Contours Express vs LA Weight Loss Centers Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Contours Express Franchise
LA Weight Loss Centers Franchise
Investment $35,000 - $50,000$67,200 - $120,400
Franchise Fee $12,500$20,000
Royalty Fee $395/mo.7%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19981989
Year Franchised 19981998
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Contours Express Franchise
LA Weight Loss Centers Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Contours Express Franchise
LA Weight Loss Centers Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/NoYes/No
Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
Receivables No/NoNo/No
Payroll No/NoNo/No

Training & Support

 
Contours Express Franchise
LA Weight Loss Centers Franchise
Training --
Support 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

Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations
Marketing Ad slicksAd 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. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

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Expansion Plans

 
Contours Express Franchise
LA Weight Loss Centers Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion NoNo
International Expansion YesYes

Company Overviews

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.

About LA Weight Loss Centers