Fitness Franchise

Alpha Fit Club grows to 20 studios after founder's personal losses

Sam Tooley founded Alpha Fit Club in a 700-square-foot New Jersey studio in 2019, starting as a personal training business before his father's sudden death pushed him to grow it into a full venture. The strength-and-conditioning franchise now has 20 studios operating and 30 more sold across the East Coast, and will host its largest event yet, Alpha Games, on October 3 at American Dream Mall, featuring 1,550 members and 750 teams.

entrepreneur.com · 2026-09-28

Former PepsiCo Executive Opens Hotworx Fitness Franchise in Chicago After Cancer Diagnosis

Gwynda Jones, a 30-year PepsiCo executive who survived a heart attack, stroke and a rare cancer diagnosis that doctors said would kill her within months, opened a Hotworx franchise in downtown Chicago in 2023. She funded the roughly $500,000 venture largely with retirement savings built up over 38 years, choosing the infrared-sauna fitness concept because it required a small staff and no in-house instructors.

entrepreneur.com · 2026-09-24