26. Day 1 Profit: Best Franchise to Buy?
Most franchises take 2 years to profit. Matt & Alissa did it on Day 1 with Project LeanNation. Here's the exact strategy they used to generate $70k/mo immediately after a layoff. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready 🎙️ Episode #26 - In this episode of The Franchise Champion Show, Alan sits down with Matt and Alissa Higgins — a husband-and-wife team who built their franchise portfolio deliberately, without ever betting the house. Matt spent 20 years in corporate healthcare consulting at PwC while Alissa ran the day-to-day operations, until a layoff two months ahead of their planned exit accelerated their timeline in the best possible way. From a $15,000 first franchise to surviving a COVID shutdown 10 weeks after opening their Orange Theory, their story is a masterclass in calculated risk and playing the long game. Now full-time franchise owners across two brands in West Virginia, Matt and Alissa share the exact pre-sales strategy that generated 200+ founding members before their Project LeanNation doors ever opened — and how that translated into $70,000 in monthly revenue from Day 1. If you're still holding your corporate job while exploring ownership, or facing a sudden career change, this episode proves the right franchise can replace your income faster than you think. ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - Hook: Cash Flow Positive From Month One 0:41 - Meet Matt & Alissa Higgins: Building It the Safe Way 4:30 - The Grandfather Story That Changed Matt's Perspective on Corporate 7:23 - Their First Franchise: $15k Investment, Priceless Education 9:28 - The Subscription Model Pivot: Single to Triple-Digit Membership in Under 2 Years 14:03 - January 2020: Opened Strong, Then COVID Hit 10 Weeks Later 17:06 - Losing 40% of Members Overnight — How a Community Saves a Business 28:34 - The Layoff That Came 2 Months Early (And Why It Was a Gift) 30:02 - Why the W2 Is Not as Safe as You Think 35:44 - Evaluating a 33-Location Franchise With Limited FDD Data 37:14 - Discovery Day: They Arrived Without Tasting a Single Meal 43:19 - What Is Project Lean Nation? Making Healthy Easy 50:47 - Relational vs. Transactional: Why They Chose This Business Model 52:22 - The 10-Week Pre-Sales Strategy That Built 200+ Members Before Day 1 53:34 - $70k/Month From Day 1: Cash Flow Positive From the Start 📚 Resources & Mentions ▸ Athlete to Owner Franchise Coaching: https://athletetoowner.com ▸ Schedule a free consultation: https://athletetoowner.com/ready ▸ Download "The Franchise Fit Playbook" for free: https://athletetoowner.com/playbook ▸ Subscribe to The Franchise Champion Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform ▸ Leave us a ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ review if you enjoyed the episode — we appreciate your support! Connect on Social Media: ▸ Website: https://athletetoowner.com ▸ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alanregala ▸ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteToOwner ▸ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthleteToOwner ▸ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athleteowner/ ▸ Email: [email protected] ⭐ READY TO EXPLORE FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Alan helps successful professionals find the perfect franchise match and prepare for championship-level success. As a franchise coach, he works one-on-one with qualified candidates to navigate the entire franchise selection process — completely free of charge. Visit https://athletetoowner.com to get started on your path to greater autonomy, wealth, and purpose through business ownership. #franchise #entrepreneur #businessowner #franchising #projectleannation #orangetheory #healthyfood #fitnessfranchise #couplesinbusiness #layoff #corporatelife #worklifebalance #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #franchiseowner
