pile carpet, I add big-screen TVs, and I make this a big production," Jones said. "We do it up right."Memberships are on a month-to-month basis, but longer term contracts are available.
Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 7/3/2008, section B , page 6

Affordable Easy to market Easy to manage 

The Snap “SWAT” Team pulls up in company-owned trailers to equip and complete the build out of your club – a unique service not offered by competitors

The secret to success in a slow economyComments 0 Recommend 0
July 11, 2008 - 8:58AM

ARA Content
(ARA) - "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness." In the first few lines of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens was referring to conditions in the years leading up to the French Revolution; but he could just as easily have been writing about society today.
While we live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, many Americans have in some way been negatively affected by problems with the current economy. The credit crunch has persisted despite aggressive Federal Reserve interest rate cuts; retail sales are down; thousands are concerned about losing their homes due to the sub prime mortgage crisis; and gas is so expensive, a lot of people have been forced to park their cars for the foreseeable future.
As if those problems weren't bad enough, many Americans go from day to day fearing they may lose their jobs. For Shawn Crawford, 38, of Brownsburg, Ind., a suburb of Indianapolis, you could say the writing was on the wall. He used to be the director of operations for a physician group that operated 30 doctor's offices across the state of Indiana.
"I was responsible for set up, business development and customer service," he says. "At first I found the job very rewarding, but once the economy started to get bad and the rapid expansion stopped, it reached a point where I feared my own job was about to be eliminated."
Instead of waiting around to see what would happen, Crawford decided to follow his dream to start his own business. In July of 2006, he quit his job with the physician's group and became a consultant; but spent every spare moment researching business opportunities.
"I wanted to do something that would capitalize on my experience and help people at the same time," he says. "I figured people want to look good, feel good and be healthy, so why not open a gym?" But 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. According to the International Health and Racket Sport Club Association, while the average growth rate for fast food franchises stands at 20 percent, the fitness sector's five-year growth has been an impressive 144 percent.
There are a lot of health and fitness franchises out there, but the one Crawford decided to go with was Snap Fitness, a Minnesota-based fast-growing franchisor of compact, state-of-the-art 24/7 fitness centers in Canada and the United States. "The thing I liked best about Snap initially was their business model was pretty much turn-key," says Crawford. "Unlike a traditional business start-up which would have required a lot of research, development and capital investment on my part, they did all the work for me."
After he paid his franchise fee and found the perfect location, Snap Fitness provided the blueprint he needed to follow to get his business up and running. He was assigned a project manager who helped him every step of the way.
"The process was laid out and very easy to follow," explains Crawford. "Snap provided everything I needed to get started - plans for the club design, access to vendors who would sell me the right equipment at a deep discount, all the tools I needed to set up my company Web site and the marketing materials I needed to get the word out."
Snap also provided the financing, and today handles billing, security and other operational and marketing support for Crawford's club, which opened for business in October of 2007 and now has about 900 members.
When people ask him for advice about franchising, Crawford advises them 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 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.
"We understand what a big decision opening a franchise can be, and that's why I personally meet weekly with prospective franchisees to answer questions and help them make a decision that's right for them," says Snap Fitness CEO Peter Taunton.
"I followed the plan Snap gave me, and I'm quite pleased with my financial success, says Crawford, who is set to open his second club sometime in April of 2008.

