Entrepreneurs: How Posting TikTok Videos Built a National Fitness Franchise with Stacey Iltis & Kari Schroeder

Richard Gearhart and Elizabeth Gearhart, co-hosts of the Passage to Profit Show interview Stacey Iltis and Kari Schroeder from Fly Dance Fitness.

Stacey Iltis and Kari Schroeder, co-founders of Fly Dance Fitness, reveal how they turned a single local dance studio into one of the fastest-growing fitness franchises in the U.S.—without traditional business experience. In this episode of Passage to Profit, they share how leveraging social media, embracing authenticity, and building a powerful community-first brand helped them go viral during the pandemic and scale to 20+ locations. Learn their strategy for franchising, creating demand through content, and why their success has less to do with fitness—and everything to do with connection, timing, and bold decision-making. Read more at: https://www.flydancefitness.com/

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, startup founder, inventor, or small business owner, the Passage to Profit Show is a leading podcast for insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, intellectual property and business strategy. Hosted by Richard Gearhart and Elizabeth Gearhart, the show features industry leaders, investors, and founders who share real-world lessons on scaling companies, protecting ideas, building generational wealth, and navigating today’s evolving business landscape. Visit https://passagetoprofitshow.com/ for the latest episodes, expert interviews, and resources designed to help you grow, protect, and profit from your ideas.