Curves vs Smart for Life Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Curves Franchise
Smart for Life Franchise
Investment $115,600 - $243,200N/A
Franchise Fee $39,900N/A
Royalty Fee 5%-
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19922002
Year Franchised 19952004
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Curves Franchise
Smart for Life Franchise
Experience
  • Financially stable
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Curves Franchise
    Smart for Life Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Curves Franchise
    Smart for Life Franchise
    Training At regional meetings (full day), convention (3 days), local events (1 day)-
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
    Operations 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
     
    Curves Franchise
    Smart for Life Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    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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    #32 on Franchise Rankings.com

    About Smart for Life

    The premier physician supervised weight management program offering natural and organic cookie squares along with shakes and soups as meal replacements plus other innovative weight management approaches.