Veterans in Franchising: Scott Richards

From an early age, Scott Richards understood that his military roots run deep. His father served in the Vietnam War and both of his grandfathers served in Korea. Initially seeing it as a way to pay for college, Richards decided to join the Georgia National Guard, but the experience and the skillsets he gained along the way proved to be invaluable.

After eight years of service, Richards left the military to attend Georgia State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance and ultimately his MBA. Since then, he’s been a business manager, a technical manager and a business partner. In his latest role as a GYMGUYZ franchisee, Richards has been able to utilize both his military experience and professional business acumen to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams.

1851: Why did you decide to join the military? Richards: Aside from looking for a way to help pay for college, my family has a long lineage in the military beginning with my grandparents. The decision to enlist was natural for me and is the reason I was able to complete my undergrad and MBA at Georgia State University.

1851: What was the most valuable thing your military experience taught you? Richards: The military taught me about discipline, attention to detail and adaptability. It helped me understand the cause and effect of my actions because everything that I did impact not only myself but my unit as a whole. The military was all about team effort. I also learned the importance of being competent and self-aware in order to execute at the highest level possible.

1851: How did your military service prepare you for franchising? Richards: In the military, you train in order to be able to execute when required, whether that’s on the battlefield or stateside. In franchising, there’s a specific model that you’re told to follow by the franchise organization, but occasionally, situations arise that fall outside of the parameters and guidelines proposed by the franchisor. You have to be adaptable. Being able to take a blueprint and execute it successfully has been the key to my success so far.

1851: What is it about GYMGUYZ that attracted you to the brand? Richards: I liked that they took a unique approach. Personalized fitness has become wildly popular, but GYMGUYZ model is disruptive. Because it was a service that I’d use personally, I felt comfortable putting my name behind it. Plus, once I took a closer look at the opportunity and met the team, it seemed to be a great fit.

Richards: The biggest piece of advice I can offer is don’t skimp on the research. Take the time to review the FDD closely to ensure you’re onboard with the model and connect with as many franchisees as possible. They’ve been in the business and can offer advice and talk about their experiences on the ground floor.

1851: What would you like to achieve in franchising within the next 5 years? In 10? Richards: As I move forward, I’d love to build my book of business with more franchises. This was my first venture so I learned what to look for in a franchisor, what to expect, how to identify barriers to entry and where I should open a location. With GYMGUYZ, I want to build up my client base to a point where I can expand to new territories. Eventually, I hope to become a franchisor myself with a successful concept.