# Jim Bottin

> Jim Bottin founded American Billing Company in 1981 after operating fitness clubs in Arkansas and Texas. The business became ABC Financial and later ABC Fitness. His career began in martial arts instruction after U.S. Air Force service; he was inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2018 and discussed his retirement that year.

- **Role:** Retired founder of ABC Financial, now ABC Fitness (retirement reported in 2018)
- **Organizations:** ABC Financial / ABC Fitness, American Billing Company, Jim Bottin’s Nautilus Plus, United States Air Force
- **Education:** Harrison Central High School
- **Known for:** Founded the billing business that became ABC Financial and ABC Fitness., Built a fitness-club operation spanning Arkansas and Texas., Inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2018.

## Career timeline

- **1969** — Graduated from Harrison Central High School and entered the U.S. Air Force.
- **1969-1974** — Served five years in the U.S. Air Force, including two years in Taiwan, where he learned taekwondo.
- **1974** — Borrowed $1,200 from his parents to buy into a martial arts studio in Jacksonville, Arkansas.
- **1974-1975** — Became sole owner within one year of the studio investment.
- **1980s** — Operated 13 fitness centers in Arkansas and Texas; developed the Nautilus Plus business.
- **1981** — Founded American Billing Company to manage club membership dues.
- **2011** — As CEO, led a company serving more than 3,000 clubs; ABC announced 100 additional Sherwood jobs.
- **2015** — As founder and chairman, announced Paul Schaller’s promotion to CEO and president.
- **2017** — Thoma Bravo announced an agreement to acquire ABC Financial on November 8; financial terms were not disclosed.
- **2018** — Publicly discussed retirement; inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame on February 9.

## Achievements

- Founded the billing business that became ABC Financial and ABC Fitness.
- Built a fitness-club operation spanning Arkansas and Texas.
- Inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2018.
- ABC served more than 6,700 clubs across North America and Europe at the November 2017 acquisition announcement.

## Latest updates

- **2018-02** — Discussed his retirement and support for ABC’s next chapter under Thoma Bravo in a published interview.
- **2018-02** — Inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame on February 9.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jim-bottin
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21