Fleet Feet Powers Peer Groups with Strategic Financial Training

Fleet Feet wanted to set the right tone for its first-ever performance group from day one. Rather than typical surface-level discussions, leadership sought to establish a culture where financial literacy drives meaningful peer coaching, elevated group discussions, and informed goal setting.

CHALLENGE: To launch a  performance group initiative with a strong financial foundation, encouraging members to engage in strategic financial reviews immediately, be open to giving and receiving feedback, and commit to strong, data-driven goals.

SOLUTION: Before their first in-person meeting, each group member completed Profit Soup Online’s Breakeven PLUS series and participated in a Profit Lab cohort, co-facilitated by a Profit Soup coach and the Fleet Feet Director of Franchise Support.  For the meeting, each member-company was prepared to set a sales goal based on a target profit and benchmark their “Magic Number” and other key metrics. With the training done in advance, they were able to spend valuable meeting time brainstorming profitable strategies and take their financial learning to the next level – application.

IMPACT: Online financial training and the Profit Lab experience produced   three distinct advantages for Fleet Feet’s performance group initiative :

Financial Reviews Elevated: Armed with a standard financial vocabulary, group discussions moved beyond basic metrics to strategic analysis. Owners focused on drivers to improve profitability and cash flow, not just top-line revenue comparisons.

Stronger Peer Coaching: With the increased financial acumen and practice in peer coaching gained from their online training and Profit Lab experience,  members were effective coaches for one another, a rarity for a first meeting, particularly for an inaugural group. The conversations throughout the meeting sparked insights and the sharing of specific, actionable feedback.

Goals That Drive Results: Owners set measurable goals based on an informed, realistic appraisal of their current situation. Benchmarks showed what was possible, and valuable input from their peers honed their final commitments. There was a visible shift in thinking, from “hoping for profit” to “planning for profit.” These goals then became the framework for ongoing performance tracking and peer accountability

“The magic of Profit Labs and Profit Soup Online is the intentional way it brings entrepreneurs together. When everyone’s speaking the same financial language, the conversations change. Owners start coaching each other, asking better questions, and seeing their business through a clearer, more honest lens.”

Benjamin Heimlich, Director of Franchise Support, Fleet Feet

The takeaway: By using online financial training and cohort discussions to establish financial foundations before their first meeting, Fleet Feet created a “From Discussion to Decisions” environment, where peer coaching delivers immediate impact, and goal setting drives future sustainable growth.