Holly Strickland joined Burn Boot Camp Naples as the Head Trainer nearly nine years ago. Now as the owner and Franchise Partner of the same location, she gets to live her core values every day and see countless transformations right in her gym. “I couldn’t imagine Burn not in my life. When they say you ‘bleed blue’ I truly do. I love this brand and everything it represents. The core values are so close to mine and I truly believe that when you put people first you win,” she said about the impact Burn has in her life.

Now, Holly is thriving in her life as a Burn Boot Camp Franchise Partner. She received the Single-Unit Franchise Partner of the Year award in 2023 and was the first to receive Burn Boot Camp’s Mark of Excellence award. Her location in Naples, Florida has also been part of the Million Dollar Club and Fire Club, where the top qualifying gyms get to celebrate their achievements on an international trip. “I just feel blessed. I feel really blessed and really lucky,” Holly says about her experience as a Burn Boot Camp owner.

Read our interview with Holly to learn more about what life as a Burn Boot Camp Franchise Partner is like and how it’s changed not only her life but the lives of her Naples, Florida community as well. Learn more about our franchising opportunities or set up a call with our team to talk about what Burn Boot Camp ownership could mean for you.

What is it like to change lives every day in your gym?

Holly: I think that through owning Burn, there’s a fulfillment you get when Members tell you their story and what these four walls have done for them. To be able to experience and provide that for your community, it’s humbling.

Being front row to the transformations is empowering. Some people walk in here and you can tell they have no confidence whatsoever. They would wear baggy shirts and then all of a sudden they would start wearing tank tops and tighter pants. That transformation, for me, is probably one of the most common ones. Our job is to show people that they can be confident.

What is your favorite part about being a leader in your gym?

Holly: I always wanted to be the boss that I never had, but also build my leaders up and continue to show them how they can grow and be leaders to their teams. One of my favorite things in leadership is watching my team grow and how they grow with me. It’s been amazing to see. My Operations Manager started in Childwatch, then became the Childwatch Lead, and then became our Burn Ambassador. Now she’s the Operations Manager and she is an absolute rockstar.

What sets Burn Boot Camp apart from other franchises?

Holly: What makes Burn different is the community. There’s just nothing like it. When someone has something going on in their lives, this community will wrap their arms around each other like I’ve never seen before. When you walk in these doors, there’s no drama. It’s crazy when you have over 500 women in the same space and there’s no drama. It’s just an amazing place where women support women and they’re always there for each other.

What support do you get as a Burn Boot Camp owner?

Holly: It’s been a great journey having a partner in Headquarters. I didn’t join Burn with a degree in business or experience in that field. It’s scary to open a gym, but what makes it a little less scary, or maybe a lot less scary, is to know that you have that support. I love knowing that if something goes wrong, I have someone I can call. Someone who can help me solve a problem and find a solution. Having that partner with the brand just gives you an additional layer of confidence to be able to take that leap of faith and jump into a business like this.

What is one of your favorite parts about being a Burn Boot Camp Franchise Partner?

Holly: One of my favorite things about being a Franchise Partner is the flexibility that it provides. Yes, there are days that I’m here at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning with the girls, but I also can leave at 3:00 PM to get my son if I need to. That’s one of the best parts of the gig, having that flexibility.

How does Burn Boot Camp align with your core values?

Holly: One of our core values is being authentic. That is one of the most important things in my life, always showing up as who I am. When you look at all of our core values in general, they all align with not only who I want myself to be, but also my son. I want to teach him those core values. I want to teach him that he can do all the things he wants to do in his life. Showing up in your most authentic self is a huge thing we try to make sure we’re encompassing in him.

How do you see yourself growing within Burn Boot Camp?

Holly: I’m always going to challenge myself to mentor and help other people. That’s something that I take seriously. You learn when you help someone help. I’m on the MAC for Burn Boot Camp Headquarters right now, which is the Marketing Advisory Council. That’s just one way that I want to continue to grow.

