What does it really look like to follow a bigger calling and build a fitness brand with faith at the center? In this episode of the FitBiz Accelerator Podcast, host Tobias Young sits down with Erica Carter — owner, founder, franchisor, and certified Pilates instructor behind Prayers & Pilates, a faith-based reformer Pilates and infrared sauna studio.

After 15 years in real estate (rising to VP of Sales for a major DFW home builder), Erica felt called by God to step away and build something deeper. That calling became Prayers & Pilates — and today the brand is preparing to open its third location, with its first franchise studio launching this summer.

In this conversation we dig into:

• How Erica turned a personal home-studio gratitude wall into a growing faith-based franchise
• Why she leads boldly with faith — and how she keeps the studio welcoming for everyone
• Shifting members from ”I have to work out” to ”I get to” through gratitude and movement
• How faith reshapes the way members view their bodies, confidence, and health
• Building genuine community (and why community came BEFORE the franchise)
• The real growing pains of scaling from one location to three
• Hiring slow, firing quick, and protecting culture as you grow
• Why she built SOPs, manuals, and ”copy-and-paste” systems before franchising
• Overcoming fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome as a purpose-driven founder
• What actually makes a fitness brand memorable — experience over service

Whether you're a fitness coach, studio owner, gym owner, or online personal trainer looking to launch, grow, and scale a business that creates real impact, income, and freedom — this episode is packed with practical business lessons and faith-driven inspiration.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro & meet Erica Carter

01:55 – From 15 years in real estate to feeling the calling

05:00 – Stepping away from a successful career to follow God

09:25 – What real estate taught her about building a brand

11:07 – The origin story of Prayers & Pilates (the gratitude wall)

12:41 – What makes the studio experience different

13:56 – From ”I have to” to ”I get to”: movement as gratitude

15:05 – How faith changes the way members view their bodies

17:38 – A member transformation story that says it all

19:29 – Why community is the brand's real leverage

20:30 – Scaling to multiple locations & the path to franchising

22:32 – The growing pains nobody sees behind the scenes

24:17 – The hardest part of expanding the business

25:39 – Advice for the overwhelmed studio owner

26:41 – Knowing when to stop doing everything yourself

27:57 – Why franchising became the next step

28:50 – What you must build behind the scenes to franchise

30:02 – Mindset, fear, doubt & staying grounded

31:25 – What makes a fitness brand truly memorable

32:39 – Creating an experience, not just selling a service

34:29 – Rapid fire round with Erica

39:10 – One final message for listeners

39:17 – Where to connect with Prayers & Pilates

📲 CONNECT WITH ERICA CARTER & PRAYERS + PILATES

Don't forget to follow Erica and keep up with the growth of the Prayers & Pilates brand:

🌐 Website: https://www.PrayersandPilates.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prayerspilates/

👍 Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/prayerspilates

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-carter-07b3a739/

🎧 ABOUT THE FITBIZ ACCELERATOR PODCAST

The FitBiz Accelerator Podcast helps fitness coaches, studio owners, and online trainers launch, grow, and scale a business that creates impact, income, and freedom. New episodes packed with real strategies, founder stories, and actionable business advice.

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