1851

Georgia-based father-and-son franchisees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-cesak-bb945112/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-father-son-franchisee-duo-signed-on-for-3-more-workout-anytime-locations-2726501" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bill</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-cesak/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-father-son-franchisee-duo-signed-on-for-3-more-workout-anytime-locations-2726501" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bret Cesak</a> are expanding with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/workoutanytime">Workout Anytime</a>, the 24-hour, seven-days-a-week fitness franchise with nearly 200 units open across the U.S. After successfully opening three gyms in Georgia, the pair recently signed on to launch three more locations in the state.&nbsp;The duo opened their first&nbsp;<a href="https://workoutanytimefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-father-son-franchisee-duo-signed-on-for-3-more-workout-anytime-locations-2726501" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Workout Anytime</a> gym in 2016 when Bill, looking for an exit from the corporate world after 35 years, sought a new path in the fitness industry. Bret, with a background as a trainer at Workout Anytime and a shared passion for fitness, joined his father in realizing their goal of entrepreneurship. Together, they seized the opportunity to transition to business ownership, leveraging Bret's expertise and their shared commitment to making a positive impact on their community through fitness.Looking ahead, Bill and Bret have ambitious plans for growth. With their three new locations in the pipeline, they're focused on replicating the success of their existing gyms while continuing to prioritize community engagement and member satisfaction. Their goal is not just to expand their franchise empire, but to make a meaningful impact on the health and wellness of the individuals and communities they serve.1851 Franchise spoke with the Cesaks about their journey into franchising and their plans for the future.FEATURE QUESTIONS1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Bill:&nbsp;I'm 62 years old and I spent 35 years in a corporate job that, for the first 30 years, I loved very much, but then I kind of got tired of traveling. And at the same time, I started trying to figure out an exit strategy for my career. In 2016, my son was in college as an exercise science major. He was also a personal trainer for Workout Anytime. While I was still gainfully employed, my son and I opened our first gym. He ran it and his mom ended up working there, as well. That gym was, and is still, very successful. So, we formally put together an exit strategy for me so I could pay my bills. And my wife and I decided we were going to move to Ellijay Georgia, which is where I am today.About a year after we opened our first gym, we got serious about opening a second gym here. And it too was very successful. After we got Ellijay running, we opened our third gym in Lafayette, Georgia. Shortly after that, we sold our first gym. Our third gym that we opened did very well and we're planning on keeping Ellijay open&nbsp;because it's profitable and I have a great relationship with our members. We try to help people be healthy, essentially get up off the couch. Now, it’s been about four years since we opened the last gym and we’ve signed on for three more.&nbsp;Bret:&nbsp;When I lived in an area called Flowery Branch, Georgia, which is about an hour outside of Atlanta, Workout Anytime opened. I walked in and said “I’ll be a trainer if you need one,” and they did. I had a great time doing that. My dad and I went there every day to work out. We’ve also been working out together since I was about 11 years old. At one point, I was working towards being a professional MMA [mixed martial arts] fighter with the goal of opening that type of training gym. And when I kind of realized that maybe I don't want to put all my eggs in that basket, my dad and I teamed up to try to figure out something we could do together.&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?Bill:&nbsp;We toyed with the idea of opening a boutique gym or MMA studio. And we quickly figured out we really aren't marketers, we don't have a POS system, and we don't have the software background. So to move towards a franchise that we felt like we were supported very well — it just made a lot of sense for us. You know, we pay the franchise fee, we pay royalties, and we feel like it's worth every penny.&nbsp;Bret:&nbsp;Workout Anytime is good at keeping up with industry trends and trying out lots of new things — it's very valuable to have that.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Bret:&nbsp;We fell into it a little bit. We were there every day and since I worked there, we understood the business model. We looked up the other main fitness franchisors too, but ultimately we decided that Workout Anytime was just the best for the business model, and we liked the way they treated us. Most recently, we looked at some different opportunities before going back to Workout Anytime. We were just looking to switch it up some, maybe with a lower buy-in, but working with Workout Anytime is great. The franchisor has been awesome to us every time. They're always there. I mean, I've called the support team at 4:30 in the morning and he picked it up and helped us. They've always been there for us when we needed it, and we know what to do, and we like it. So really, ultimately, we just came full circle and right back.&nbsp;Bill:&nbsp;We started exploring other opportunities within healthcare, such as hormone replacement therapy and tanning salons. We weren't quite sure which direction we wanted to head, so we let the dust settle after opening the first three gyms. Then, both of us realized that we feel confident in what we're doing. About a month ago, we signed an agreement with Workout Anytime to open three more gyms, bringing our total to six.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Bret:&nbsp; Right now we're nearing a deal for our next first location of three. If everything goes to plan, our path will probably be similar to the first three. We're going to open this up, and make sure everything's steady, and get it in a good place. We’ll get a manager in there that we trust, and who is well trained and is good with the community. And then we’ll look for similar spots and keep rolling and replicate that multiple times.&nbsp;Bill:&nbsp;We may end up selling them as a package. To buy pre-existing gyms that are profitable and solid in the community is very attractive. We're doing all the hard work. We're finding a location. We're building it. We're in the community. We're getting our new members and that can be very attractive to someone.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Bill:&nbsp;I would say one of the things that mattered to me most is working with my son. We're very close. We talk every day about business and have fun too. But I'd have to say if there's one big thing that I'm most proud of, it’s our relationship and how we've grown together. He's going to continue to grow and I will too. I'm going to try and start winding down a little bit more while he winds up.Bret:&nbsp;I was going to say the same thing, really. It feels just a very rewarding process. You hear a lot of “don't work with family.” I've heard that a million times. But we've been working together in different industries for a long time now, and we've never had any issues. So it's just been very rewarding. I'd like to think I helped my dad leave a career that he wasn't happy with earlier than what he anticipated.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Bill:&nbsp;From my perspective, you really just have to do your homework. You don't want to jump in and open a Jimmy John's without really understanding what it means to run a restaurant. I mean, there's upfront costs in any industry. Before you're opening, you're writing checks every day, and you don't have any money coming in until you open. So my advice to anyone in any industry is you have to have the financial wherewithal and business savvy — and like people. That's a key element of this. If you don't like being around people, you're not going to do well in a customer service role. So my advice would be, do as much homework as you can. Sleep on it a lot. And make sure you have the funding or you're not going to sleep at all.Bret: I agree. In any industry, you're always going to have surprises, no matter how prepared you're going to be. Even if you’ve been in the industry your whole career. Once you go over into that ownership, things are going to change. But as far as a franchise, follow the playbook they have. There's going to be surprises, but trust them. If you buy into them, then trust them, do what they say, and market the way they say to do it. It's a package deal, and your best chances come from doing what they say.&nbsp;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<a href="http://workoutanytimefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&amp%3Butm_medium=article&amp%3Butm_campaign=pro-basketball-player-and-wife-look-forward-to-building-a-new-kind-of-family-with-workout-anytime-2725210&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=this-father-son-franchisee-duo-signed-on-for-3-more-workout-anytime-locations-2726501" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> http://workoutanytimefranchise.com/</a>.