The second way is that we hope to open a second Burn Boot Camp location to continue to empower the Naples community. One of the reasons that I’m so motivated to continue to grow is because I know the impact that this gym makes on people’s lives. It’s something I’ve never seen before. It may be a mental transformation, it may be a physical transformation, or it may be someone who wants to show up to just be a better mom or wife. I think all those transformations are extremely valid. That’s what continues to drive my passion to grow and have another facility.

Deepal and Mo are serial entrepreneurs who have always put their hustle and hard work front and center to provide the best life possible for their family. When Deepal’s traditional 9-5 job just wasn’t cutting it financially, they started to cast a wider net into prospective career opportunities. They did endless research on investment opportunities, small business concepts, and the smartest entrepreneurial moves that would be the best fit for their values and family. 

When a close friend invited Deepal to come work out at Burn Boot Camp Raleigh, she began to consider the gym as not only a workout but as a business opportunity. She decided to join her friend, a member of Burn Raleigh, in hopes to find out more about the business from the current owner. 

She made the trip and took a noon camp on that fateful day that would forever change her story.. She was immediately drawn into the words on the walls, the gym’s core values, and the importance of community that was evident upon entering the building. After all, the values weren’t just a vinyl sticker on the wall, the members were a true embodiment of each word and phrase. They were authentic, welcoming, and real. “Integrity and honesty are two core values that I live by and work to be an example for my children every day. Those same values aligned with Burn and the more I learned, the more I knew it was a perfect match.”

Our COO, Morgan Kline, sat down with Deepal to dig into what it really means to be a working mom and entrepreneur:

What were your fears about going into entrepreneurship?

“First and foremost there is the obvious financial fear and motherhood guilt. Being a Mom and not being there as much as I should be for my kids. I knew I was going to be working more than I ever had in my entire life. I was worried about giving my kids the time they deserved while running this business. The competitive voice inside my head was loud: “What if I don’t do well? What will everyone around me think? Will I be making my Mom proud? What if I fail?”

What would you say to someone who has young kids but is interested in owning their own business and taking the entrepreneurial leap?

“Time management has been huge for me. When I’m in the business, I’m in the business”

How has having children and a business enriched your life?

“My boys watching me at work, being able to bring them to the gym. They are watching me make an impact and lead by example.”

How have you been able to build such a strong team and comradery?

“Your team is going to be as successful as you, and vice versa. I’m a huge believer that you’ve got to take care of your people. I’m not big on resumes. Anybody can create a great resume or interview well. What I’m looking for in a team member is compassion, humility, and integrity. The qualities that you can’t coach — like humility, or wanting to impact people’s lives in a positive way — are the big ones. It’s hard to find someone out there who is as passionate about your business as you are as the owner, but they are out there.”

What does a day in the life look like for you?

“Busy. I’m in the gym every day by 4:30 am and I’m home by 8:00 pm. Some days are even crazier. If someone calls in, I’m there on a Sunday morning. I wouldn’t trade it for the world; it’s very rewarding. My husband and my kids can come to work with me. The biggest challenge is finding time to take care of myself. I’m not very good at it, but I’m working on it.”

At Burn Boot Camp, we preach taking care of ourselves first. There are so many life layers that go into that and can derail us. How do you make sure that you’re consistently taking care of yourself so you can be the best business owner, Mom, friend, entrepreneur, etc..?

“I literally have to put it on my calendar. Most weeks it’s Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 3:30-5:00 pm. My self-care is beyond getting my workout in. I hop into camps with my members once a day, but I need time away from the gym, on my own. It could be getting a massage or getting a cup of coffee on my own. I have seen such a difference in myself since implementing this time. I am more reflective, and appreciative of my gym. I’m a better owner because of it. I enjoy my gym more.”

BECOME A BUSINESS OWNER. BUILD YOUR OWN BURN BOOT CAMP EMPIRE. Visit franchise.burnbootcamp.com