When MADabolic opened in Raleigh in 2014, Emily Barton was immediately drawn to the structure and consistency of the training program. While she hadn’t grown up particularly athletic, Emily had picked up running in college and had started to dip her toes in the boutique fitness scene locally. After a few years of training as a MADabolic client, she became a trainer in 2016, general manager of the studio in 2017, and co-owner of the studio with her husband, Rob, in 2019.
Today, Emily manages most of the day-to-day operations of MADabolic Raleigh, serving as managing partner and teaching about 14 classes per week. Rob teaches several classes per week and supports by helping with many tasks behind-the-scenes.
Emily and Rob are grateful for the lessons learned over the last three years and the structures in place behind them as part of the MADabolic brand. Today, the two remain as enthusiastic as ever about their decision to purchase the studio. They shared how the strength, structure, and accountability behind MADabolic helped them through their first three years in business:
“The consistency in MADabolic’s programming speaks for itself,” shared Rob. “We made this purchase because we believe in the product, and it has been rewarding to see MADabolic Raleigh continue to thrive as a place that brings together like-minded and driven individuals. We see a lot of high-achieving former athletes on our training floor who know what structure and programming should look like. Still, the program is scalable enough that we can have a former NFL player in class working out next to a new mom fresh back from her maternity leave, and both are getting a high-quality and efficient workout. The attitude and work ethic the MADabolic program attracts is unique and builds a contagious culture.”
“That culture was also very apparent to us over the last few years,” added Emily. “We had members committed to supporting us through pandemic shutdowns because they knew they wanted MADabolic to still be present in Raleigh when the world reopened. Our training staff stuck with us, too. As business owners, the support and the buy-in we see from our community continue to keep us motivated. This isn’t just another gym; MADabolic is culture and a lifestyle that draws in high-achievers and retains them because of the sustainable and progressive approach to training.”
Structure
“We had been a part of the MADabolic Raleigh family for years before buying the studio, but that didn’t make us experts in all elements of running a business,” said Emily. “We’ve been able to keep our processes streamlined and efficient because of the resources MADabolic’s corporate team provides. From email templates to marketing collateral to the resources to build our MADperks program, the structure MADabolic has offered us as owners has been a huge resource. We wouldn’t be able to offer a facility like this and do it well if we didn’t have these resources in place and available to us.”
Accountability:
“Having the support of the corporate leadership team as business coaches and advocates as we became business owners was critical for us,” noted Rob. “We have seen many gyms and fitness studios around us close their doors over the last few years, and thankfully we had the leadership behind us to successfully navigate one of the most challenging stretches I could imagine being thrown into as new business owners.”
“Being part of MADabolic’s franchise model has helped keep us in touch with industry trends, know what to expect, and learn from the successes and struggles other markets have faced,” said Emily. “The support system we have as a part of this network is invaluable. We don’t have to feel like we’re on an island by ourselves, and we can make the best-informed decisions under this model. Not only is this helpful to us as business owners, but our members see and appreciate the quality training experience we’re able to deliver as a direct result of the support we have behind us.”
Emily and Rob have learned a lot over their first few years of business ownership, and their excitement remains high for what is ahead. As one of MADabolic’s legacy studios, the duo has enjoyed the ripple effect the brand’s growth continues to deliver.
MADabolic has over 70 studios operating or in development across the country. Rooted in science, the concept’s distinctive fat-torching interval system is crafted around intentional work-to-rest ratios, offering a challenging yet scalable workout suitable to a wide range of clients. MADabolic’s approach to franchising blends support from a team of experts with proven systems, robust training, and extensive resources to optimize franchise owners’’ success. When it comes to strength, structure, and accountability, MADabolic delivers.
Want to learn more about the MADabolic franchise opportunity? Please visit www.madabolic.com/own-a-madabolic.
