Shred415 vs Contours Express Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Shred415 vs Contours Express including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Shred415 Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
Investment $440,280 - $959,200$35,000 - $50,000
Franchise Fee $50,000$12,500
Royalty Fee 8%$395/mo.
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19861998
Year Franchised 20041998
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Shred415 Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
Shred415 Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
Inventory No/NoNo/No
Receivables No/NoNo/No
Payroll No/NoNo/No

Training & Support
 
Shred415 Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
Training On-The-Job Training: 48 hours Classroom Training: 32 hours -
Support Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet

# Protected Territory # 5 days of Training at Contours Express University # 3-Day Training at your gym # Adjustable Weight Stack Equipment # 16 Stations - 4 extra stations optional # Butt-n-Gut cd # Preferred Vendor Discounts # Unlimited Ongoing Training # Advertising and Marketing Advice # 24/7 Online Marketing Materials Library # Personal Gym Website # Prepared PowerPoint Marketing Presentations # Nutritional Counseling Program - C.O.R.E. # Site Selection Assistance

Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/appAd slicks
Operations Absentee Ownership Allowed 50% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
 
Shred415 Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
US Expansion Yes-
Canada Expansion NoNo
International Expansion YesYes

Company Overviews

About Shred415

The Shred415 experience is an instructor-led dynamic interval training class that tar‍‍‍gets all levels of clients. Created by Chicago fitness experts Bonnie Micheli and Tracy Roemer, who bring more than 25 years of fitness-training experience, the 60-minute workout alternates between treadmill and floor training and leaves its loyal fan base empowered and motivated.
 

Differentiated against key competition, The Shred415 experience is an instructor-led dynamic interval training class that tar‍‍‍gets all levels of clients.
Veteran Incentives  $1,500 off franchise fee
 

About Contours Express

After operating coed clubs, working as consultants and working in other areas of the fitness industry, Daren Carter, Mike Widener and Charlie Woodward joined forces to create a fitness center just for women. In 1998, the partners founded Contours Express, a women-only center catering to towns with populations too small to support a full-scale, coed gym.

Contours Express members follow a 29-minute cue tape that keeps them moving through aerobic stations and strength training machines. A fitness trainer (the franchisee or an employee) works with the members during their workouts, providing motivation and other services.

Clubs, which are usually located in strip centers, are about 1,200 square feet in size and can accommodate up to 20 members at a time.