ShapeXpress vs Ellipse Fitness Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
ShapeXpress Franchise
Ellipse Fitness Franchise
Investment $89,500 - $152,000$80,000 - $120,000
Franchise Fee $20,000$29,000
Royalty Fee Varies5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 20022002
Year Franchised 20032006
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee $2.5K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
ShapeXpress Franchise
Ellipse Fitness Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Sales skills, previous employee supervision skills
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    ShapeXpress Franchise
    Ellipse Fitness Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/Yes-/-

    Training & Support
     
    ShapeXpress Franchise
    Ellipse Fitness Franchise
    Training Ongoing-
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, 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)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    ShapeXpress Franchise
    Ellipse Fitness Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    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 Ellipse Fitness

    With combined annual revenue of $15 billion dollars, the fitness industry is hot! We would like to introduce to you, Ellipse Fitness, a different kind of fitness franchise. We're not a 30 minute circuit, not your typical gym. Ellipse provides members a unique "classes only" concept and a state-of-the-art nutrition program, both results driven! Unlike competitor fitness concepts, Ellipse provides both fitness and weight loss, and does them well. With unpublished, unannounced and ever changing classes, exercise programs for all fitness levels, and personalized weight loss, Ellipse has created an amazing niche in the industry. We offer our core program of 7 class times a day. We also offer an AMP'D program of super high-intensity classes. When you join our team you will quickly see that the same passion, dedication, honesty and enthusiasm that we began Ellipse with, has been poured into supporting our franchisees. We are experienced, trained, fitness certified, and ready to bring you the benefits of being part of an established team and a recognized brand. History The first Ellipse Fitness was founded in 2002 because the company saw a need for a facility that specialized in personal attention and goals, rather than weights and equipment. In 2004 Ellipse opened a second location to test the franchise systems. In September 2006 the company began selling franchises, and in January 2007 the first franchise location opened in WI. Ellipse now has several locations in the Midwest and is prepared to go national. Our current franchisees will attest to the fact that this system works! The weight loss and fitness industry has never been in a better position to change the world!