Levenson named Ernst & Young emerging entrepreneur of the year

Jetts Fitness founder Brendon Levenson has won the national Emerging category at Ernst & Young Australia's entrepreneur of the year awards.

The 33-year-old founded the company in mid-2007 on the Gold Coast with wife Cristy, after the pair ran two previous gyms in their mid-20s.

In just five years, Jetts has opened 193 gyms across Australia and New Zealand - six of them are company-owned and the remainder are franchises.

This year it was named as Australia's fastest growing franchise in BRW's Fast Franchises list.

Levenson, who was raised by his single mother in public housing, is opening new gyms at the rate of 50 to 55 a year.

By 2015, Levenson plans to have 350 gyms in Australia and New Zealand, and by 2030 the target is 2000 gyms worldwide.

Franchised 24/7 fitness club franchises have transformed the fitness market in recent years with a business model based on no contracts and lower costs.

Here Levenson adds " the core essence of Jetts is about freedom of choice."
Levenson, who launched Jetts with $40,000 in capital and a bank overdraft, says when he and his wife met at the age of about 24 "that's when everything started to really take off.

"I put on my (Ernst & Young) application that the secret ingredient to success is love."

Image: Cristy and Brendon Levenson.