Open for Business Snap Fitness Leaves the Lights On BY JOSEPH BEDNAR
David Garvey, left, says club members enjoy the individual attention they can receive at Snap Fitness.
Not everyone works a 9-to-5 work schedule, David Garvey said. So why should everyone have the same scheduling options when choosing a gym?
That’s the philosophy behind Snap Fitness 24-7, a national chain of workout centers that stay open all the time, catering to fitness enthusiasts morning, afternoon, and well into the night.
In fact, said Garvey, who opened the Snap franchise in Holyoke six months ago, there are plenty of third-shift workers — policemen and restaurant employees, to name a few — for whom working out at 2 or 3 in the morning is nothing unusual. And while some women might be hesitant to go to a fitness club in the wee hours, he said members can wear a necklace with a device that connects with Snap’s security system and can summon police or fire responders.
“It’s a high-profile section of Holyoke and a very safe neighborhood,” he said of the gym’s location in a small shopping plaza on Westfield Road, not far from the Holyoke Mall. “Initially, some people worry about security, but once they check us out, they tend to feel comfortable in this environment. I’ve left at 9:30 at night, and a few women are there working out, and they’re not bothered by it. Actually, it’s like their own private club.”
Garvey said he made it a priority to choose a well-trafficked neighborhood, “rather than putting one in the middle of nowhere,” because of those security concerns. “We’ve really caught on with people in this section of Holyoke, and we continue to grow.”
In this issue, BusinessWest examines why, in this age of massive workout centers, the benefits of a smaller, more personalized gym experience has Garvey excited — and has his members showing up at all hours.
Perfect Fit
Garvey, who grew up in Easthampton, has always been interested in fitness, but it took him more than a decade to turn an inspiration into a working business.
“I’ve always been — well, I don’t want to say a gym rat, but exercise has always been an important part of my life,” he said. “I played a number of sports in high school and college, and I still play hockey, and I cycle. This was always a passion I had.”
When his brother, who owns a couple of gyms in California, became ill in 1995, Garvey went to the West Coast for awhile to help run his facilities, and decided that was the sort of business he’d like to eventually pursue.
Garvey’s original goal was to open a big-box fitness center in the Eastworks complex in Easthampton, but after 18 months of planning, that idea was scuttled over parking and other issues. He still wanted to be in the fitness business, but as he regrouped, he noticed a trend.
“All of a sudden, the industry shifted, where you saw these smaller types of facilities start to get popular, and the ones with the 24/7, convenience factor,” he said. Two chains dominate the always-open market: Anytime Fitness and Snap Fitness, and Garvey decided Snap was more in line with what he was looking for, particularly the policy of no contracts to financially commit club members long-term.
“A contract is a turnoff. I’m selling a service here,” he said. “This model doesn’t lock me in so that I say, ‘this member’s here for two years, and isn’t going anywhere’ — so I go out of my way to keep my members happy. They laugh because I’m always cleaning, but they appreciate that. They know that, after someone takes a shower, I go clean the shower. You don’t find that in many facilities.”
As for the location, “I did my due diligence,” Garvey said. “I have a background as a commercial appraiser, and as I searched for a property, I wanted something in a mixed-use, light-retail area, not a major mall, something that would draw people from a one- to three-mile radius, who could drive, walk, or ride a bike. This is a neighborhood gym, and our membership is an indication of that, although we’re also drawing from Southampton and Easthampton.”
Snap Fitness sees a mix of demographics, Garvey said, with a customer base that includes some high-school and college students but skews more toward professional people.
“I have two clients, who are 76 and 78 years old,” said Mark West, the gym’s personal trainer. “Then we have college-age people and everyone in between. Generally, the we get someone for whom Curves is no longer an entry point; they’re looking for the next level, but they’re still looking for a cleaner, smaller, more personalized workout space. This is a highly personalized environment, and the place has a neighborhood feel to it.”
West centers his workout philosophy around locating someone’s strength core and basing a program around that. He calls it ‘integrated strength training’ — looking at the body systemically and training it as an integrated system.
“It’s an approach that’s very different from what people might be accustomed to,” he explained. “It’s not about sending someone to a machine and counting reps. A trainer has to be more focused and make diagnostic assessments. There’s a learning curve, and the exercises get steeper; it’s not something you’ll master in three sessions. It’s about working smarter, not harder, and once people figure out how to work out according to their body’s abilities, they realize their workout can be more productive.”
Get Moving
Snap boasts a range of weight-training and cardiovascular equipment, and all new members get an exhaustive consultation to determine what sort of fitness program would suit them best. There are no large exercise classes, but West facilitates small-group and individualized training sessions for those who want them — and like the membership itself, it’s pay as you go.
“David understands that personal training should be the focal point of a gym,” West said. “It’s not about selling smoothies and handing out towels; it’s about caring for your membership. He sees this as an integral part of the business.”
Garvey would like to expand to other franchise locations, but for now he’s growing steadily in Holyoke — the gym is up to 340 members now — without the constant pressure to add membership that, he said, tends to afflict larger workout chains.
“We’re not driven by numbers, like some of the big boxes are,” he stressed. “We’re more service-oriented, and the model sells itself; my best advertising is word of mouth. It’s not for everyone, but some people are looking for something different — they want to spend an hour, do their cardio work and stretching, get in and get out without waiting in lines. They love the convenience factor, and there’s no heavy sales pitch.
“I’m not trying to knock on the big clubs,” he insisted. “But we’re offering an alternative for people. It’s a newer model, and it’s taken some time, but it’s starting to catch on.”
Joseph Bednar can be reached at bednar@businesswest.com

