Franchisee Spotlight: Pvolve, PV Operations LLC

Inspired by her own pain-relief journey, Hanh To of Houston, Texas, turned her passion for Pvolve’s fitness method into a thriving franchise operation

Not every entrepreneurial venture begins with a business plan. Some start with an idea that grips you both as a consumer and potential owner. For Hanh To, that came through her headphones one morning, in a podcast conversation with Pvolve president Julie Cartwright. 

Before hitting the play button, To was at a crossroad that morning. Despite being active her whole life, her old workouts weren’t helping her anymore. She often woke up with a stiff back and chronic pain. So, when she heard Cartwright discussing Pvolve and its low-impact, functional fitness programming, she became infatuated, first as a consumer, and then as a possible franchise partner. 

“It was almost like it was a dream come true, merging my passion for fitness with my passion for entrepreneurship,” To said, having owned several franchise businesses in her past. “I started taking classes. I’d wake up and my back wouldn’t be stiff anymore. It just spoke to my body, and so I jumped on the bandwagon. I thought to myself, ‘Houston needs something like this.’ I wanted to take it to my city and to show my friends and family how amazing it is.” 

That’s exactly what To did, launching locations in Town and Country Village and Galleria in the Houston area with her husband and business partner Shawn Bishop in August and November of this year. Already one of Pvolve’s top-performing franchisees, her enthusiasm for the brand has only grown stronger. 

Strong Corporate Leadership 

While To’s interest as a consumer originally put Pvolve on her radar, the brand’s business foundation and personnel ultimately sold her on the opportunity. 

“I was really impressed with the leadership team,” she said. “They were genuine, supportive and their vision to grow the franchise was very advanced for such a small startup.”

To previously spent 20+ years franchising with Massage Envy, The Joint Chiropractic, European Wax Center and Phenix Salon Suites. Like with Pvolve, she joined almost all those brands during their early stages. However, Pvolve was the only one where it didn’t feel that way.

“Almost all of them were like a ‘Mom and Pop’ shop,” To said. “It’s like, here’s my sister, who’s the accountant, and here’s my uncle, who’s the IT guy. But with Pvolve, they’ve invested money into bringing in high-caliber talent. Everyone on the leadership team has tons and tons of experience in the industry and business in general…Everything was more than what we’ve ever seen at this stage of a franchise cycle.”

Targeted Support

But even with a corporate team as capable as they come, franchising with Pvolve isn’t without its difficulties. Hiring represents one of the main challenges franchisees will face, according to To. 

“The caliber of trainers that we need to be able to teach the method is very high,” she said. “They go through such strenuous training, need to have body awareness and know how to work with a group of people.” 

To added that finding trainers was especially difficult for her in the Houston market, where there’s no shortage of competing fitness franchises with alternative methods. 

However, Pvolve HQ also recognized that. For To and other franchisees, the corporate team is always available to bring support, sometimes even in a moment’s notice. 

“If you don’t have a trainer that’s available this period of time, they’ll look to see who’s available from the corporate side, and they’ll send them your way just to make it work for you,” she said. “They bend over backwards.” 

Pvolve HQ also assists franchisees by watching trainer interview tapes and providing feedback, facilitating training online or in-person and giving each franchisee a success consultant. It’s another way Pvolve stands out even among the many brands To’s worked with.  

Unmatched Flexibility

Although franchisees like To appreciate Pvolve’s supportive framework, the brand isn’t afraid to adjust its franchising guidelines if asked.

“They value feedback,” To explained. “With a lot of the other franchises that we’ve been in, it’s almost like you’re told what to do, whether it works for your local market or not, and you just have to figure out a way to make it work.” 

Pvolve’s approach differs, maintaining some structure for guidance but pliability for enhanced localization and creativity. 

“They give you a roadmap to follow,” To said. “You take it, and you run with it, but if it doesn’t work, you can go back and let them know. They’re very collaborative, receptive and supportive. That’s the difference between Pvolve and other brands that we’ve been involved in.” 

For example, To has a number of partnerships with different Houston organizations to further cement her business within the community, which she cites as a major key to her success. 

“Just going out there and placing an ad on Meta, that doesn’t work as well,” she said. “You need to let them know that you’re here to build community with them and not just provide a place for people just to come, work out and go home.”

Those partners range from worldwide brands to hometown hubs, including Lululemon, local restaurants, influencers and run clubs. 

“That’s very important, especially in a crowded market like Houston,” To added. “There’s plenty of studios here. People can go a mile and find another studio, but what sets us apart isn’t just the method, but also that community aspect.” 

Where Winners Separate Themselves

Though marketing, partnerships and staffing remain critical, To emphasizes that success as a Pvolve franchisee depends primarily on the care and attention given to the product.

“It’s not easy,” To said. “People always think they’re going to have their full-time job and have this as a side job. It’s not easy because of how involved you have to be with the community aspect. You have to love the method and be passionate about it. But if you do, and if you have that work ethic, I’d say this is a no-brainer.”