1851

The franchising industry was always something that Jeff Cercy, a retired Marine and Army Special Forces member, was drawn to. After seeing success as a franchisee for both Sport Clips and LA Boxing, Cercy decided to look for new opportunities when he moved to Chicago. He came across <a href="http://workoutanytime.com/franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=veterans-winning-at-franchising-jeff-cercy-5054" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WORKOUT ANYTIME*</a>, the leading 24/7 fitness concept, and has been growing with the brand ever since. Cercy boasts 21 years of both active and reserve military service. After enrolling in the United States Marine Corps out of college, he joined the U.S. Army Special Forces. His time in the military included a tour in Afghanistan shortly after September 11, 2001. Now, Cercy serves as the area developer for the greater Chicago area for <a href="http://workoutanytime.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=veterans-winning-at-franchising-jeff-cercy-5054" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WORKOUT ANYTIME</a>. 1851 Franchise spoke to Cercy to learn more about the ways serving in the military helped him become a better business owner as well as his plans to grow with the brand in the years to come. How did your military service prepare you for franchising? The military attracts people who are independent and have risk-taking attitudes, which are qualities typically found in entrepreneurs. My experience with the Marines and Army Special Forces taught me to be willing to go into the unknown, which is what&#8217;s gotten me this far in franchising. The leadership skills that I learned in the military have also helped me further my career. You need to be disciplined and able to work within a structured system in order to run a business and get things done. What is it about WORKOUT ANYTIME that attracted you to the brand? When I decided to invest in a new franchise opportunity, I knew I wanted to go into a market and really build a brand. I talked to the leadership team at WORKOUT ANYTIME along with a few of their other veteran franchisees, and it just felt right. WORKOUT ANYTIME is perfectly positioned for growth. The brand&#8217;s model is simple and its concept is something that people across the country can get behind. Given my military background, I&#8217;ve always been active and had an interest in fitness, and now I have the chance to make that passion my job. What advice would you give to veterans who are looking to get into franchising? I think the franchising industry is great for veterans. In the military, you&#8217;re used to structure and standard operating procedures, which is exactly what franchisors offer their local owners. But in order to make the most of the opportunity, you need to go into an industry that you like. That&#8217;s what makes owning your own business such a rewarding experience. What does franchising mean to you? Franchising gives me the extra backing and support to do what I love. I&#8217;ve looked into other business models outside of the industry, but none of them can compete. There are unlimited risks for business owners trying to make it entirely on their own. Franchising takes away those fears. As I continue to grow and move my business forward, I know that there&#8217;s a strong team behind me. By working with WORKOUT ANYTIME, I know I won&#8217;t fall behind. What would you like to achieve in the next five years? As a franchisee, my goal is to keep opening up new WORKOUT ANYTIME locations. Right now I have four units that are open for business, but I&#8217;d eventually like to have up to 10. As an area developer, I want to bring the WORKOUT ANYTIME brand to new communities across Chicago and help other entrepreneurs create successful businesses.

1851 Franchise

WORKOUT ANYTIME franchisee Jeff Cercy explains how his service in both the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Army Special Forces gave him the tools needed to see success in the franchising industry.

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

Veterans Winning at Franchising: Jeff Cercy   

veterans-winning-at-franchising-jeff-cercy

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue’s Home Maintenance Plans: Peace of Mind for Homeowners

trublues-home-maintenance-plans-peace-of-mind-for-homeowners

Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions Targets Peoria, Illinois, for Franchise Growth

caring-transitions-targets-peoria-illinois-for-franchise-growth

Caring Transitions Celebrates a Strong Start to 2025 With 19 New Franchise Sales and Momentum-Building Training Events

caring-transitions-celebrates-a-strong-start-to-2025-with-19-new-franchise-sales-and-momentum-building-training-events

Right at Home

Right at Home 30th Anniversary in Home Care with Right at Home Logo

Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence and Future Innovations in Home Care

celebrating-30-years-of-excellence-and-future-innovations-in-home-care

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

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

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition — Point of Differentiation

how-to-position-your-value-proposition-with-a-point-of-differentiation

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Veterans Winning at Franchising: Jeff Cercy

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS