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Ten years ago,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyclebarjoe/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=beachwood-oh-joe-purton-10-year-anniversary-2732058" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joe Purton</a> traded his two-decade career as a hospital system vice president and controller to pursue his lifelong passion for fitness. Knowing he wanted to own a business, he opened just the sixth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/franchise?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=beachwood-oh-joe-purton-10-year-anniversary-2732058" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CycleBar</a> studio in the country. What started as a leap of faith to escape a desk job has since transformed into a thriving fitness hub in the Cleveland area. Now, as he prepares to celebrate his studio's 10-year anniversary, Purton is reflecting on the business’ success and the community that’s supported him. Over the last decade, Purton has navigated multiple corporate ownership changes and successfully guided his studio through the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, his CycleBar studio boasts 450-500 active members, some of whom have been riding together since day one. Purton's career pivot a decade ago built much more than a cycling studio. It built lasting friendships and community.1851 Franchise sat down with Purton to unpack his career pivot and the lessons that have shaped his studio over the past decade. Here’s what he had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Joe Purton: I come from a finance and accounting background and I was a fitness cycling instructor back in college. It was always something I was passionate about and I took classes throughout my life, even after college. In my career, I was a vice president and controller of a hospital system here in Cleveland, and I was being groomed to be the next CFO of the system. I had worked for the organization for close to 20 years, and this opportunity gave me the opportunity to do some soul-searching. I decided that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life behind a desk. I wanted to do something I enjoyed, something I was passionate about, and I wanted to own my own business.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Purton: When I decided to start my own business, I knew I didn't want to start from scratch. I wanted something that was more of a turnkey model. I didn't want to have to create systems and do everything from the bottom up.&nbsp;1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Purton: I thought I knew a lot more than I actually did about franchising and running a business. I know a lot more now than I did then, and I still learn every day. It's definitely a work in progress.&nbsp;I am a hands-on owner/operator, and for me, that is the only way to succeed. It takes a lot of work. You're always trying to fine-tune and improve things as you go.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Purton:&nbsp;When I first found out about CycleBar, everything kind of fell into place. The thing I always tell people is you have to be passionate about what you're doing in order for it to be successful, and I've always been passionate about indoor cycling. It's kind of like a runner's high. I get a “cycling high” after taking a class. The other thing I like about it is that the workout goes by very quickly. It's 45 minutes that you get to unplug and disconnect, and it's an easy thing to get people hooked on because it's fun and healthy . We are also always trying to innovate by creating new formats of classes.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Purton: We always have goals in terms of memberships. We're already around 500 members and we want to surpass that. I think we could easily get to 600 by the end of the year. We also just brought on a new staff member who is going to be taking on more of the community outreach. I'm going to be doing more of the things that most owners do and not maybe working as many hours in the studio, working the front desk. I want to be able to dedicate more of my time to other more strategic initiatives.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Purton: When I first learned about CycleBar, the franchisors really didn't talk a lot about the community that would come out of it. That's one of the most fulfilling aspects of this business. . We have people who are still with us from 10 years ago, and people have formed relationships and friendships that go on to this day.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?&nbsp;Purton:&nbsp;I would say to definitely do your homework and be prepared to roll up your sleeves. Make sure that you know what you're signing up for. I would say don't expect to be a passive owner. You have to be willing to put in the work, and it will be successful if you put effort into it.About CycleBarFounded in 2004, CycleBar is the largest indoor cycling brand by number of studios and offers a variety of low-impact, high-intensity indoor cycling workouts, which are inclusive of all fitness levels. CycleBar offers an immersive, multi-sensory experience in state-of-the-art “CycleTheaters,” led by specially trained instructors, enhanced with high-energy “CycleBeats” playlists and tracked using rider-specific “CycleStat” performance metrics. Ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 six years running, Fastest-Growing Franchises in 2021 as well as Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 in 2020, CycleBar is headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, and backed by Extraordinary Brands, one of the leading franchisors of boutique health and wellness brands. To learn more about CycleBar, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cyclebar.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=beachwood-oh-joe-purton-10-year-anniversary-2732058" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.cyclebar.com</a>.

image of joe purton owner of cycle bar in Beachwood, OH

CycleBar Beachwood: Joe Purton Celebrates 10 Years of Fitness

1851 Franchise

Leaving behind a 20-year career in health care accounting, former cycling instructor Joe Purton opened the brand's sixth studio, building a resilient community in Beachwood, Ohio.

