Killeen Daily Herald: Mobile personal-training franchise looks to sign up vets

The transition from military to civilian life is something many veterans struggle with, but GYMGUYZ wants to make the process easier for them and help them stay in peak physical condition.

The Plainview, New York-based franchise is seeking to move to the Killeen-Fort Hood area in search of fitness-minded veterans who want a piece of the action. Josh York, who started GYMGUYZ in 2008 in his parent’s dining room, mentioned that for close to $70,000 a veteran can get all of the equipment, uniforms and everything else needed to start a franchise, including the brightly colored van with the GYMGUYZ logo on the side.

Killeen-Fort Hood is a “phenomenal, great area,” said York, who recently finished up a demonstration of his franchise at Fort Bragg, N.C. The brand will soon have 33 franchise locations, three of them owned by veterans.

Veterans interested in starting a franchise go through a “seven-step process” that includes multiple over-the-phone and face-to-face meetings, York said.

“We bring them into corporate headquarters ... where they meet all of our staff, see one of our vehicles, learn a little more about the opportunity and how they’re able to be in business for themselves but not by themselves. And then from there, if we think they’re the right fit, then we’ll sign them on,” York said. “You can be open within eight to 10 weeks, which is really fast for a franchise.”