Established Fitness Franchise Adds Brawn of Findley Group
June 9, 2008 - Featuring more muscle power than ever before, Snap Fitness has found a new workout partner that is getting the chain “in-shape” for unprecedented international growth. The fast, convenient, affordable 24/7 fitness chain with locations across North America and Canada, today announced a new partnership with the Findley Group, the Waco, Texas-based, leading franchise development company led by Gary Findley, former President of Curves International, who was responsible for taking the chain from just a handful to several thousand units worldwide.
“Fitness was a large part of my life, even before I was the president of Curves, so it is exciting to be able to add the first fitness franchise into the Findley Group mix since we launched in 2005,” said Findley, whose Findley Group currently represents a wide-array of franchise concepts. “Snap Fitness is already the leader in the “express” fitness center niche domestically due to their affordable investment price and remarkably low overhead; and, through this partnership, we will be able to bring the opportunity to new international locations.”
Peter Taunton, founder and CEO of Snap Fitness has brought on Findley’s franchise development group as the fitness chain’s exclusive international franchise development team. The pair of fitness and franchising industries’ icons has joined forces to plan for the mature concepts’ strategic global expansion. Additionally, the Findley Group will also assist in developing franchises in the United States, drawing on their proven expertise in the domestic market.
“We are excited about the potential that lies ahead,” said Taunton. “In addition to Gary, his team of experts has more than 150 years of combined experience in franchising. Snap Fitness is thrilled to be matched with the perfect partner to take us into the next phase of our development process.”
Due to the uniqueness of Snap Fitness’ model, the concept has taken the franchising world by storm. Since its start in 2003, Snap Fitness has grown to over 1,500 units in the United States and Canada. From 2006 to 2007, the company grew at an astonishing 750 percent and current company projections call for the chain to top 2,000 units sold by year-end 2008.
“Consumers were starved for a workout destination that was less intimidating than the traditional big-box health clubs yet just as state-of-the-art,” Taunton said. “Our guests can find the typically 2,400-square-foot facility in their local neighborhood, walk right in any time of day using their keycard, and workout on professional-quality equipment at a fraction of the price of other chains. It’s like having a personal gym a few minutes away.”
About Findley Group
Findley Group is a strategic partner to franchise businesses providing customized solutions through all phases of a franchise’s development. Founded in 2005, Findley Group is led by the former president and franchise-builder of Curves International, Gary Findley. Under Findley’s direction as president, Curves International experienced growth in franchises from 3 locations in 1996 to more than 8,000 in 2004. Currently, the Findley Group is working with several innovative and exciting companies who have unique offerings for today’s marketplace. For more information, please visit www.FindleyGroup.com.
About Snap Fitness
Snap Fitness is the convenient workout destination everyone can afford. Ranked 1st on the 2007 Franchise Market “Top 100 New Franchises” list, Snap Fitness is experiencing phenomenal growth with more than 1,500 locations sold nationwide, newly-opened locations in Canada and some 30-40 new stores added monthly. Founded in 2003 by CEO Peter Taunton, the Chanhassen, Minn.-based franchisor offers compact, state-of-the-art, 24/7 express fitness clubs that emphasize fast, convenient and affordable workouts in neighborhoods across America