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Updated RecentlyFun Bus vs Contours Express Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Fun Bus vs Contours Express including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $85,500 - $160,500 | $35,000 - $50,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $12,500 |
| Royalty Fee | 7% | $395/mo. |
| Advertising Fee | - | - |
| Year Founded | 2000 | 1998 |
| Year Franchised | 2003 | 1998 |
| Term Of Agreement | 5 years | 10 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 5 years | 10 years |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of current franchise fee | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | - | - |
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/No | No/No |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | No/No |
| Equipment | No/No | No/Yes |
| Inventory | No/No | No/No |
| Receivables | No/No | No/No |
| Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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| Training | - | - |
| Support | Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | 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 slicks | Ad slicks |
| 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. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | - | - |
| Canada Expansion | No | No |
| International Expansion | No | Yes |
Company Overviews
About Fun Bus
It's more than an bus. It's an experience...Fun Bus is THE children's "FUN Fitness Program", with a low-cost, highly profitable operating system offering a FUN time, FUN talk and a FUN experience for everyone. The Company's foundation is solid and based on our experienced and dedicated people. We are the first to make this type of business affordable, and for that reason, our group of Franchisees will be at the forefront of an industry that just now is coming into its own. Presidents Message The children's fitness industry has exploded over the last few years and will continue to grow at a very fast pace. Our franchise package has been developed and designed to respond to childrens' wants and expectations when it comes to fun in a wholesome SAFE place. We are a new industry much like the sub sandwich shops industry was 15 years ago. As a Fun Bus Franchisee you will be in on the ground floor and staking your claim in this billion dollar industry. The Friendship Factory commitment to value and concern for safety will give you the foundation you could not possibly get - until now! A Dynamic Plan for Your Growth. By focusing our energies on quality, Fun Bus operating plan is enabling our Franchisees to increase sales, lower costs and increase cash flow, placing you in an even stronger position to succeed. In Numbers there is Strength. By becoming one of our Franchisees, you join an elite group chosen for their ability, knowledge, and a sincere desire to grow professionally. By grouping together, the benefit of numbers takes effect. This tremendous power gives you the advantage in purchasing and advertising. This strength is more important today than ever before.
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.