ShapeXpress vs Curves Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
ShapeXpress Franchise
Curves Franchise
Investment $89,500 - $152,000$115,600 - $243,200
Franchise Fee $20,000$39,900
Royalty Fee Varies5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 20021992
Year Franchised 20031995
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Renewal Fee $2.5K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
ShapeXpress Franchise
Curves Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Sales skills, previous employee supervision skills

  • Financially stable
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    ShapeXpress Franchise
    Curves Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    ShapeXpress Franchise
    Curves Franchise
    Training OngoingAt regional meetings (full day), convention (3 days), local events (1 day)
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluationsNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertisingCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (35% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 50% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (70% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    ShapeXpress Franchise
    Curves Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About ShapeXpress

    NO LONGER FRANCHISING

    Proven results for members AND franchisees! Join our success in the $14.8 billion fitness industry! ShapeXpress for Women is setting the standard for women's only fitness franchise opportunities. "Amazing support from the corporate office." That's what our franchisees are saying about ShapeXpress. Support in every area of starting and operating your club: finding a location, negotiating a lease, decor & build-out, financing, marketing, membership sales, daily operations, billing, member tracking, hiring and more. Each franchisee is assigned a Franchise Support Executive to personally assist with setting goals and addressing concerns. Weekly conference calls keep our franchisees in communication with our corporate office and each other. Among U.S. franchises, 65% consist of fewer than 100 stores and 49% have under 50 locations. Compare this to ShapeXpress, which in its first 3 years of offering, has sold over 300 franchises!

    About Curves

    At the age of 20, pre-med student Gary Heavin had taken over a failing fitness center in Houston, turning the business around and, within five years, opened six more centers. After 10 years and 17 centers, Heavin's business went under. Not wanting to give up, Heavin took lessons from the strengths and weaknesses of his first chain and decided to open a second. In 1992, Heavin opened Curves for Women, a women-only fitness center, in Harlingen, Texas. The company began franchising in 1995.

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