By David Chilton Saggers
One aspect signifying a successful system is a unique selling proposition, particularly one based on features such as demographics, value, or market segment. Profiled here are three Canadian franchises who each demonstrate those key principles.
30 Minute Hit
Twenty-one years ago, Jackson Loychuk was teaching boxing and martial arts at his gym in North Vancouver. At the time, about 90 percent of his clients were men. That imbalance sparked an idea: what if women could experience the same high-energy, confidence-boosting training that keeps fighters in peak condition—but in a format designed just for them? From that vision, 30 Minute Hit was born.
“It really took off,” recalls co-founder Deanna Loychuk, who launched the brand with her husband, Jackson.
Since franchising began in 2004, Loychuk says the system has grown just shy of 100 franchises from British Columbia to Nova Scotia and has crossed the border into 18 U.S. states. The brand’s global reach continues to grow, with franchises now open in Dubai, and further expansion planned throughout North America and Europe.
Women who attend 30 Minute Hit get exactly that, says Loychuk: They follow a 30-minute routine at 13 different exercise stations supervised one-on-one by an instructor. “It’s a full-body workout in half an hour … We’re not a traditional gym—each location is a ‘Hit,’ a space where women can come in anytime in our open hours and get the most out of their workout.” Having no set class times has been one of our biggest differentiators.
The company’s owner-operator model attracts women and couples who want to own a business with purpose. “In the early years, we attracted mostly younger owners,” Deanna explains. “Now we’re seeing more experienced entrepreneurs who want to take control of their future.” 30 Minute Hit investors must have the funds to run a franchise, says Loychuk, but there’s more to it than that: “Our system works if [franchisees] use the system and its tools.”
A 30 Minute Hit franchise requires an investment of $70,000, which includes all equipment. Locations typically run from 1,400 to 1,800 square feet and are often found in strip malls and light industrial sites. Franchisees receive comprehensive support every step of the way, Loychuk says—from guidance throughout their buildout process, to six months of dedicated contact with a personal on-boarder after opening. Ongoing professional growth continues through monthly training meetings with their peers, creating a strong network of collaboration and shared success.
New franchisees also train for a week in Vancouver, receive three days of on-site support before opening, and have continual access to online resources and operational tools.
Beyond the strength of its proven system, Deanna highlights what makes the opportunity special: “Our model offers low startup costs, flexible hours, the freedom of being your own boss—and most importantly, the ability to make a real difference in women’s lives while adding something truly special to their own community.”
Ledgers Canada
Ledgers Canada is a financial one-stop shop for small businesses. It got its start in 1994 in the Sydney, Nova Scotia, says CEO Gordon Haslam. A group of certified professional accountants got together because there was nothing serving that market during the dot-com craze, Haslam explains. Unfortunately, those good times didn’t last, and he acquired Ledgers Canada out of bankruptcy, moving the business to Newmarket, Ontario in 2000.
Its previous owners had tried franchising with limited success, says Haslam, but since he took over and started franchising in 2005, the system has grown considerably. There are now 50 Ledgers Canada franchises, “and we’re growing all the time. We want 75 franchises.”
Most of the original Ledgers Canada franchises were in Southern Ontario, but Haslam says his system is now Canada-wide and strong in smaller communities. About half a dozen of his investors own more than one franchise.
Ledgers Canada’s small business focus means that its clients generally have annual sales under $3 million or $4 million. As for the services it provides, Haslam says, “We do everything. We do payroll. We do incorporations. We service small business across all sectors such as day care centres, dental offices, and restaurants.”
The majority of his franchisees are men, says Haslam, although he points out that women tend to be more successful investors. The age of franchisees differ, but most of them of them are in their 40s. There’s no need for an investor to be an accountant, but they will need drive, motivation, and business acumen—“and people skills are number one,” Haslam emphasizes. That’s because networking largely drives Ledgers Canada’s client acquisition efforts. “It’s a personal service,” he says. “Clients want to know who you are.”
Training takes one week in Newmarket, and there’s hands-on instruction before that, too. The cost of a franchise is $40,000, and while many investors work out of an office, franchisees can also operate a home-based business, as all of the software is cloud-based.
The principal benefit of a Ledgers Canada franchise is the power of its 150-person network, says Haslam. “Franchisees talk to their peers. Their wealth of knowledge is just huge.” But that’s not all, he continues. “We’re kind of recession-proof and totally sustainable.” And a Ledgers Canada franchise comes with a low cost of entry and a very modest overhead.
Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House
It was in Barrie, Ontario, at the Country Kettle Family Restaurant, that Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House began its rise to prominence with a fresh take on breakfast and lunch. Guided by founder and owner Manish Mehra, there are now 140 stores in the system, and Michael Wong, director of development for the brand, says the company wants to grow to more than 200 locations by 2026.
Stacked began franchising in 2018 with a store in Orangeville, Ontario, and has expanded just about everywhere. “We’re in every province except Quebec, and we’re set to open in Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island,” says Wong. “We even hope to expand to the territories,” he notes. Other investment opportunities are expected around the Greater Toronto Area as well.
Stacked stores can be found in big box centres, regional neighbourhood plazas, and in some malls, Wong says. The system uses new builds, renovations, and conversions, and the sweet spot for a restaurant is 2,400 to 2,600 square feet. Plus, every store is getting a design makeover.
The cost of a franchise is $750,000. Training takes five weeks, and instruction is given in Barrie, Ontario in one of two corporate stores. There’s a further two weeks of on-site support for investors as well. And as Wong notes, “We are with our franchise partners every step of the way.”
Stacked’s customer base is broad. “We’re a restaurant for everybody,” says Wong, with the average cheque for one person being $18. Most customers leave with a takeout box since the restaurant serves large portions of pancakes—of course—and waffles, bacon and eggs, burgers and fries, fried chicken, and the like.
Wong is looking for hands-on investors who have a background in the restaurant business and well-developed communications skills. Stacked wants franchisees, as Wong describes it, to be the “mayor” of their local community and involved daily. A commitment to customer service and quality delivery are important, too. Stacked is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week and weekends are its busiest time.
The benefits of a Stacked franchise are numerous. The system has sophisticated supply chain arrangements; there’s a committed corporate team, a heavy focus on social media, and menu innovation.
