Why Fit For You’s “Best-in-Franchising” Service Makes the Perfect Fit For Franchisees

Jason Markowicz, founder of Fit For You Franchising, uses his in-depth experience on both the franchisee and franchisor side of the industry to help prospects achieve their long-term business goals.

 

1851 Franchise: How did you get into franchise consulting? What excites you about the opportunity?

Jason Markowicz: Over the past 20 years, I have been a multi-unit franchisee, area developer and a franchisor. Back in 2002, I started with my own fitness concept that I grew for many years. After seeing how our business model could help others succeed in the fitness industry, we started franchising our concept in 2016. Being a franchisor gives me a very strong understanding of how franchisees need to be supported from top to bottom. In 2012, I became a multi-unit franchise owner myself with Massage Envy, and that experience taught me about the day-to-day operations, as well as the right and wrong things to do from a franchisor support standpoint.

Now, as the founder of consulting firm and multi-brand franchisor Fit For You Franchising, my experience as both a franchisor and a franchisee ensures my team has the tools they need to offer a best-in-franchising opportunity, where we can provide scaffolding to franchisees in areas where they need the most help.

With franchising, there is a proven business model and a track record for you — the potential franchisee — to follow. Whether it be as a consultant or as a franchisor, I want to use my franchising experiences to help others find that right path to follow. I find it extremely fulfilling talking with people who are eager to learn and explore new options.

1851: You’ve worked with a number of fitness brands where the term “winning” is often used. When it comes to your consulting role, what is “winning” to you?

Markowicz: A true win for me is finding the perfect franchise fit for a prospect. Ten years from now, I want them to be just as excited about the business as they were when we first started. That means working with them to identify their ideal lifestyle, investment range, expected returns and more. It’s not a quick and easy process, but it can be so rewarding.

1851: What is your process for finding the right franchise fit for a person?

Markowicz: We follow an eight-step process:

1. We have the individual fill out qualifying forms to understand their needs. It’s here where we learn about their goals, what’s important to them, their financial history and any other relevant information.
2. We have a business plan discussion.
3. We discuss two to three franchise brand options that we’ve selected based on the individual prospect. We look for brands that are emerging, have a strong leadership team with good communication skills and offer a proven business model.
4. We set up a call with each of the franchisors.
5. We review the Item 19 in each of the franchise brands’ FDD.
6. We attend a discovery or process day for the prospects’ top choices.
7. We make a final decision.
8. You’re in business!

1851: What happens when a franchise opportunity isn’t the right fit for someone?

Markowicz: Being open and communicating honestly with every client is so important. Sometimes, during our talks, we’ll find out together that a prospect’s original goal of entering a specific industry or joining a certain franchise isn’t going to work. We’ll work with that person to come up with a solution. Perhaps that means looking over financial statements and finding an investment partner to help them, or perhaps it means shifting to a different industry.

A lot of people back out during the franchising process because they have a fear of the unknown. They might not be sure what they’re getting into or get overwhelmed by all that’s required. Our goal is to help them feel at ease and confident in their decision to join a franchise and follow their dream of business ownership.

 

About Fit For You Franchising:

Fit For You Franchising is a franchisee-first franchisor and franchisee consultancy. It is the franchisor behind low-cost group-fitness franchise fitWAVE as well as Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs, a larger-box fitness brand. As a franchisee consultancy, Fit For You offers guidance for future franchisees on finding the best fit for their personal and financial goals. Fit For You is run by Jason Markowicz, a former multi-unit franchise owner of Massage Envy and current developer of Prose Nails, a membership-based nail salon. For more information, visit www.fitforyoufranchising.com.