From Setbacks to Success: Launching a Gym in Harbeson, Delaware

For Dan and Erica Horn, the decision to open Peak Fitness Training was the perfect combination—decades of managing people and operations, a family with a background in health, and a local community ready for a new kind of fitness home.

Located in Harbeson, Delaware, Horn is committed to “dotting the ‘i’s’ and crossing the ‘t’s’ for members” with pin-loaded and cardio equipment, free weights, a dedicated section with competition benches and platforms, and a turf area for classes.

“We try to wrap as much as possible into one space to accommodate all types of members,” said Dan Horn of the business that opened in 2025. “We wanted something that wasn’t just a big box gym. It needed to feel local.”

A community feel was important to Horn as he chose the location with care, informed by population data, potential competitors, and a clear view of future development. With access to infrastructure plans through his day job, he anticipated thousands of new households and businesses within a five-mile radius in the coming years.

With just a little less than a year under his belt, Horn is seeing his strategy play out with early success and positive reviews. But it’s the gym’s local identity that he says sets them apart by sponsoring community events, donating memberships to silent auctions, and staying active with the local Chamber.

“When you’re part of the community, people feel it,” Horn said.

The result is a gym where the owners are on the floor, instructors know members by name, and cleanliness and hospitality are non-negotiable. Adding to the personal feel, is family connections. Horn’s son, Cameron, is a certified personal trainer, instructor, and manages day-to-day operations. His daughter, Kayla, manages the front desk and social media accounts. And his wife, Erica, who also works full-time as a nurse, manages the back-office.

“It really is a family business in every sense,” said Horn. “We all come together, and we all play a role.”

Horn’s background with 30-plus years in business management, including franchisee and operations management experience, shaped his journey to open Peak Fitness Training. Like many first-time owners, Horn and his family encountered early setbacks in starting the business – especially when it came to financing.

“We walked into a local bank and were pretty much laughed out of there,” he said. A referral from his real estate partner led him to WSFS Bank where he had an experience centered around service.

“Dan is very business savvy and has the drive of every great entrepreneur,” said Carl Buchholz, VP, SBA Lending Relationship Manager.

Already equipped with a business plan and projections, WSFS served as a trusted advisor helping Horn finalize the proposal and connect him with people who could support him the business process.

“We are with Clients from the beginning to the end, and beyond,” Buchholz said. “We want to partner with them throughout the process. And most importantly, we care.”

When it came time to open the doors for their grand opening, WSFS was there.

“Their guidance went beyond the signatures,” Horn said. “It’s good to know that I can call them at any point and they’ll help me out.”

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