Fitness Entrepreneur's Weight Loss Sparks Workout Anytime Franchise

Joshua Holland, a new franchisee with the 190-unit, 24-hour fitness franchise Workout Anytime (WOAT), began his health and fitness goals during his freshman year of college. Weighing nearly 280 pounds and facing health issues, including an ankle replacement, he took control of his health in 2003. Starting with WW (then-known as Weight Watchers), he lost 100 pounds within a few years. His passion for fitness grew even more when he moved to Florida in 2012 and began lifting weights, later hiring a nutritional coach who introduced him to macros and effective lifting techniques.

The 39-year-old has also had a successful career in software sales. But Holland's interest in owning a business, particularly in the fitness industry, led him to franchising. He was attracted to the idea of starting with a proven business model and an established brand, which he saw as a way to mitigate risk as a new business owner. After considering various options, he was drawn to WOAT’s business model, membership premiums and the level of personal care they showed toward their franchisees. He purchased an existing Workout Anytime gym from its previous owner, located at 6273 Wilson Grove Rd. in Mint Hill, North Carolina.

Looking ahead, Holland has ambitious plans for his WOAT franchise. His primary goal is to bring the Mint Hill gym to an annual profit of $1 million, which he believes is attainable. He plans to focus on building a strong personal training program and team. Once established, he aims to acquire another existing WOAT gym to become a multi-unit owner. 

Beyond the financial aspect, Holland's venture is a passion project — having transformed his own life through fitness, he is eager to help others do the same. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Holland: I have been in software sales most  of my life. What got me into fitness was a personal journey. I decided to change my life during my freshman year of college. I was almost 280 pounds and super overweight. I was also having some ankle problems and ultimately had to go through an ankle replacement. Overall, I let my health get away from me. One day, I looked in the mirror and decided it was time to change. I started with Weight Watchers and lost 50 pounds. From there, I kept going on my own. Over the course of a few years, I lost a total of 100 pounds. And this was from just changing my diet, not even exercising. 

In 2012, I moved to Florida and started lifting weights as a passion. About five years ago, I hired my first nutritional coach. He was the first person who taught me about macros and the proper way to lift. The experience of exercise is a lot different when you have a trainer. I fully went down the path of fitness. For the first time, I was noticing changes within my muscular structure. At that point, I became obsessed, and fitness has been a passion of mind ever since. Today, I am in the best shape of my life at 39 years old. 

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?

Holland: I’ve always wanted to open my own business. About 10 years ago, I almost opened a nutrition store, but it didn’t work out. Last year, I started looking into fitness concepts. I discovered that the local Workout Anytime gym was up for sale, reached out to the previous franchise owner Chris and decided to dive in. 

As a first-time business owner, I was much more comfortable with investing in something already built and proven. I wasn’t going to take this huge risk just to have the business fail. I wanted something already established so I could learn from the best practices. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Holland: A lot of gyms have transactional relationships with their members. They just want your money. They don’t spend the time to learn who you are. They don’t train  their employees properly  to care about client engagement. I loved that Workout Anytime was different — the business model, the membership options and the premium services. It was the right situation and the right franchise for me. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Holland: My goal is to achieve $1 million in profit. I am also excited to get the personal training program up and rolling here. From there, I want to acquire another Workout Anytime gym and become a multi-unit owner. Then I want to build a WOAT gym of my own. That is really the three-to-five-year plan. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Holland: It is really a passion project for me. I want to help change people’s lives. I changed my life, and I did it in a realistic amount of time with a realistic plan. I want to share that with other people as well. It takes a lot of hard work, but it can be done. Our Workout Anytime location will focus on helping change people’s lives. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Holland: Make sure you do your research and find the right situation. There are great operators who can be great mentors for you. Also, take a deep breath. Set goals for yourself personally and for your team. Life is short, and you want to set the type of obtainable goals that will allow you to achieve your goals. This was something I always wanted, and I achieved that by working hard and putting my mind to it. Now, this is just the first step on my journey. 

The initial investment required to open a Workout Anytime franchise ranges from $562,850 to $1,008,550. Learn more here: https://1851franchise.com/workoutanytime

ABOUT WORKOUT ANYTIME*: 

Atlanta-based Workout Anytime is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week fitness concept with 190 units across the U.S. Founded by fitness veterans John Quattrocchi and Steve Strickland, the company was formed to provide members with first-class fitness facilities at the lowest cost possible while delivering a profitable and affordable business model to franchisees. Built on the founders’ motto of “think big, keep it simple and do it with integrity,” Workout Anytime is preparing for significant expansion into new territories across the U.S. and Central America by providing opportunities to business-minded entrepreneurs. Franchise opportunities are available, and more information can be found on workoutanytimefranchise.com.