KATHY AND TRENT CUMMINGS

Ages 30, 31 Franchisees for 6 years Plus Fitness

Sydney couple Kathy and Trent Cummings have taken a single Plus Fitness gym and in less than six years morphed it into a four-strong multi-unit business.

It all started when Trent was working as an electrician but was keen to fulfil his ambition to be an entrepreneur and work on his own terms. As a fitness addict it made sense for him to choose the fitness sector. But he knew there was more to success in fitness than starting up his own business.

“It comes down to brand awareness, a standalone gym is hard to get started,” he says.

Trent also liked that members of a fitness chain could access more than one gym.

So finding a fitness franchise was the next step.

Kathy says, “Having the support of head office, someone you can turn to, is great. You wouldn’t really have that if you were on your own. It would be much more daunting.”

The pair researched a number of fitness franchises and picked Plus Fitness for a couple of reasons: it is Australian owned, and the franchisors were forthcoming with information.

“They were willing to provide lots of information, they were very supportive,” says Kathy.

The couple found the biggest challenge was sourcing a location but because Trent was out and about in his job, he was always scouting for a site.

Kathy says, “We did a lot of research into demographics and played a waiting game trying to find the location.”

They opened their first location in Hornsby about 12 months after selecting Plus Fitness.

“Once it opened, I left my job and worked full time. Trent worked part time, and then we opened a second gym at Artarmon.

“Now we have four, the others are at Kellyville and Marsden Park. We live in Castle Hill so its central between all of them.

“We visit each site once a week. We have reception staff/managers for each gym and we take more of a supervising role.”

Kathy’s admin background proved invaluable to the business and allows Trent to play to his strengths as a people person and salesman.

While such swift growth is impressive it wasn’t all challenge-free, admits Kathy.

“Initially it was about finding a location for our first gym but there were more hurdles when we opened the second. It’s a big difference. It was difficult learning how to manage two stores.”

The Cummings turned to fellow franchisees and their franchisor for mentoring and advice. Now the two are so well-versed in their franchise operation that new franchisees come to them for franchisee training.

“All along our head office has been very supportive, our field manager too,” says Kathy.

What reactions have the pair had from friends and family as they set off on their great business adventure?

“Everyone was very supportive. I think as we expanded and opened more locations, people were a little bit surprised that people so young would have multiple locations.”

Although the signs were probably there … at 19 the couple had invested in real estate and were able to remortgage two properties to buy the first Plus Fitness gym.

They then used business loans for the second and third purchases, and were able to self-fund the most recent acquisition.

With four gyms under their wing Kathy and Trent are unsure of their next move.

“If we were to open an additional outlet we would have to hire someone else to manage the business because it takes it to the next level.

“And we’re in metro Sydney where the market is quite saturated. We would have to look at different locations.”

Whatever their move, the pair are enjoying their current success. Their achievements even inspired some of their friends to invest in a fitness franchise for themselves.

So do they have tips for any other millennials considering buying a franchise?

“I think if you’re going to start a business it needs to be something you are passionate about otherwise it becomes more of a job,” says Kathy. “You think of your business as your baby. You need a genuine interest.

“If you put in the hard work and the hours, you’ll get results. When we started we were working 12 hours a day, Monday to Thursday, and half that over Friday to Saturday.

“We saw it as an investment, doing everything we could to be a success.”