- What was your background (personal, educational, commercial) before you invested in the franchise?
- Before investing in Altitude, I worked in construction project management. While that career taught me a lot about leadership and logistics, I found myself wanting more—more flexibility, greater financial upside, and the ability to be in control of my own future. I also wanted something that could involve my entire family.
Brandon Gadish
- When did you join the franchise and what stage of your business journey are you at?
- We opened our first Altitude location in Spokane, WA, after working with the original founders. That journey began several years ago, and we’ve since sold that location (in 2023) and opened two others: one in Nashville, TN (2022) and another in Austell, GA (2023). We’re in the growth and multi-unit stage of our business journey now, with long-term plans to continue scaling.
- Did you consider any other franchises before investing in this particular brand and if so, what factors influenced you to choose this one over the others?
- Yes, we reviewed all the major youth entertainment franchises before choosing Altitude. It ultimately came down to a combination of gut instinct and the fact that Altitude aligned with four core criteria:
- The ability to earn a strong income from a single unit
- A business model Amazon couldn’t disrupt
- An operation our entire family could participate in
- Scalability without requiring us to be in the business full-time
- Yes, we reviewed all the major youth entertainment franchises before choosing Altitude. It ultimately came down to a combination of gut instinct and the fact that Altitude aligned with four core criteria:
- What is your view of the franchise’s product/service? What competitive advantages and disadvantages does it have?
- I think Altitude offers a high-value, in-person experience that continues to resonate with families. It can’t be replaced by technology, and it’s built around active play and fun. Our biggest competitive advantage is our people and culture—the way we train and retain our teams is a big differentiator. On the flip side, like any service business, managing staffing and maintaining a consistent customer experience can be ongoing challenges.
- What initial training and support did you receive? Was there anything that was missing/lacking from the initial training and onboarding experience?
- Altitude provided a solid foundation of training and support during onboarding. As one of the early franchisees, I’ve seen how both the brand and the support systems have grown over time. While there were certainly learning curves early on—as there are with any emerging brand—the team has always been willing to listen and evolve based on feedback.
- What is the ongoing support like? How easy is it to get in touch with the franchisor and head office team if there is a problem, challenge or issue?
- Ongoing support has been strong. The franchisor is very open to feedback and wants to see parks succeed. I’ve always been able to reach the team when needed, and I think there’s a true collaborative spirit within the system that helps us navigate challenges together.
- How easy or difficult have you found it to market the franchise locally? How does the franchisor assist and support with marketing?
- Marketing locally takes work, but it’s very doable—especially when you lean into community partnerships and events. Our general managers play a key role in building those relationships. The franchisor provides marketing materials and strategy guidance, which helps streamline the process.
- How long was it before you saw a return on investment?
- It varies by location, but with the right setup and management, you can see returns fairly quickly—especially compared to other franchises where multiple units are required to hit financial goals. We specifically chose this model because one location had the potential to meet our family’s financial needs.
- Were there any unexpected costs?
- Like any business, you’ll run into unexpected challenges and costs—especially in areas like insurance or staffing. But nothing that wasn’t manageable or outside of what I’d expect as part of running a business.
- What have been your biggest challenges to date? How have you managed to overcome them? What help has the franchisor provided?
- We’ve experienced challenges in staffing, COVID, insurance hurdles, marketing, and more. We’ve overcome them through a mix of creative problem-solving, having great local managers, and leaning on support from the franchisor and our fellow franchisees. One of our proudest successes is helping our kids learn how to run the business alongside us.
- What does your working day/week look like?
- I’m not in the parks every day, and that was intentional when we chose this model. A typical week involves checking in with general managers, reviewing performance, working on marketing or strategy, and sometimes jumping in more directly if needed. It’s a balance that allows us to stay involved without being tied to the day-to-day operations.
- What is being part of the franchise network like? Do you have much communication with other franchisees and does the franchisor encourage this?
- Yes—there’s a strong sense of community among franchisees. We share ideas, help solve common problems, and offer each other advice. The franchisor encourages communication and is constantly trying to improve collaboration across the network.
- Has the franchise met your needs and expectations, both financially and otherwise?
- Absolutely. It’s met both our financial and lifestyle goals, while also allowing us to involve our family in the business. Watching our children grow into business leaders has been the most rewarding part of the journey.
- Is there anything that you would do differently so far in your business journey?
- Like anyone who has been in business for a while, I’ve learned a lot. I’d probably take more time on staffing decisions earlier on and lean into operational systems sooner. But overall, I don’t have any major regrets.
- If you could start again, would you still buy this same franchise? Or a different one
- Yes—I’d absolutely choose Altitude Trampoline Park again. The model works, the support is strong, and it fits what we were looking for in both a business and a lifestyle.