Building a fitness franchise to eight figures is one thing. Selling it, buying it back, and knowing exactly what makes a franchise thrive for the long haul — that is a masterclass. In this episode of Escape Your Limits, Matthew Januszek is joined by Jan Spaticchia, one of the most experienced operators in the fitness franchise world.

Jan has spent his career empowering millions of people to transform their lives through fitness. His entrepreneurial journey spans multiple brands, leadership roles, and investments across wellness and technology — and he brings every layer of that experience to this conversation.

About Jan Spaticchia

Jan Spaticchia is a serial entrepreneur whose work in fitness franchising has touched millions of lives. As Chair of the énergie Group, he has guided one of the fitness industry's most recognized franchise brands through growth, change, and reinvention.

His portfolio extends well beyond a single brand. Jan serves as Vice Chair of BMF and as Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director at both Hedgehog Concept and Visivo Pro, with a growing investment portfolio spanning wellness and technology sectors.

What sets Jan apart is the full arc of his experience — he has been the founder who built, the seller who exited, and the buyer who came back. That cycle gives him an unusually clear-eyed view of what franchising actually requires, not in theory but in practice.

What Jan Spaticchia and Matthew Januszek Talked About

• Building a fitness franchise to eight figures requires more than a good concept — it demands systems, culture, and operational discipline that can be replicated across dozens of locations.
• Jan's decision to buy back his own franchise after selling it reveals what founders often only learn post-exit: the intrinsic value of the brand and community you built is rarely fully captured in a transaction.
• Franchise longevity depends on empowering franchisees, not just standardizing them — the brands that thrive long-term create genuine ownership cultures within their franchise networks.
• Diversification across wellness and technology investments is a deliberate hedge: Jan sees the future of fitness as a convergence of physical, digital, and data-driven experiences.
• The énergie Group model illustrates how accessible price points and community focus can drive mass-market fitness adoption even in economically uncertain times.
• Serial entrepreneurship is a mindset before it is a track record — Jan's ability to identify, build, and lead multiple ventures simultaneously comes from a consistent framework for evaluating opportunity and risk.
• Understanding when to sell, when to hold, and when to re-enter your own market is one of the most underrated strategic skills a founder can develop.

Why This Conversation Matters

Jan's journey mirrors the kind of entrepreneurial thinking Matthew Januszek champions through his work with Escape Fitness USA and the LIFTS Podcast. Building something that genuinely transforms lives — whether a franchise network or a fitness equipment company — requires the same long-term orientation and operational conviction Jan brings to his work.

On the LIFTS Podcast, Matthew and co-host Mohammed Iqbal of SweatWorks regularly explore what it takes to build and sustain fitness businesses in a changing landscape. Jan Spaticchia's playbook — built through hard-won experience across multiple franchise cycles — is exactly the kind of insight that helps operators at every stage think bigger and act smarter.

▶  Watch the full episode on YouTube

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