Most franchise brands still try to grow behind a logo.

Darcy Ellis went the opposite way.

At 29, Darcy has built HitFit into a fast-growing boxing fitness franchise by putting the owner back on the gym floor, going all-in on local content, and using his personal brand to attract franchisees before they ever touch an info pack.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why Darcy chose franchising over company-owned gyms (and why it wasn’t “easier”)

• The role owner-operators play in culture, standards, and member retention

• How local, location-specific ads outperform generic fitness campaigns

• Why HitFit runs paid ads centrally but pushes organic content locally

• How Darcy’s personal brand is driving more franchise enquiries than corporate accounts

• The real lessons learned franchising in your 20s, including what he’d do differently

If you’re building a franchise, thinking about franchising, or wondering whether founder-led content actually moves the needle, this episode is a must-listen.

Big thanks to Darcy for coming on the show!

Learn more about https://www.hitfit.com/