Why Fitness Premier Makes a Great Franchise Investment for Veterans

Fitness Premier offers entrepreneurs from all backgrounds the chance to build their own business while making a meaningful impact in their communities. The rapidly growing full-service gym franchise is particularly appealing to veterans, thanks to its emphasis on leadership, teamwork and serving others. With a comprehensive support system and a people-first mentality, Fitness Premier provides veterans the opportunity to transition into business ownership and continue serving others.

One such veteran is Jeff Moore, a former Navy SEAL with an extensive military and fitness background. After years of owning his own gyms and working in corporate fitness, Moore found that Fitness Premier’s mission resonated with his values. 

“I held mid-level positions in corporate fitness and it was a great learning experience, but it was more about numbers, numbers, numbers, and not people, people, people, which is what I got into this for,” said Moore.

After owning his own gyms and holding regional management positions with larger companies, Moore was looking for something different. It was through a close friend that he was introduced to Fitness Premier.

“A good friend of mine knew the guys in Chicago with Fitness Premier and said, ‘Hey, you need to meet these guys. You’re really going to like them,’” said Moore. “I went up and immediately struck up a great rapport. I found that the level of support and help they give to their franchisees is amazing — it’s beyond anything I’ve ever seen in the industry.”

Moore quickly realized that Fitness Premier’s mission aligned perfectly with his own values, making it an ideal next step in his career. 

“As I’ve gotten to know Jeff better, I think it’s a combination of his sense of mission and his desire to see others succeed that really drives him,” said Rick King, vice president of Fitness Premier. “He loves fitness, of course, and has succeeded in the industry for twenty years before coming on board as a franchisee. But at this stage of his career I see him wanting to leave a successful legacy in this business, just as he did after serving our country for all those years.” 

Military Experience as a Foundation for Franchise Success

Moore’s extensive military background provided him with the leadership skills necessary for his success as a franchisee. He believes that the discipline and teamwork ingrained in veterans make them ideal candidates for franchise ownership.

“I have an extensive military background as a tier-two operator for many years,” said Moore. “I learned a lot about what a leader should look like, the difference between a leader and a boss, and how to build and develop a team.” 

These are qualities that veterans, through their military training, already possess and can bring to the table in franchise ownership. As someone who values leadership over management, Moore shared that he seeks out potential leaders to build strong teams.

“I don’t ever hire bosses. I hire leaders or potential leaders,” said Moore. “I’m looking for people who can embrace teamwork, growth and development — things veterans are already ingrained with.”

Fitness Premier’s comprehensive support system is one of the reasons Moore believes the brand is an excellent choice for veterans. The company takes care of the back-office tasks, allowing franchise owners to focus on member engagement and growth.

“They take care of all the back-office tasks, like payroll, billing, HR, IT systems — you name it,” said Moore. “This frees us up to be on the gym floor, helping members meet their goals instead of being stuck behind a desk.”

King notes that the franchise gets involved from the very beginning, helping with everything from site selection, construction, equipment, to all the way through full operations. 

“The most important part, I’ve found, is the ongoing training of our veterans to learn the business, tap into the transferable skills they learned while serving and apply them to the gym business,” he said. “This is where the alignment between the military and the gym business comes into play, and that requires almost daily communication to ensure success.” 

A Path for Veterans to Continue Serving Their Communities

Owning a Fitness Premier franchise offers veterans a unique opportunity to continue their mission of service. Moore is passionate about community involvement and believes Fitness Premier provides a perfect platform for veterans to give back.

“I’m very much a community-oriented individual,” said Moore. “I’ve sponsored Little League teams, T-ball, soccer — and I had my company name on the scoreboard at the high school football field. Fitness Premier allows me to be involved in the community in a way that really makes an impact.”

This is something that inspired Fitness Premier to actively recruit veterans as franchise owners. 

“Our initial inspiration came from our great respect and admiration for those who had served and consider our veterans to be true heroes,” said King. “Knowing the military mindset is one of service and community, we felt it was a great fit for the fitness industry in general — but Fitness Premier in particular — because we truly are part of the communities we serve.”

For veterans considering franchising, Moore highlighted that Fitness Premier’s people-first mentality and support system align well with the skills and values veterans bring to the table.

“I truly believe if you go in every day and help as many people as you can, the money takes care of itself,” said Moore. “Fitness Premier buys into that 1,000%. It’s not about the numbers — it’s about helping people, and everything else just falls into place.”

This means veterans can seamlessly transition from serving their country to serving their local communities, creating a lasting impact through fitness and wellness.

“I’ve seen a common thread among several of our veteran owners,” said King. “It’s almost a sense of obligation to serve others that seems to drive them. Being part of the community is also important because they can contribute — participating in a parade or charity work and the like. They simply want to provide the community with a place to go where nothing bad happens. Only good.”

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/fitness-premier.