Fitness franchise Fitstop to open its 25th store in two years

In two years this business entrepreneur launched a fitness model and turned it into a national franchise worth more than $10 million. See how he did it.

Peter Hull, CEO of Fitstop pictured at his Coorparoo franchise. Picture: AAP/ Regi Varghese)

PETER Hull isn’t your average fitness fanatic.

The Redlands local had a vision and, with the help of good friend Richard Bell, came up with a national franchise model worth $11.4 million.

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This month Peter Hull will open his 25th Fitstop gym. He has a total of 52 businesses on the boil with more than 3000 members.

The first gym opened at Morningside in 2017 and from there business boomed when Mr Hull and business growth specialist Richard Bell combined their passion and purpose.

“From 2017 we had two locations and at the start of 2018 we had six locations,” Mr Hull said.

“At the start of this year we had 17 locations and from there we have just grown.”

Mr Hull said Fitstop was function group fitness that combined a strength, high intensity and cardio vascular element while held together by nutritional advice and a six-week challenge.

“The original concept came from being a personal trainer, training athletes and being in an environment that was not attractive as far as how inviting the standard gym is,” Mr Hull said.

“It was a combination of building out a group-training model but wanting to apply an inviting environment.”

Peter Hull CEO of Fitstop says hard work and determination can get you a long way in business. Picture:AAP/Regi Varghese

Their vision has proven to be a success with Australian athletes, Lee Carseldine, Kris Smith and Ninja Warrior contestant, Ryan Solomon paying homage to Fitstop.

Always interested in sport and having done motocross, Mr Hull was pushed into another direction as a result of two knee reconstructions and he hasn’t looked back.

“I fell in love with finding out more about fitness so it was at that stage in my rehab process that I went and studied my Cert III and IV.”

When it comes to the business model Mr Hull said he never imaged how big the vision could become.

Peter Hull. Picture: AAP/Regi Varghese

“I set out just to open one group training facility and to turn my formula into a group environment. It wasn't until I started to scale and open the second facility and build the franchise model it became real.”

Mr Hull said the hardest part about business was having the focus on what outcome you are looking for.

“Business is tough but extremely worthwhile. The secret to success in business is to believe in what you do and surround yourself with people who want to do more and be more.”