We’ve all been there—tennis shoes laced, water bottle in hand, ready for a run—only to discover the treadmill sounds like a freight train, or worse, it’s stopped working altogether. Just like your car, fitness equipment requires routine maintenance in order to prevent costly repairs or replacement. It can also be problematic to disassemble or reassemble during a move. Fitness Machine Technicians is a new franchise to the greater Omaha and Lincoln areas that services all brands of treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, and stepper machines within 24 hours of being contacted.
With 16 years of experience in the service industry, owner Alex Pearson launched Fitness Machine Technicians last February. He had previously sold his portion of a lawn care business and wanted a new opportunity. Rather than start a business from scratch again, Pearson worked with FranNet of the Heartland to identify a franchise that met his goals. He looked at nearly a dozen different concepts across industries and was drawn to Fitness Machine Technicians for a number of reasons. “I’m passionate about fitness and understand that industry, plus the financials were strong, I could scale the business quickly, competition in the region is minimal, and there are fewer employees to manage,” he said.
Unlike retailers that often only repair the brands of equipment they sell, Fitness Machine Technicians works with all brands and manufacturers. The company doesn’t sell equipment but repairs broken equipment, maintains equipment so it continues to operate properly, assembles new equipment, and disassembles equipment so it can be moved correctly. “We calibrate, lubricate, and check belt tension and alignment,” Pearson said. “If equipment isn’t maintained, little issues turn into big issues, every time.”
The company services both residential and commercial equipment. Pearson said since launching they’ve had more residential calls, but as gyms open back up after the pandemic, they are seeing more commercial work because there’s the opportunity for preventative maintenance. He’s already partnered with the College of St. Mary, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Werner Park for the Omaha Storm Chasers, in addition to apartment and hotel gyms. On the residential side, the company partners with retailers such as Nebraska Furniture Mart, Scheels, and Dick’s Sporting Goods to set up new equipment after its purchased.
Pearson said the franchise offers constant support for him and the two technicians on his team, Kyle Schoenhals and Brandon Sinnott. They attend regular trainings for various equipment manufacturers so they are proficient in diagnosing any problem. The company also offers service within 24 hours of receiving a call, and Pearson said they are professional, courteous, and priced fairly. With more people running outdoors during the summer months, residential calls have decreased slightly, but as more gyms open back up going into fall, their equipment will need to be serviced. Pearson and his team are ready and eager to ensure your focus remains on your workout and not worrying about your equipment.