First New York studio marks the next step in the locally headquartered brand’s U.S. growth strategy
FREDERICKSBURG, Va., September 8, 2026 — fit20 USA, the U.S. headquarters of the international strength training franchise, is expanding its national footprint with its first New York studio, expected to open this fall in Miller Place, Long Island.
The milestone extends a franchise system whose U.S. story is rooted in Fredericksburg. fit20 USA is headquartered in Fredericksburg, operates its flagship studio in downtown Fredericksburg and has three locations serving the greater Fredericksburg region. From that local base, fit20 USA now supports studios in Virginia, Texas, Utah, Michigan and Florida, with New York set to become the brand’s sixth U.S. state.
Globally, fit20 has grown to 174 studios across 16 countries and serves more than 24,000 members.
For fit20 USA President and CEO Dr. Ben Litalien, CFE, the New York expansion represents more than another point on the map. It reflects the company’s broader strategy to build a national franchise system from its Fredericksburg headquarters while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs in communities across the country. “Franchising allows us to take what we have built and proven here in Fredericksburg and put it in the hands of local business owners who know their own communities,” Litalien said. “Our vision is not simply to add locations. It is to build a strong national network of locally owned fit20 studios, supported by the infrastructure, training and experience of the team we have built here in Fredericksburg. New York is an important next step, but we are very much looking ahead to what comes after New York.”
Franchising’s growing role in the U.S. economy
fit20 USA’s expansion comes as franchising continues to represent a significant segment of the American economy and a pathway to business ownership. According to the International Franchise Association’s 2026 Franchising Economic Outlook, the United States is projected to reach approximately 845,000 franchise establishments in 2026. Those businesses are expected to support nearly 8.9 million jobs and generate approximately $921.4 billion in economic output.
Franchising also plays a substantial role in Virginia. IFA data show that Virginia had more than 24,000 franchise locations in 2025, employing more than 256,000 people and generating approximately $26.8 billion in revenue.
The model also continues to create an entry point into entrepreneurship. Recent IFA data indicate that 64% of
U.S. franchisees are first-time business owners.
For fit20 USA, those numbers reinforce a central part of its growth strategy: national expansion through local ownership. Each new fit20 franchise brings an independently owned business into its community while drawing on the systems, training, brand infrastructure and operational support developed by the franchisor.
A healthcare entrepreneur brings fit20 to Long Island
The first New York studio will be owned and operated by Giovanni “Gio” Dinsay, PT, a physical therapist, healthcare entrepreneur and founder of Within Normal Limits Physical Therapy, an organization he has grown to 23 locations across Long Island.
Dinsay’s professional background made fit20’s focus on strength, physical function and long-term quality of life a natural extension of the work he has already spent years doing in his community. “As a physical therapist, I see every day how important strength is to the way people move, function and live their lives,” Dinsay said. “What attracted me to fit20 was the opportunity to bring something different to Long Island while building a business that can have a lasting impact in the community I already serve. I know this market, I know the people here, and I believe there is tremendous opportunity ahead for fit20 in New York.”
The Miller Place studio will introduce fit20’s highly personalized strength training model to Long Island and establish a foundation for the brand’s growth in New York.
Building nationally from Fredericksburg
The expansion also highlights an economic story happening at home. Although new fit20 studios are locally owned in markets around the country, franchise development, operational support, training, marketing and system growth are led through fit20 USA’s Fredericksburg headquarters.
That means each new market expands not only the brand’s national presence but also the reach of a franchise organization being built and managed from the Fredericksburg region. “We want Fredericksburg to be known not only as the place where fit20 USA began growing, but as the home of a franchise organization capable of supporting entrepreneurs and businesses across the country,” Litalien said. “There is a tremendous amount of opportunity ahead of us, and we intend to continue building that growth from right here.”
fit20 USA is actively evaluating additional markets and qualified franchise partners as it continues its U.S. expansion. The Miller Place studio is expected to open in fall 2026.