With a passion for sport and fitness, Mody from Oxford wanted to start his own personal training space and business called Stable Strength – and he got the support to do it with a Start Up Loan from Let’s Do Business Finance.

Mody owner of Stable Strength Oxford with text 'Build Strength, Build Confidence' — *Stable Strength on Facebook*

Originally from Lithuania, Mody moved to the UK in 2014 and started work in a car parts warehouse, progressing to forklift driver and later team leader. He then moved into a storesman role at a research and development company before deciding to pursue his long-term passion: sport and physical training.

“I’ve played every sport that was available to me — from basketball to boxing to mountain biking. It’s the one thing I’ve never drifted away from,” he says.

He qualified as a personal trainer and landed a job at Nuffield Health just before the country went into lockdown in March 2020.

“It was rough timing. I’d just started, and everything shut down. But Nuffield offered to redeploy some of us into private hospitals so we could keep working — I took that offer straight away.”

That opportunity turned out to be critical. With uncertainty around job security at the gym, a colleague at Nuffield decided to go self-employed, allowing Mody to keep his role. When gyms reopened, he was offered a role at Nuffield Health Club in Oxford, and also took on additional work at a private training studio.

“I was always learning, seeing what worked and what didn’t. Eventually I realised I wanted to build something of my own.”

Mody owner of Stable Strength with client in yoga pose

Turning an Idea Into a Business

After gaining years of experience and refining his approach, Mody began to search for his own space — a studio that could reflect the kind of training environment he believed in. Once he found the right unit, he started looking for financial support to cover the early costs: rent, equipment, setup, and marketing.

That’s when he discovered the Start Up Loans programme and applied through Let’s Do Business Finance.

“My girlfriend actually heard about it from a client. I applied online, and even though English is my second language, the process was straightforward.”

Let’s Do Business Finance is an official delivery partner of The Start Up Loans Company and British Business Bank, and is able to provide Start Up Loans of up to £25,000 to aspiring entrepreneurs and businesses that have been trading for under three years. Through their work under the Start Up Loan scheme, the Let’s Do Business Finance team has helped countless entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality, enabling business launches across the South East and East of England.

Mody worked closely with Chris Smith, a Business Manager at Let’s Do Business Finance, who offered guidance throughout the process.

“One bit of advice that really helped was to split the loan into two parts. That gave me breathing room when delays hit.”

Flexible Finance That Backed the Vision

Mody received a £15,000 Start Up Loan in two tranches — £10,000 first, followed by £5,000 — which proved essential in navigating the early stages of launching Stable Strength.

“Things always take longer and cost more than you expect. That second tranche was a safety net when the studio didn’t open in time for the peak season,” he says.

The loan covered the studio deposit, high-quality gym flooring, essential training equipment, and — importantly — marketing.

“A lot of people blow the whole budget on kit and forget to advertise. For me, Facebook ads were just as important as paying rent.”

Building a Business Designed to Grow

Stable Strength delivers semi-private training sessions with a maximum of four people per group — offering clients focused attention in a more affordable format than 1-to-1 coaching.

The business has grown steadily since launch. Mody continues to advertise, has expanded the session schedule, and is planning to bring on another trainer to meet demand. He’s also exploring online coaching and digital products to scale further.

“I treat marketing like rent — it’s a non-negotiable cost if you want to grow consistently,” he says.

What’s Next for Stable Strength?

● Filling the studio to full capacity

● Hiring additional coaches

● Expanding into online coaching

● Building passive income streams alongside in-person training

“This opportunity changed everything. A Start Up Loan is one of the smartest risks you can take. Even if it doesn’t go as planned, you walk away with real experience.”

Want to see more from Mody and how his business Stable Strength is growing? See all about it on Facebook, his website, or find him at his studio at Unit 14, Chiltern Business Centre, OX4 6NG!

Backing Entrepreneurs Like Mody

At Let’s Do Business Finance, we’re proud to support ambitious individuals like Mody who want to build something of their own. Our Start Up Loans provide more than just funding — we offer expert guidance to help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life.

If you’re ready to turn your business idea into a reality, get in touch today.