Father-Son Franchisees Sign for 3 More Workout Anytime Units

1851 Franchise

After opening three successful locations around the state of Georgia, Bill and Bret Cesak are ready to do it again. 

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

This Father-Son Franchisee Duo Signed on for 3 More Workout Anytime Locations

this-father-son-franchisee-duo-signed-on-for-3-more-workout-anytime-locations

Melting Pot

photo of an iphone showing a melting pot tiktok ad

How Melting Pot’s Digital Innovation Drives Franchisee Success

how-melting-pots-digital-innovation-drives-franchisee-success

Senior Care Authority

Why Senior Care Authority Is a Great Franchise Option for a Family Business

why-senior-care-authority-is-a-great-franchise-option-for-a-family-business

Children's Lighthouse

How To Get Financed To Open a Children’s Lighthouse Franchise

how-to-get-financed-to-open-a-childrens-lighthouse-franchise

Beansquad

How BeanSquad Transforms Franchise Financial Management for The UPS Store Operators

how-beansquad-transforms-franchise-financial-management-for-the-ups-store-operators

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Former Landscaping Entrepreneur Finds New Passion in Growing With Layne’s Chicken Fingers Franchise

former-landscaping-entrepreneur-finds-new-passion-in-growing-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

Login

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Proposed Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China Could Reshape U.S. Franchising Landscape

proposed-tariffs-on-mexico-canada-and-china-could-reshape-us-franchising-landscape

DeepSeek - Is DeepSeek Coming for Your Franchise? - Editorial - 1851 Franchise

Editorial: Is DeepSeek Coming for Your Franchise? 

is-deepseek-coming-for-your-franchise

1851 Agg - Empower Brands 6 Franchises Named to FBR's 2025 Top Franchises List - 1851 Franchise

Empower Brands Celebrates Six Franchises Named to Franchise Business Review’s 2025 Top Franchises List

empower-brands-celebrates-six-franchises-named-to-franchise-business-reviews-2025-top-franchises-list

DOJ FTC Antitrust Guidelines - Franchise News - 1851 Franchise

DOJ and FTC Issue New Antitrust Guidelines with Implications for Franchising

doj-and-ftc-issue-new-antitrust-guidelines-with-implications-for-franchising

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

Navy Supply Officer Purchases Right at Home Franchise in Virginia Beach 

navy-supply-officer-purchases-right-at-home-franchise-in-virginia-beach

Newlyweds Open Paris Baguette Franchise to Serve Up Fresh Baked Goods in Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania

Newlyweds Open Paris Baguette Franchise to Serve Up Fresh Baked Goods and Community Spirit in Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania

newlyweds-open-paris-baguette-franchise-to-serve-up-fresh-baked-goods-and-community-spirit-in-upper-dublin-pennsylvania

Lucas Hamm Brings Compassionate Care to Eagan, Minnesota with Right at Home Franchise

lucas-hamm-brings-compassionate-care-to-eagan-minnesota-with-right-at-home-franchise

Right at Home Comes to Long Beach, Driven by Franchisee’s Personal Experience in Caregiving

right-at-home-comes-to-long-beach-driven-by-franchisees-personal-experience-in-caregiving

This Father-Son Franchisee Duo Signed on for 3 More Workout Anytime Locations

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS