How CapitalSpring Evaluates and Scales Franchise Brands with Bryan Dickenson

What does it really take to scale a fitness brand — and find the right investment partner to help you get there?  In this episode, we sit down with Bryan Dickinson from CapitalSpring to discuss his path into franchise-focused private equity, what it takes to thrive in the industry, and what made Alloy Personal Training a standout investment opportunity. Bryan breaks down how CapitalSpring evaluates brands, why the franchisee experience is central to any smart franchisor investment, and how their growth-first partnership model helps founders scale with confidence.  If you're a founder, franchisee, or fitness professional curious about what smart capital and the right partnership can do for a brand, this episode is worth your time. #AlloyPTFranchise #TeamAlloy #StrongerTogether #CapitalSpring #FranchiseGrowth #FitnessIndustry #PrivateEquity Key Takeways: Video: 1:20 - Bryan's background 2:10 - Discovering consumer & moving to sector specialist at Capital Spring (2019) 3:10 - Joining right before COVID  4:00 - What it takes to succeed in PE 7:10 - Closing on Christmas Eve — staying positive through the hard moments 8:10 - About Capital Spring  9:55 - Origins in food & bev franchising and expanding to gyms, car wash, pet, auto 11:30 - What Capital Spring provides beyond capital  13:00 - Portfolio stats — 280+ investments, 90+ brands, 7,000 brick-and-mortar locations 13:20 - Why investing on both franchisor & franchisee sides gives unique perspective 16:00 - Investment diligence — beyond the financials, what Capital Spring evaluates 17:00 - Why Alloy stood out 17:50 - Why strength training has staying power 18:55 - Longevity trends, GLP-1 tailwinds, and the case for muscle mass 20:05 - Alloy's franchising playbook  22:15 - The importance of great management teams and trust in any partnership 23:20 - Dispelling bad PE narratives — most founder-friendly firm, growth focus only 26:15 - Capital Spring's mission    Additional Resources: - Alloy Personal Training - Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity --------- You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts! To learn more about the Alloy Personal Training Franchise Opportunity, visit 👉 http://bit.ly/alloy_franchise

How do you grow fast without losing what makes your business great? In this episode, we sit down to talk about bringing on a private equity partner, CapitalSpring, and what that really means for our franchisees and our team. We get into why we waited for the right partner, how they’re helping us scale faster, and why this is not just about money. It is about resources, accountability, and opening doors we couldn't open on our own. We also share what it is like to run 130+ franchises, the highs and lows of rapid growth, and how having the right support can make all the difference. 🎧 Tune in to hear what it is really like to scale a franchise, partner with investors the right way, and keep your team and your culture thriving while doing it.Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Big announcement (01:14) Why we did it (09:30) Our long-term plan (13:56)  Our experiences from the start (17:20) Outro (20:17) Additional Resources: - Alloy Personal Training - Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity --------- You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

What actually separates great franchise owners from those who struggle?In this episode, Alloy founder Rick Mayo sits down with Tammi, a seasoned franchise business coach with experience across multiple national brands, to break down the real traits that drive long-term franchise success.They dig into why employee turnover is usually a leadership problem, how owner involvement directly impacts retention, and why “semi-absentee ownership” is often misunderstood, and overestimated.If you’re considering franchise ownership (or already in it), this conversation is a reality check on what it really takes to win.🎧 Listen in to learn whether you’re truly built for franchise ownership, and how to level up if you are.Key Takeaways: Intro (00:00)Why employee turnover is a leadership issue (12:40)The danger of blaming systems instead of ownership (13:34)Why owner involvement is non-negotiable (15:54)The myth of semi-absentee ownership (16:12)How retention starts with how you treat your team (19:14)Following the playbook — and why consistency matters (20:05)Final thoughts on leadership and accountability (28:25)Additional Resources:- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Running one gym is hard. Running multiple is a whole different game. In this episode, Rick is joined by John Vargas, multi-unit Alloy franchise owner and president of the Franchise Advisory Council, who shares the 5 keys that helped him scale from one successful Alloy location to several top-performing locations.They talk about why everything starts with your people, how to lead without micromanaging, and the importance of clear goals and consistent communication.John also shares how he and his team stay focused by cutting out distractions, and why being an available leader is one of the most underrated success factors.John's approach is packed with real-world advice you can use right now. 🎧 Give this episode a listen and learn what it really takes to grow without losing control.Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)People first (02:01)Set Clear goals (07:37)Communicate relentlessly (16:35)Remove the noise (25:19)Be available (29:29)Additional Resources:- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

