New Gym Owner Strives to make Business a Success

Aiken Standard | Max White | May 24, 2023

Workout Anytime gym is located in the Kalmia Plaza. Cody Melvin purchased the franchise in February 2023

Cody Melvin is new to business, but he’s used to adapting to different situations. He studied criminal justice and experimental psychology in college but decided to become a middle school teacher instead. After teaching was not what he had imagined it to be, he and his wife decided to try their luck at starting a business.

“We looked at what could be done and make us happy and give us the greatest long-term success and I said we can start a business,” Melvin said.

After not being able to think of anything recession-proof to start on his own, Melvin realized he could purchase an existing business which minimized the risks of starting from square one. Melvin was familiar with fitness and began to look at gyms for sale, but it was not until he discovered Workout Anytime that he began to feel good about becoming a business owner.

He had never heard of the franchise before, but he liked what he saw and began the process to become a franchise owner. Melvin said the process took about eight or nine months. By February 2023, the gym was his.

“I would go here. If I can work out here, the vast majority of people can work out here,” Melvin said. “I’ve been happy here, and I think the pricing model works.”

Terri Harof, director of franchise development for Workout Anytime, said there were several potential buyers for the Workout Anytime location in Aiken but Melvin was the best fit, despite his lack of business background.

“He was super passionate,” Harof said. “He was the full package, and that’s what we were excited about.”

“It’s been fun. I like being here. I’m here all the time,” Melvin said. “If you’re never here, you don’t know how to do anything. It’s very difficult to run a business if you don’t know anything about it.”

He handles almost everything management-related and acts as the gym’s personal trainer. Once his wife is able to quit her current job, Melvin said she will take over most of the management and he will focus almost entirely on personal training and growing the gym’s membership.

“Personal training is by far the most enjoyable aspect of the gym,” he said. “I like seeing different people do different things and have different limitations or different strengths. I like seeing how much they progress.” 

Originally from Jesup, Georgia, Melvin said he had only been to the Augusta area once and had never really left Georgia before buying the Workout Anytime location in Aiken. It is far bigger than anywhere he’s lived before, but Melvin loves the weather and is excited to move up to Aiken full-time.

“The weather’s cooler, there’s significantly less bugs, there’s less humidity,” Melvin said. “It’s not miserable to go outside.”

Melvin’s goal is to join the Aiken Chamber of Commerce and grow the gym’s membership

To new or prospective business owners, Melvin said you have to know what you are getting into and prepare for the unexpected in order to succeed.

“You have to understand the costs, not just today’s costs, but how much things will cost tomorrow, and you have to understand all applicable laws on your business,” Melvin said.

For more information on Workout Anytime, visit workoutanytime/aiken.