For owners with a successor in mind, or not
Sell your business to an employee, or step back without selling
Two situations come up a lot. You want to sell your business to an employee, such as a manager, head coach, lead yoga or Pilates teacher, senior stylist, or instructor, but they don’t have the cash, or they don’t want to do it alone. Or you want your time back, and you’re not ready to sell.
Lore can help with either one. We partner with owners of independent gyms, studios, salons, and similar local businesses. Selling is one option, not a requirement. We’re the operator and the buyer, and we don’t charge owners fees.
Partner with your team
A manager or key employee who wants to own the business buys it with us. We put up the capital and run marketing and admin. They run the business day to day and earn more ownership over time, with an option to buy us out later.
You get paid, and your team and customers keep the person they know.
This is a fit when you already have a trusted person who wants to take over, and the business can run without you on every shift.
Step back without selling
We take over day-to-day operations, marketing, and admin. You keep ownership and share in the upside, with an option for us to buy later at a price agreed upfront.
This is a fit if you want your time back but aren’t ready to sell. It’s also a fit if you tried to sell before and it didn’t work out. If no buyer met your price, or you weren’t ready to let go, we can run and grow the business now and agree on a sale price you’re happy with for later.
Or sell to us now
If you’re ready to sell, we can buy the business outright, with or without you staying on for a transition. For purchases, we look at asking prices under $750,000, anywhere in the US. Partnerships and management agreements can be any size.
What we look for
Independent, non-franchise gyms and fitness studios, yoga and Pilates studios, salons and barbershops, med spas, kids’ activity schools, massage studios, pet grooming and dog daycare, and similar local businesses with memberships or repeat customers. Thriving to struggling.
How a first conversation works
Email Kaia at [email protected]. Tell us whether you have a team member in mind, whether you want to sell or only step back, and where the business is. A few lines are enough.
If we continue, we sign an NDA and talk through the structure with you, and with the employee you’d like to partner with, if you want that.
Questions owners ask
You built something people rely on. We want to keep it going and help it grow, on a timeline that works for you.
Can I sell my gym or studio to a coach or instructor?
Yes. A head coach at a CrossFit or strength gym, or a lead teacher at a yoga or Pilates studio, can buy it with us. We put up the capital and run marketing and admin. They run the classes and earn more ownership over time.
Does my employee have to put up money?
Not always, and not necessarily a lot. We can put up the capital. The exact structure depends on the business and on what you and your employee want.
What if I don’t have a successor in mind?
You can still step back without selling, or sell to us and stay on for a transition.
Are you a broker?
No. We’re the operator and the buyer. We don’t charge owners fees.
What’s my role after?
Your choice. Step away fully, move to part time, or stay on full time.
Talk to the person who decides
Email Kaia directly. A name and a city are enough to start. Selling isn’t required, and there’s no pressure.