So, you’re ready to dive into the fitness industry? First off, congrats. It’s an exciting world to be in. But now you’re at the ultimate fork in the road: do you build your own brand from the ground up, or do you buy into a franchise?In this episode, Jared Nassiff interviews Rick Mayo, founder of Alloy Personal Training, to explore this topic through Rick’s journey from independent gym owner to franchise owner.Rick shares how he bootstrapped his first fitness business in 1992, scaled it through white-label licensing, and eventually launched Alloy as a franchise with 400 awarded locations and growing.He breaks down the real differences between starting a business from scratch and joining a franchise, from risk and scalability to royalties and emotional grit.💬 Curious which path is right for you? Listen now.Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Mindset differences between entrepreneurs and franchisees (05:28)Advantages and disadvantages of independent businesses (09:36)Building a successful franchise (17:11)Final thoughts and advice (25:43)Additional Resources:- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, Rick Mayo shares his journey from a college side hustle to building one of the most respected personal training franchise brands in the country.Starting in 1992 with a single location, Rick revolutionized small group personal training and scaled globally before launching Alloy as a full franchise in 2019.He opens up about the challenges of transitioning from licensing to franchising, how leadership and data drive success, and the critical role strength training plays in adult longevity and well-being.He also talks about franchise scalability, team-building, and the rising demand for strength-based fitness as a counterbalance to aging and modern stress. Tune in!Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Transition to small group training (04:53)Scaling and licensing (11:28)Franchising and global expansion (13:22)Impact of Alloy Personal Training (29:11)How Rick stays grounded while scaling rapidly (39:46)Additional Resources:- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, Rick sits down with the number one facility operator and multiunit Alloy franchisee, Nick Garrity, to discuss his secrets to successfully scaling to multiple facilities.With a deep entrepreneurial background in stretching studios, saunas, and golf performance, Nick explains why consistency, trust, and communication are the real currency of successful fitness operations.He dives into the systems he uses to keep staff engaged (including profit sharing), how he evaluates struggling locations for turnaround, and what franchisees need to know about absentee vs. active ownership.Nick shows how small, repeatable actions create massive compounding success.If you’re building or scaling a fitness business, this episode is your playbook.🎧 Tune in!Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Nick's background and journey (02:05)Transition to Alloy and franchising (03:22)Alloy franchise and business strategy (05:41)Keys to success in multi-unit ownership (08:33)Challenges and opportunities in franchise management (22:54)Impact on clients and community (27:40)Future goals and vision (28:45)Additional Resources:- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, Rick Mayo introduces Alloy's very own Rosheika Strachan, the team’s new internal communications lead.With a background in journalism, public relations, and sports management, Rosheika brings a wealth of expertise in shaping internal communications.Her mission is to make sure Alloy’s franchisees have all the resources they need, and they know how to use them, when to use them, and why they matter.Rick and Rosheika also discuss how data can inform communication strategy and the role of storytelling in building engagement.🎧 Hit play and get the inside scoop on how Rosheika is driving the Alloy internal communications strategy.Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Rosheika's role and background (02:13)Challenges and strategies in internal communication (05:21)Importance of consistent and effective communication (10:24)Measuring success and future goals (14:26)Cultural exchange: traditional Jamaican dishes (17:54)Additional Resources:- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, Matt explains the "dos and don'ts" of phone sales. They discuss the uncomfortable world of phone sales and turn it into something approachable and even enjoyable for gym owners and fitness professionals.Matt brings tactics from the field, while Rick offers frameworks that turn conversations into conversions. They discuss how to handle price objections and why you should never sell the braces but always sell the smile.You’ll also hear about common phone pitfalls and why enthusiasm and conviction matter more than fancy scripts.Don’t miss this one if you want to turn more leads into clients and change more lives in the process. Tune in now!Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Thanksgiving greetings and dad jokes (00:36)The importance of understanding customer needs (01:27)Common sales mistakes and solutions (04:34)Controlling the conversation and handling objections (11:28)Building rapport and staying on-topic (14:41)Uncovering customer problems and pain points (17:30)Presenting solutions and taking action (22:56)Maintaining enthusiasm and professionalism (27:54)Final thoughts and encouragement (29:19)Additional Resources:- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

In this milestone episode, Rick Mayo and Matt Helland reflect on 34 years in business, diving into the deep waters of growth, leadership, and transformation.Rick and Matt explain why franchising is an entirely different beast from running a gym and how most people don’t realize that jumping into franchising means starting a brand-new business.They discuss how leadership requires evolving your identity, killing the “old you,” and embracing the discomfort of growth. They also share their own struggles with letting go, the importance of staying teachable, and why consistency trumps motivation every time.This episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to scale their business with integrity.🎧 Tune in to hear why franchising isn’t what you think—and how to thrive when everything changes.Key TakeawaysIntro (00:00)Every business is a brand-new business (02:48)Franchising is not the same as gym ownership (05:33)Be teachable and seek outside help (07:26)Audit your tech stack regularly (10:36)“What got you here won’t get you there” (12:14)Letting go of old identity is hard but necessary (17:28)Franchisees borrow Alloy’s business model and mindset (22:43)99% of your problems are your own doing (28:24)Consistency beats motivation (36:35)Don’t hire based on potential—hire for now (38:33)Additional Resources:- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven’t already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!