Fitness Franchise has Muscle when it comes to Beating the Recession!
Despite the recession, this fitness franchise posted record cash receipts in December.

NAPLES, FL, January 15, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Business ownership may seem risky, particularly during a recession, but there's one franchise business showing incredible staying power - and that's VERT Worldwide, Inc., headquartered in Naples, Florida.

VERT, an acronym for velocity enhanced resistance training, is not your standard free weights and treadmill gym. VERT was developed for professional athletes and uses hydraulic power machines to train the nervous system to contract the fast twitch muscle fibers. According to the founder and president of VERT, Ed Torkelson, "a VERT trained muscle will grow stronger and faster in less time than it would using traditional exercise equipment. Therefore it is the most effective way an athlete can develop both speed and power."

When VERT originally opened its first fitness center in Santa Monica, California, it quickly attracted a number of professional athletes such as Shaquille O'Neal and helped to train Olympic medalists Lenny Krayzelburg and Holly McPeak. "While we initially targeted our center to elite athletes," said Torkelson, "the word spread and we found a large number of non-professional athletes who wanted to take advantage of our system."

Franchising seemed the best way to duplicate the success found with the Santa Monica center and Torkelson and his staff have developed a turnkey business opportunity available in three different models.

"We've created a niche in the very profitable fitness industry," said Torkelson. "We offer our clients personalized training and our computerized equipment allows them to improve their physical condition in less time and with less work. More importantly, particularly for the aging portion of our population, VERT will help them burn more calories in less time than any other form of exercise. And it does this without stressing the joints or stretching and tearing muscles."

Recession Proof
While it sounds like a good business on paper, Torkelson has some real statistics to prove his point. "While the rest of the country was suffering through a very glum year-end and retail stores were bruised by one of the worst holiday shopping season in years, the VERT Center of Santa Monica was doing booming business. This 25,000 sq. ft. center reported record cash receipts of $103,631 for December! Essentially, we built a better mousetrap and people beat a path to our door."

Torkelson speculates on some of the reasons for the success of VERT: "If professional athletes find it improves their game, that's their livelihood. They cannot afford to cut corners when it comes to their performance. We are also seeing a number of student athletes anxious to make the most of their skills - perhaps helping them get into the colleges of their choice. And what about America's obesity problem? The population is hungry for a fitness program that actually works."

While developed for professional athletes, VERT Fitness is appropriate for all family members, including children. The centers can be located in upscale strip centers, office buildings, medical centers or health clubs and VERT provides comprehensive training and ongoing support to their franchisees.

VERT has three centers open in California, and centers in North Carolina, New York and Colorado. Torkelson plans to locate VERT Fitness Centers in each of the top 32 US markets where a professional sports team is located. Franchisees can choose a dual revenue stream opportunity with a physical therapy practice located within the center or choose a smaller studio with only the workout component.


About VERT:
Established in 1999, VERT Worldwide, Inc. is setting the standard for peak fitness training with state-of-the-art computer controlled exercise equipment, allowing athletes to train at the same speeds they perform and has become the preferred workout method for premier athletes. For more information on the VERT franchise opportunity, go to http://www.vertfitness.com/benefits.asp.

Press Release Contact Information:

Terrie Hall
TH Freelance
Writer
7500 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
United States 55344
Voice: 9523458408