How Fit body boot camp Found Funding to Launch in yuba city with sbdc guidance
When Jeremy Makin began his career as an Emergency Medical Service helicopter pilot, he did not envision a pivot to entrepreneurship in his future. But over two decades of helping patients in the most emergency situations, he regularly saw the dire outcomes of neglected health, and he decided to dedicate his life to making healthy diet and exercise more accessible to his community. With support from a Sacramento Valley SBDC advisor, Jeremy opened Yuba City Fit Body Bootcamp to make a positive impact in his community: by empowering clients to take control of their fitness and live healthier lives, Jeremy is working towards his vision of a world that is more vibrant and resilient.
The right support at the right time
To begin his entrepreneurial journey, Jeremy connected with Sacramento Valley SBDC to learn the basics of business ownership. Working with business advisor Panda Morgan, he wrote a business plan, established best practices for managing his finances, fine-tuned his marketing strategy, and successfully acquired a start-up loan from a local bank. ““Starting a business can be daunting, but the SBDC provided invaluable guidance and resources,” Jeremy says. “Their expertise in business planning, marketing, and financial management was instrumental in getting Fit Body Boot Camp off the ground.”
Building community to find success
For Jeremy and his team, one of the obstacles to building a sustainable client base was finding their ideal client, who they referred to as “Mrs. Jones”.
When opening Yuba City Fit Body Boot Camp, Jeremy dreamed of a fitness community for everyone. He wanted busy moms, working professionals, and anyone seeking a healthier life to come together, sweat together, and support each other. With this vision, Jeremy and his team were searching for the avatar of their ideal member – “Mrs. Jones.” Mrs. Jones was a busy mom who struggled to prioritize her health. She’d tried other gyms but felt intimidated or uninspired.
They knew that clients who fit that description were out there, but connecting with them was a challenge. Then it clicked: people like “Mrs. Jones” were not just looking for a gym; they were looking for a community. After that realization, the Fit Body team pivoted their focus to building the Fit Body Family. “We created a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone feels valued,” explains Jeremy. “We emphasized teamwork, camaraderie, and celebrating victories. And guess what? Mrs. Jones found us!” With the intentionally inclusive culture that they created, Jeremy saw clientele that fit the “Mrs. Jones” description flourishing. “The quick workouts fit her busy schedule, and the supportive community gave her the motivation she needed,” he says, “She found a place where she belonged, where she could become her best self.”
This sense of belonging is crucial to Jeremy’s vision of healthy lifestyles for all of his clients: whether in the community or in the weight room, his goal is to see people thrive.
