key takeaways
- Don Ellen led the Orangethori Fitness from single digits to 32 studios in Florida and led the eight-Akara private equity deal.
- He later invested in Kidstrong and then helped to build dozens of F45 training sites before joining the zoom room.
- Their advice to aspiration of multi-unit franchise: well funded, prioritize culture and follow perfect systems.
Since stepping into franchising in 2014 in 2014, Don Alan has set a track record of scales several brands quickly and constantly. From health to child development and now PET services, they have implemented the same playbook: protect the build system, culture and make the development repeat.
Now, as the COO of the Zoom Room-an indoor dog training gym 2025 is in #220 at the franchise 500-Elon is implementing decades of decades experience for one of the fastest growing areas in franchising. In this interview, he shares what it actually takes to expand the ownership of multi-unite and multi-brand, why the system and culture matters more than ever and how he is helping himself in the position of the zoom room. $ 150 billion Pet service industry.
Connected: Keeping in mind the franchise ownership? Start now to find your personal list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.
You have worn many different caps in business. How do you reach franchising?
I spent the first two-thirds of my career in private-owned fitness businesses. At the age of 19, I started working in Gainsville Health and Fitness, while participating University of fluoridaI did not know that it was one of the world’s top health clubs, but it was a leadership and business factory, disguised as a gym. I felt that I was getting only a part -time job, but I ended learning to run businesses. Since then, till the 50s of my early 50s, my career was in health and fitness every day.
Again, in 2014, I was admitted to lead Orangethori fitness in West and South -West Florida. This was my first time working inside a franchise system and, honestly, I was worried. I have always been in an environment where whatever we could do, it could have done creatively, which had no railing. I thought franchising would be restrictive. Within a few months, however, I realized that it was opposite. The brand handled all the things I did not enjoy – marketing, website, branding – so my team and I can focus 100% on culture, customer retention and best studios. I fell in love with franchising.
In oranges, you helped your area grow up to 32 from a handful of places. What was the key to scale quickly?
First of all, I believe that I caught the brand at the right time – before he hits his progress. But we also came to know why some studios made others better. One of the greatest successes was when Aurrangthori centralized the workout design. Quickly, the instructors were making their own workouts. This means only highly specific people can be coaches, which will never be on a scale. Once the programming came from the corporate, we could hire more charismatic, people-oriented coaches and focus on giving a great experience. This is why Aurungathari allowed to grow from hundreds of units to thousands.
Related: These are the top franchise suppliers of 2025
You later became an investor in Kidstrong. How did that happen?
That was pure luck. In December 2019, private equity acquired our Orangatery Group on its highest evaluation. Three months later, the world closed for Kovid. That time was a blessing. I was not on with Kidstrong – I invested with a friend from Orangethori – but I loved the concept very much. My son was very old for this, but I saw how strong it would have been if he had been in that program. It is a great brand and I still have an investment there.
You also helped in the construction of more than 30 F45 training sites. What did he teach you?
This taught me flexibility. I joined as an employee number one and we scale in five states. Eventually, I realized that I was traveling too much and wanted something more durable.
Now you are included in the zoom room. What happened?
I wanted another “Oringthori moment” – a young brand with white space, real discrimination and a founder who inspired me. I have always saved and promoted dogs, so the mission clicked. When I met the founder and the team, I was sold. It felt like the right place to spend the next 10 years.
How are you apply your previous experience in the zoom room?
Franchising is franchising. In oranges, we train humans; In Kidstrong, we train children and in the zoom room, we train dogs. The same operational principles apply. I have brought into the structure: updated training manual, a reconstruction LMS, new procedures-transfer the zoom room to a scalable franchise system from a scrape mom-end-pap. The goal is to be prepared for sophisticated multi-unit owners who want to bring diversity. When they look under the hood, we want them to see a system created for development.
Related: These are the top global franchises of 2025
Culture is central for scaling, but how do you preserve it like you expand?
It begins with whom you go to. In the zoom room, we have shifted from “selling licenses” to “obtaining license”. Not everyone is eligible. Failure matters more than skills – because you can teach someone to train dogs, but you cannot teach them to illuminate a room. I have also developed a seven-part structure to build culture, something that I first made with my orange team and since then presented worldwide. Culture is not a quick fix – it is a crocpot, not microwave – but if you organize it, measure it and strengthen it, you can protect it as soon as you increase it.
What is your best advice for those entrepreneurs who want to be a multi-unit or multi-brand owner?
To be well funded. The passion is very good, but if you become undercapital, you will be stressed, worried and unknowingly destroyed your culture. Having the right capital gives you problems without delay and nervousness in weather. And the flip side is true, also: development creates culture. Nothing is opening more space than listening to your team. When opportunity and culture feeds each other.
Connected: He started a business in his 50s – and still carries it forward after about 20 years: ‘Do not let you stop.’
key takeaways
- Don Ellen led the Orangethori Fitness from single digits to 32 studios in Florida and led the eight-Akara private equity deal.
- He later invested in Kidstrong and then helped to build dozens of F45 training sites before joining the zoom room.
- Their advice to aspiration of multi-unit franchise: well funded, prioritize culture and follow perfect systems.
Since stepping into franchising in 2014 in 2014, Don Alan has set a track record of scales several brands quickly and constantly. From health to child development and now PET services, they have implemented the same playbook: protect the build system, culture and make the development repeat.
Now, as the COO of the Zoom Room-an indoor dog training gym 2025 is in #220 at the franchise 500-Elon is implementing decades of decades experience for one of the fastest growing areas in franchising. In this interview, he shares what it actually takes to expand the ownership of multi-unite and multi-brand, why the system and culture matters more than ever and how he is helping himself in the position of the zoom room. $ 150 billion Pet service industry.
Connected: Keeping in mind the franchise ownership? Start now to find your personal list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.
