How One Mom Built Community with a FIT4MOM Franchise

Can You Build a Business While Raising a Family?

January 22, 2026 FIT4MOM x Shannon Shondeff

Motherhood has a way of changing the direction of your life in ways you never saw coming. Sometimes those changes are loud and obvious. Other times, they quietly unfold through the people you meet, the communities you join, and the opportunities that slowly start to feel like they were meant for you all along.

For Shannon, owner of FIT4MOM Long Beach, that opportunity came just weeks after becoming a mom. Looking for connection with other moms turned into a career built around fitness, flexibility, and building a village for thousands of families.

Today, Shannon is wife to Matt and mom to Clare (11), Nora (7), Hadley (5), and Hank (9). She is also a business owner who proves that meaningful work and motherhood don’t have to compete.

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Finding FIT4MOM in the Earliest Days of Motherhood

Shannon found FIT4MOM through family friends who happened to meet the previous Long Beach owner during a hospital tour. At the time, Shannon had just welcomed her first baby and was navigating those early postpartum weeks when everything felt new, and overwhelming, and tenderg.

She joined FIT4MOM when her oldest was just 7 weeks old.

What followed happened quickly. Within a month of attending classes, Shannon was hired as an instructor and began teaching afternoon Stroller Strides classes. What she didn’t know then was that this small step would set the foundation for a future she hadn’t planned for, but would grow to love.

From Instructor to Owner

Shannon’s immediate response when she heard FIT4MOM Long Beach was for sale? No. But encouragement came from all sides. Her FIT4MOM friends, her husband, and her brother-in-law saw something she hadn’t yet seen in herself.

After taking time to reflect, she realized the opportunity felt right.

Looking back now, Shannon calls becoming a FIT4MOM franchise owner one of the best decisions she ever made.

Being a FIT4MOM owner allows her to earn a full-time income while doing work she genuinely loves. It also allows her to remain deeply involved in her kids’ lives. She’s able to attend activities, serve as PTA President, co-lead a preschool co-op, and still run a successful business.

For many moms searching for at-home mom jobs that offer both flexibility and fulfillment, her story shows what’s possible when the right opportunity meets the right season.

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Support That Makes Ownership Doable

One of the biggest factors in Shannon’s success has been the peer-to-peer support within the FIT4MOM franchise network.

Connecting with other franchise owners has helped her try new ideas, navigate challenges, and feel supported every step of the way. That shared experience creates confidence and momentum, especially for moms who are stepping into business ownership for the first time.

She credits the community focus of FIT4MOM, and that her Village extends well beyond local classes.

Fitness, Community, and Purpose All in One

When Shannon talks about why FIT4MOM felt like the right fit, it’s clear there was never just one reason.

“Community was something I didn’t even realize I needed in motherhood until I found it with FIT4MOM, she says. “The support, connection, and encouragement have been life-changing, and I truly believe all moms need FIT4MOM.”

For Shannon, ownership also opened the door to something many moms crave but struggle to find. Purpose outside of motherhood that still honors family life.

“Finding purpose outside of motherhood has been incredibly meaningful,” she explains. “It has been amazing to bring in a full-time income and run a business while still being a mom. The flexibility allows me to be present for my kids while building something fulfilling and impactful.”

That balance is what makes FIT4MOM work so well for moms exploring flexible careers or home-based business opportunities that fit around real family life rather than competing with it.

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Why FIT4MOM Instead of a Traditional 9-to-5

Shannon wasn’t searching for a new job when FIT4MOM entered her life. She started as a mom in class. Then she became an instructor as a way to stay connected to the community she loved. When the opportunity to purchase the franchise came along, it felt like a natural next step rather than a career pivot.

Owning FIT4MOM has elevated her family financially and opened doors that a traditional 9-to-5 never could. The flexibility, autonomy, and purpose built into the business model created space for both personal and professional growth.

What She Loves Most

When you ask Shannon what she loves most about being a FIT4MOM franchise owner, her answer comes easily.

“That moment when they realize they’re not alone anymore,” she gushes. “The joy on moms’ faces when they find their village, that’s everything.”

She adds how powerful it is to watch friendships form and confidence return, sometimes slowly and sometimes all at once. Moms come to class looking for a workout and leave with connection, support, and a sense of belonging they didn’t know they were missing.

“It’s the best job,” Shannon says. “It’s such an incredible way to make an impact in the community while still prioritizing your family.”

For Shannon, the work goes far beyond fitness. It’s about creating a space where moms feel welcomed, supported, and truly seen. And for the families in her Long Beach village, that impact lasts well beyond class time.

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Her Message to Moms Considering Ownership

When asked what she would say to a mom considering ownership, Shannon comes back to one word: purpose.

“Owning a FIT4MOM franchise is more than a business,” she says. “It’s a purpose.”

For moms who are craving something that stretches them while still allowing them to show up fully for their families, Shannon believes FIT4MOM offers something rare.

“If you’re looking for something that helps you grow personally, support other moms, and still prioritize your family, this is it,” she explains. “FIT4MOM gives you the support, structure, and community to turn your love for motherhood and wellness into something meaningful, impactful, and financially rewarding.”

For Shannon, that combination of purpose, flexibility, and support is what makes FIT4MOM ownership feel not only possible, but deeply fulfilling.

FIT4MOM Long Beach is just one example of what can happen when a mom follows a nudge toward connection and says yes to an opportunity that fits her life. For Shannon, it has meant building a business that supports her family while creating a village that supports so many others.

And for the moms she serves every day, that village makes all the difference.

FIND YOUR FIT4MOM