Turning an Indoor Rock-Climbing Business into a Franchise

Joel Libava
Wed, 18 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

My initial reaction to a franchise business that’s focused on indoor rock-climbing isn't a positive one.

It sounds a little too narrow of a niche to me. I’m not “feeling it.” Yet.

Am I right?

Turning an indoor rock climbing business into a franchise business isn't easy. And doing so doesn't guarantee success.

The Gravity Vault Franchise Business

The title to a recent press release about The Gravity Vault, a young New Jersey-based franchise business, had this headline:

“Entrepreneurs eye indoor rock climbing franchise”

Bergen County, N.J. natives Lucas Kovalcik and Tim Walsh, (founders of The Gravity Vault) are looking to open a Bethlehem, PA or Allentown, PA area location early next year.

They’re looking for buildings of about 10,000 to 16,000 square feet, with good visibility, column spaces and most importantly, a ceiling height of at least 30 feet. That’s seems to be the sweet spot, height-wise, for rock climbing walls.

Is There A Growing Demand For Indoor Rock Climbing?

Kovalcik and Walsh have a nine-year track record in their rock-climbing business, and they've seen growth and interest in the sport.

From The Gravity Vault franchise website:

“The number of indoor rock gyms has exploded in the last 5 years and we are poised to meet the growing demand with a proven business model that offers the complete package, from start to finish and beyond.”

Is there a growing demand?

I guess that if I had a 12-year-old son who was sports-oriented, I’d be in a better position to answer that question…but I don’t have a boy. I don’t have any real-life data about the business…the sport of rock-climbing.

Do you? Please share what you know about this sport with me…and with other readers of this franchise blog who are looking for opportunities in franchise ownership. I’d appreciate it, and so would they.

Turning An Indoor Rock Climbing Business Into A Franchise Business

I receive 1-2 calls or emails every month from people who have an idea for a franchise concept.

Most of the people that contact me already have an established business…an independent business. They call because they feel that they have something that’s franchise-worthy.

I’m usually open to having a conversation with them, and Friday mornings are the best days for those conversations to take place. #Freecallfridays

To franchise a business these days, you need to offer a product or a service that’s special.

Today’s would-be franchise owners are presented with a plethora of choices; your offering needs to stand out. You need to show prospective franchise owners that you have a special sauce…something proprietary that’s been proven to work.

If you’ve come to the conclusion that you have an independent business that really does offer something special, there are several things you’ll need to do to turn it into a franchise. One way to begin the process is to hire a franchise development firm. Franchise development firms offer entire packages for people who are convinced that their business is ready to franchise. But, all franchise development firms are not created equal.

What do you think?

Is the indoor rock climbing niche big enough for a franchise business?

Are there enough consumers interested in this sport to warrant franchises opening all over the country?

I hope so. I’d like to see these guys grow their business.