Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fitness and health but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kaylin Payne, owner of MAXFIT 360, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

MAXFIT 360 is a lifestyle fitness and sports business. With a love of fitness and passion for sports, I center around sports-style fitness. MAXFIT 360 is geared towards helping you find your inner athlete at all stages of life in a live-streamed online platform for most services. Don’t let age, weight, or ability stand in your way. MAXFIT 360 offers fitness training solutions for individuals and small businesses looking to offer their employees a wellness option. My online fitness, health, and wellness programs are fun, will get you in shape, and keep you fit for all stages of life. Work at home… or anywhere!

Tell us about yourself

The evolution of MAXFIT 360. I started with a business comprising only sports training, coaching, and leagues. I started MAXFIT 360 because I loved playing basketball, and as a woman in NYC almost 15 years ago, there were not a lot of opportunities. The first program I created was basketball for adults. The program consisted of teaching basketball to adults (shooting, dribbling, rules of the game, basketball conditioning workouts, pickup games, and leagues. Then I added obstacle race training, running for beginners, and soccer conditioning workouts.

This suited me just fine because my daytime, full-time position as Director of Fitness was where personal training, group fitness, and general exercise took place. The pandemic changed things in major ways. First, sports were canceled. Then I ended up unemployed and trying to figure out what was next. What I created is a hybrid model where sports and fitness can come together. Sports are in person, and everything else is online.

My WHY is because I believe everyone deserves a chance to live a healthy and fit life. I believe everyone can make positive changes. That just because a disease may run in our families, we do not have to wait around to die. I believe that with the right education, tools, and resources, people can prevent some of their ailments or control them through exercise, nutrition, and stress management. I believe that I can truly make a difference. I also believe that a lot of the information put out there is utter crap and that people deserve authentic, honest information and should always look at more than one source.

Let’s live fitter, more athletically together!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

  1. Making it through the pandemic is an accomplishment. My industry took a beating and is still slowly trying to recover. As a business owner, I am happy that I was able to convert my business offerings quickly to another model.
  2. New businesses pop up all the time, but many go out of business. The fact that I am still here fighting for my dream is an accomplishment.
  3. I have gotten to the stage where I have added a couple of fitness independent contractors to MAXFIT 360. This is a really big accomplishment because though revenue is not quite where I would like it to be, having the help frees up some of my time to allow me the chance to focus on the vision and growth of my business. Being a solo entrepreneur is a lot of work, especially when it is all on your own. Having help is setting the stage for me to scale.
  4. MAXFIT 360 now has apparel and an online store. This was a labor of love and took a lot of time and effort. However, people can now show support in their MAXFIT 360 hoodies or pants or simply purchase items needed for a class, such as branded fitness mats, yoga blocks, stretching straps, water bottles, and more!
  5. MAXFIT 360 was an exhibitor at the NYC small business expo in June 2024

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is that if something doesn't work, I am the fall person. As a business owner, it is so much more than just managing a department or a team. I am the marketer, the website tech, the head coach, the accountant, the program creator, the primary contact, and everything else. This can mean some days are very long. This can mean not always putting my personal self-care first.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Try and fail; never fail to try. Not everything will work, and not everything will go according to plan, but do not let that stop you from trying. Start even if you think you need more time or do not think it is perfect. Trying something is typically better than not trying at all. If the product, service, or idea doesn't work, you can take what you learned and try again.
  2. Create a business that you will be excited to work in and on. It does not have to be your passion, but it should hold your interest. If you don't like the type of business you create, you may be less committed to putting in the time.
  3. Be patient and willing to learn. A seed doesn't grow overnight. You may need to give yourself more time to get to the place you want to be as a business and as a business owner. Ask others for their feedback, test your market, and don't forget to give yourself time and ask lots of questions.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I aim to make a difference in my clients' lives that gives them a better quality of life! Starting my own business and then stepping into it full-time was the best choice I have made for me. It is a lot of work. Not each day is a win. But at the end of it all, I am doing it. I am setting an example to others that they, too, can do it if they want.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.maxfit360.fit/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAXFIT360
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxfit.360/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maxfit360/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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