(Ambrosio’s note:  As a franchise blogger, I make a genuine effort to reach out to different participants within the industry — franchisors, franchise portal operators, bloggers, PR professionals, lawyers, brokers, and franchisees — to establish connections, exchange information and find ways we can work with each other for the good of the franchise industry. 

As part of my recent broad outreach, I invited franchisors from a wide range of categories and niches to tell me what makes their franchise so special and why we should care.  The tremendous show of support has been very encouraging. 

Allow me to share this well crafted response submitted by the team at Gold’s Gym.  Fitness franchises constitute the second most popular category on the blog (next only to frozen yogurt franchises), so I’m pleased to pass along this information to you.)

The $20 billion-plus health and fitness industry continues to be in extreme demand by a nation that is plagued by the rising obesity epidemic (Source: IHRSA.org).

With more than 50 million people in the United States who own gym memberships, there has never been a better time to have a slice of the health and fitness industry with franchise ownership. The proof is in the numbers — there’s no doubt that the industry is moving upward.

Fitness concepts continue to be a hot business investment in today’s economy, but how does an investor decide which brand is the right fit for their business portfolio? The history and power of the brand has everything to do with the success of the local franchisees.

Established as a single gym in Venice, Calif. in 1965, Gold’s Gym is currently the largest full-service gym chain in the world — serving nearly 3.5 million members from a variety of fitness levels in more than 700 locations in 42 states and 30 countries.

Whether you have a passion for health and fitness or would like to invest in the lucrative industry, Gold’s Gym provides a sound business model that supports all franchise partners regardless if they are a single unit owner or part of a franchise group that would like to expand their extensive franchise ownership portfolio into the health and fitness industry. Gold’s Gym works with its franchisees to make sure they are able to hit the ground running from day one and provides ongoing support.

Drawing inspiration from the company’s storied history of delivering the ultimate fitness experience, Gold’s Gym recently launched an Express concept gym, designed to help people of all fitness and income levels achieve their goals at a great price.

In addition, the company also recently formed Gold’s Gym Capital, a new financing arm of Gold’s Gym International (GGI) to help existing and future franchisees secure financing for both Gold’s Gym Express and full-amenity Gold’s Gym locations. Headed by finance industry veteran Chuck Lemar, Gold’s Gym Capital was established to strategically help its investors have access to capital to expand operations, enhance clubs and much more.

Gold’s Gym represents the ultimate opportunity to change lives. Our gyms around the world are helping people and communities fight the obesity epidemic, get in the best shape of their lives and realize strength they never knew they had. In addition, our franchising team is giving a whole new generation of investors the opportunity to change their lives by becoming part of the best brand in fitness.