The Great Franchisee: Carlos Guzman, GYMGUYZ, Texas

Carlos Guzman built his career in the oil and gas industry, but he has always had a passion for fitness. Now, Guzman has turned that passion into his next business venture as one of the newest franchisees with GYMGUYZ, the 250-plus-unit mobile fitness franchise whose signature red vans bring certified personal trainers and equipment directly to customers homes. 

Guzman’s GYMGUYZ opened on March 12, expanding the brand’s footprint into the previously untapped market of Sugar Land, Texas. We spoke to Guzman to learn why he chose GYMGUYZ and what his new business has in store for the future.

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?

Carlos Guzman: I was an oil and gas employee for a long time and had many different positions. Most recently, I worked with BP in the Gulf of Mexico group. I left that role to pursue my passion for fitness and the dream to have my own business and be my own boss.

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising, and what was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchise owner?

Guzman: About four years ago, I investigated starting a similar business to GYMGUYZ, but all on my own. I could not put it together fast enough, and I had to go back to work for an oil company. It is not easy to start everything by yourself, so that is when I started looking into franchising and the benefits of being a franchisee.

1851: How did you decide you wanted to be a franchisee?

Guzman: I saw how difficult starting from scratch was going to be, so when I was presented with the opportunity to become a GYMGUYZ franchisee, I saw how aligned my goals were with the brand and how it fits my passion for fitness, my personality and my budget.

1851: How did you perform your research?

Guzman: I conducted a lot of online research. I also worked with a franchise consultant from FranNet who presented me with several options that best fit what I was looking for and wanted to do.

1851: Why did you pick GYMGUYZ? What excited you most about the brand’s potential?

Guzman: I liked that it is a rapidly growing brand with proven systems in place. There is not any other brand in my area that is similar to the GYMGUYZ fitness concept, so I saw it as a great opportunity to be the first one in my area and become a pioneer in my city for this brand.

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Guzman: I am positive about the future — it is promising. I am looking to grow this franchise and am considering expanding throughout Southwest Houston and any other territories available.

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Guzman: Find a consultant who will listen to you and match you properly. There are so many different types of businesses, and working with someone who can narrow down the options based on what you are looking for, your personality and skills, makes things a lot more manageable.

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Guzman: I love spending time with my family, and staying healthy is important to me, so I exercise a lot. I love to watch soccer and be involved with the community.

ABOUT GYMGUYZ

GYMGUYZ is No. 1 in Personal Training providing convenient, customized, and creative workouts at home or wherever you are. Headquartered in Plainview, N.Y., and founded in 2008 by fitness specialist Josh York, the mobile brand utilizes a fleet of signature red vans to bring the certified personal trainer, equipment, and workout to customers’ doors. In 2019, the brand was recognized as No. 5 on Inc. Mag's 10 Hottest Franchise Businesses in America, which highlighted their growth of more than 801% over the last 3 years. GYMGUYZ also scored the second-place spot on Franchise Gator’s annual list of the Top 100 Fastest-Growing Franchises and received recognition as a top Franchise in Entrepreneur's Highly Competitive 41st Annual Franchise 500. Now with over 250 locations internationally, including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, GYMGUYZ is one of the fastest-growing fitness concepts in the U.S. with plans to open another 100+ locations globally in the coming year. For more information on GYMGUYZ and franchising opportunities, visit http://www.gymguyz.com/.