Ep115 Shirley Chan, HIIT Pilates, Surry Hills – Franchise Studio Owner Journey

Shirley Chan is the First-ever Franchise Owner of HIIT Pilates, Launching her Studio in Surry Hills while Still Working Full-time as A Chartered Accountant.

With a background in finance and international experience in Toronto and London, Shirley never imagined she’d find herself in the fitness industry, let alone owning a Pilates studio. But a long-standing connection with HIIT Pilates founder Carla Sconce, and a personal decision to try something new, set her on a very different path.

After completing the HIIT Pilates Academy training, Shirley began teaching on weekends while juggling her demanding career. What started as a side interest soon evolved into a serious conversation about franchising. Over the course of a year, she and Carla worked through the details, location, setup, support and eventually launched the first HIIT Pilates franchise in early January 2025.

In this episode, Shirley shares the full journey from training and startup challenges to marketing her studio, building community, and learning on the fly. She talks openly about time management, the benefits of a franchise model, and her long-term vision to grow into multiple studios with a strong team around her.

This is a real and relatable story about starting something new, backed by belief, structure, and plenty of late nights.