Choosing a franchise is far more emotional than most people admit.
On paper, you can analyse everything. The numbers. The model. The territory. The returns. It all matters. But opening and running a franchise is not like buying a stock. You do not just invest money. You invest years of your life, your energy, your reputation, and often your family’s time.
Back in 2016, I did exactly what you are supposed to do. I researched extensively. I looked at multiple franchise brands. I attended several discovery days. I asked all the sensible questions.
Then I walked into the Club Pilates discovery day in Irvine, California.
And something clicked.
I cannot fully explain it in spreadsheets or charts. I just knew. I felt connected to the brand, the mission, the people, and what the business could become. At that moment, the numbers mattered less than the conviction I felt. I was all in.
Many people around me doubted that conviction. Close friends. Family members. Even people who cared deeply about me questioned the decision.
What surprised them even more was what happened next.
Before opening my very first studio, I committed to additional licenses. I had not opened a single storefront yet, but my belief in the brand and in myself was already locked in.
That belief turned into execution. And execution turned into results.
Fast forward to today, and we are now offering that same opportunity in the UK with Club Pilates UK.
What we have learned is this. The best franchise relationships work both ways. We look for fit just as much as potential franchisees do. You can see it immediately when someone has that emotional connection to the brand. And you can also see when someone has all the data in the world and still cannot move forward.
That is okay.
Owning and operating a business is not for everyone. Some people are better suited to passive investments. Others are built to lead teams, serve communities, and grow something tangible.
There is no right or wrong. Just alignment.
The lesson I learned years ago still holds true today.
Data informs the decision.
Conviction drives the outcome.
If you are exploring franchising, ask yourself one honest question.
Do you believe in the brand enough to carry it when it gets hard?
That answer matters more than any spreadsheet ever will.
Chief Richard Uku
