The Nashville-Based Gym Franchise Reports Impressive Sales Figures and Growth
D1 Training has leveraged its athlete-based approach to fitness for a record-setting 2023, with the franchise posting more than 30 signed franchise agreements and 10 openings so far this year. The D1 Training franchise is on track to open its 100th unit by year-end, plus has more than 250 units in development — tripling D1 Training’s franchise footprint.
In addition, Nashville-based D1 Training reports that in 2022, same-store sales increased 7% over 2021 figures, and so far in 2023, sales statistics appear headed for a similar upswing. D1 Training’s franchise disclosure document states that average gross revenue for a D1 franchise unit was $870,884 in 2022.
The D1 Difference
D1 Training is not your typical gym. D1 Training is a membership-based gym and boutique fitness franchise that offers individual and small-group training classes in basic athleticism, advanced cross-training and fitness, and targeted workouts. Its specialty is intensive support for each client.
The industry remains as strong as ever, with an untapped growth potential in scholastic training. The competitive landscape of youth sports is ever-changing and having access to a place like D1 – where young athletes can hone their skills – is becoming increasingly important.
Each D1 Training location assembles teams of highly qualified coaches, fitness experts and support personnel who provide the level of cardio workout and strength training typically reserved for elite athletes at Division 1 schools. Many D1 staffers were elite D1 athletes themselves.
Customer Satisfaction
Clients love D1 Training’s five core tenets, which are a dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning, and cool down. They also love the state-of-the-art equipment at every D1 Training location.
“Since the birth of D1 Training in 2001, we have always provided top-notch athletic-based training for individuals of all ages, whether they’re competitive athletes, youth sports participants or fitness enthusiasts,” says founder and CEO Will Bartholomew. “Franchisees embrace our brand and its unlimited potential. Corporate leaders and franchisees have united to build a legacy of better health and fitness for every client. That unity also is geared toward maximizing financial success for our franchisees.”
Franchisee Support
Franchisees love the vast, multi-faceted corporate support. Matt Toy, vice president of marketing underscores the dedication to franchisees by saying “the entire corporate staff is laser-focused on helping franchisees with anything and everything they need. After all, they are the driving force behind our brand’s success.”
That noteworthy support ranges from assistance with membership sales before launch (which means quick revenue generation), to in-depth and ongoing operator training, to free-flowing communication between franchisees and corporate staffers, and, finally, to the D1 Franchise Advisory Council (FAC). “Our FAC serves as the voice of our franchisees, providing invaluable insights and guiding our journey,” says Cole Arranaga, vice president of sales and operations. “Through monthly FAC meetings, we navigate current and future initiatives, address emerging issues, and explore innovative beta tests.
“FAC members raise franchisees’ concerns, needs and ideas to ensure that their perspectives shape our path forward. With an open forum for franchisee input, the FAC actively listens and responds to their needs. Members of the FAC are nominated by our field support team and then voted for by our home office team. Each year, we elect a new FAC.”
D1 Training also gains an edge from partnering with Dashr, which assists in integrating technology within the fitness industry. An investment by Princeton Equity Group has super-charged the expansion of the D1 Training franchise, too.
Perks of Multi-Unit Ownership
To fuel continued growth, D1 Training seeks both single- and multi-unit franchisees in the United States. Lately, the franchise has completed a number of multi-unit deals, and Arranaga explains that multi-unit owners enjoy many benefits over their single-unit counterparts.
“Our franchise highly values multi-unit owners for several compelling reasons, each of which revolves around the concept of economies of scale and the advantages they bring to both franchisees and the franchisor. The cost per unit decreases as the number of units increases, one of the economies of scale. Operational efficiency improves because managing multiple units enables the sharing of resources and staff across locations. This reduces labor costs and optimizes operations.”
He adds that multi-unit owners also can pool their marketing budgets, allowing for “more effective and targeted marketing campaigns. They can also benefit from brand recognition and loyalty generated by the success of their first location.”
Additional benefits of multi-unit ownership include streamlined training, with existing staff onboarding new employees; a reduced operational learning curve, because once the owner learns the business model inside-out with the first unit, he or she can apply that experience to subsequent locations; and better brand consistency in terms of product quality, customer service and adherence to brand standards, crucial to protecting the reputation of the D1 Training brand.
D1 Training Honors and Opportunities
D1 Training has won kudos for its commitment to quality for clients and franchisees. The franchise has been endorsed by the National Association of Sports Medicine. The franchise also has landed on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list, been tapped as one of America’s top gyms by Men’s Health magazine, and appeared on the Inc. 5000, the magazine’s ranking of the fastest-growing U.S. companies.
D1 Training has franchise opportunities available around the United States. The ideal owner will have a love of fitness, a passion for the D1 brand, and be community-minded. For more information about D1 Training franchise opportunities, please visit www.d1franchise.com, call 615-465-0385 or email julie.bauer@d1training.com.