2026 has been a big year for Discover Strength. In May, the brand celebrated 20 years since opening its first studio in Minnesota. In July, it announced seven new franchise openings in the first half of this year: Roswell, Georgia; Flemington and Parsippany, New Jersey; Naples, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Plano North, Texas; and Lake Saint Louis, Missouri. The Lake Saint Louis team set a company record for introductory workouts completed in its opening week.
Every one of those owners started in the same place you are now: curious, cautious, and wondering what actually happens after you raise your hand.
Here’s the answer, step by step.
Part 1: Deciding together
Discover Strength calls this a mutual discovery process for a reason. You’re evaluating the brand, and the brand is evaluating whether you’re the right partner. Neither side is in a rush.
- Initial inquiry. You fill out a short form and receive an overview of the opportunity.
- 30-minute screening call. A conversation about your goals, your background, and whether there’s a potential fit. Bring your questions.
- Detailed presentation and Q&A. A deeper look at the brand, the studio model, and how the franchise system works.
- Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) review. You receive the FDD and take time to review the investment, obligations, and financial performance representations, ideally with your attorney and accountant.
- Validation with current franchisees. You talk directly with owners already in the system. Ask them anything.
- Join The Movement Day. You visit the home office in Minnesota, experience the workout, meet the leadership team, and see how the company operates up close.
- Final review. Remaining questions get answered so you can make a confident decision.
- Franchise agreement. If both sides agree it’s a fit, you sign and officially become a Discover Strength franchisee.
Part 2: Building toward opening day
Once you sign, the focus shifts from should I to how do we. The home office walks you through each phase:
- Site selection. Discover Strength studios are compact, and the team provides detailed specifications and data-driven site analysis to help you find a location close to the busy professionals who become members.
- Build-out. A comprehensive plan guides you from lease signing through construction completion.
- Training. You complete 10 days of franchise training covering the model, operations, sales, and leadership, supported afterward by a learning management system.
- Hiring your team. Your studio is staffed by degreed exercise physiologists you recruit, with optional onboarding and training support from the home office.
- Grand opening marketing. You receive a grand opening plan designed to fill your calendar with introductory workouts before and after you open your doors.
And after opening? A dedicated franchise business coach, periodic consulting visits, and an annual conference keep you connected and improving.
Why the process is deliberate
It would be easy to rush candidates to a signature. Discover Strength doesn’t, because the model only works when the owner fits it. The brand has grown through two decades, including through the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, by staying “rooted in science and consistency.” A careful selection process is part of that consistency.
Take the first step
The best way to start isn’t a big commitment. It’s getting the full picture. Request the Discover Strength franchise brochure for an overview of the model, the investment, the support, and the journey you just read about.
Request the Franchise Brochure →
This information is not an offer to sell a franchise. An offer can only be made through the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
