Bodystreet’s franchise model is shockingly fit

Zapping people’s bodies with electricity to make them fitter and stronger may sound more like the plot of a superhero movie than a viable business model. However, the German fitness franchise Bodystreet has not only supercharged clients but also its profits by opening hundreds of franchises in its native country over the last decade. And now the company is hoping to replicate this success in Britain with the help of its UK managing director Mark Holland.

And it’s safe to say that he’s no franchising rookie. “I’ve been in the sector for almost 20 years,” he says. Having clocked up time at franchises like ChipsAway, Oven Clean and Cartridge World as well as spending five years as a franchising development consultant at The Franchising Centre, Holland has a solid understanding of what to look for in a franchise. “I’ve spent a lot of time advising people on the right way to franchise their businesses,” says Holland. And given his extensive experience, it’s hardly shocking that he would recognise the potential of Bodystreet.

His interest was first sparked after he’d tried electro muscle stimulation (EMS) training for himself. “I came across the technology two years ago,” says Holland. “As a keen cyclist who hates going to the gym, being able to maintain my physique by just going once a week for 20 minutes was very intriguing.” And he’s hardly alone in being fascinated by the concept. While the technology has been around for over a century and was famously used by Soviet elite athletes in the 1960s, the concept of sending electric impulses through muscles and forcing them to contract has recently had a bit of a renaissance. Over the years, celebrities like Madonna and sport superstars like Usain Bolt have publicly incorporated EMS into their workout routines. But despite knowing this, Holland was stunned to find out just how powerful it was. “It was crazy,” he says. “It was really the most effective workout I’d ever had.” Following the experience, he was understandably energised when he heard the news that Bodystreet was looking to expand its franchise onto these shores.

Still, years of franchising experience had taught Holland to never invest in a franchise without doing the due diligence. Fortunately, Bodystreet didn’t disappoint. “For a franchise that’s just ten years old, they have really perfected their system,” he says. Once Holland got a chance to speak with the franchisor and current franchisees, he became even more convinced that this was an opportunity too good to walk away from. “Their energy and enthusiasm was a huge attraction,” says Holland. “Seeing how committed they were to supporting their franchisees I just knew that they’d support me too.” That’s how in early 2016 the franchising veteran took the plunge and became the master franchisor of Bodystreet UK.