Why This Hospital System VP Walked Away from a CFO Promotion to Build a 10-Year Fitness Legacy with CycleBar

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<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/franchise">CycleBar</a>, the leading indoor cycling brand under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.extraordinarybrands.com/">Extraordinary Brands</a> umbrella is celebrating two of its franchisees achieving a full decade of wellness in their communities. Their starts in the franchise world looked different, but their experiences share the same core: a genuine care for people, the grit to push through tough times, and a firm belief that boutique fitness is here to stay.<h2>A Leap of Faith Turns Into a 10-Year Legacy in Beachwood</h2><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyclebarjoe">Joe Purton</a> changed course 10 years ago. After nearly two decades in healthcare finance, where he had worked his way into leadership and toward a chief financial officer path, he decided to leave and build something of his own.“I had worked for the organization for close to 20 years, and it really gave me the opportunity to do some soul searching,” Purton said. “I decided that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life behind a desk. I wanted to do something I enjoyed, something I was passionate about, and I wanted to own my own business.”That passion led him to open one of the earliest&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands/why-invest-now-2731440">CycleBar</a> studios in the country (just the sixth location systemwide) in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/location/beachwood">Beachwood, Ohio</a>.From the outset, Purton chose franchising. “When I decided to start my own business, I knew I didn't want to start from scratch,” he said. “I wanted something that was more of a plug-and-play type model… something where I could start with a road map that already existed.”Purton’s studio now has around 500 active members, and many have stayed with it since the beginning. As the business has moved through corporate transitions, changes in the category and the strain of the pandemic, he has stayed focused on building and protecting that sense of community.“They really didn't talk a lot about the community that would come out of opening a CycleBar,” he said. “That's one of the most fulfilling and great things that have come out of all of this.”That sense of community proved critical during the pandemic. “We rented out all of our bikes in the studio. People took them to their homes, and then we would film classes every day,” he said. “We kept everybody together while apart.”Now, as he looks ahead, Purton is focused on continued growth and working more strategically within the business. “We're already around 500 members and we want to surpass that,” he said. “I think we could easily get to 700.”Purton was direct about what it takes to make the model work: “Don't expect to be passive. You have to be willing to get your hands dirty and work hard… It will be successful if you put effort into it.”<h2>Revitalizing a Studio and Rebuilding Momentum in Berkeley</h2>While Purton built his studio from the ground up,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/morningstarryan">Ryan Morningstar</a> took a different path — acquiring and revitalizing an existing CycleBar location in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/location/berkeley">Berkeley, California</a>.After spending 15 years in the tech startup world, Morningstar was ready for something new. “I've been an operator and an entrepreneur in the tech space, growing operational units and teams, so I really care a lot about people, management and culture,” he said. “I felt it was the right time to take on something of my own.”The chance came in 2023, when Morningstar acquired a struggling CycleBar studio. Since taking over, he has lifted revenue 20% year over year and nearly doubled membership.For Morningstar, success starts with a people-first philosophy — something he credits as the foundation of his growth. “Every single time you come to our studio, everyone tries to know your name and what your goals are to serve you to the highest degree,” he said.That focus extends to both members and staff. “Spend time, energy, and focus on your people — everything from hiring to nurturing,” he said. “You have to be a person and care about people and their growth as a whole.”Morningstar also sees franchising as a powerful model for scaling local businesses while maintaining individuality. “It provides this umbrella that has a lot of the tools you need to be successful,” he said, “but it allows you to operate on a micro-level in individual communities.”As the Berkeley studio approaches its 10-year anniversary, Morningstar is thinking ahead to expansion. “I'm already looking now at other opportunities and I think I'll start the next two locations myself,” he said.<h2>A Brand Built on Community, Ownership and Longevity</h2>Beachwood and Berkeley tell a similar story. In both markets, the studios have lasted because their owners stayed involved and built strong local ties.“I’m a big believer in the power of fitness to change lives,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriklein">Lori Klein</a>, president of CycleBar. “I also believe in the power of this business to sustain both the entrepreneurs who invest and the communities they serve. As a leadership team, we remain committed to ensuring our franchisees have the strongest possible foundation to build thriving businesses in the boutique fitness space.”For more information on franchising with CycleBar, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands">https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands</a>.

Franchisees Joe Purton and Ryan Morningstar reflect on the power of community, resilience and hands-on ownership in building lasting fitness businesses.

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Why This Hospital System VP Walked Away from a CFO Promotion to Build a 10-Year Fitness Legacy with CycleBar

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