| ||||
Updated RecentlyContours Express vs Express Train Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Contours Express vs Express Train including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
||
| Investment | $35,000 - $50,000 | $73,700 - $130,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $12,500 | $37,900 |
| Royalty Fee | $395/mo. | 5% |
| Advertising Fee | - | 3% |
| Year Founded | 1998 | 2005 |
| Year Franchised | 1998 | 2005 |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 Years |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 Years |
| Renewal Fee | - | $5000 |
Business Experience Requirements |
||
| Experience | - | - |
Financing Options |
||
| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/No | -/- |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | -/- |
| Equipment | No/Yes | -/- |
| Inventory | No/No | -/- |
| Receivables | No/No | -/- |
| Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
||
| Training | - | * Available at headquarters: 3 days * At franchisee's location: 3 days |
| 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 | National Marketing Campaign On Going Training Support Visits Marketing Support Person Training & Certification Support Person Human Resources Support & Hiring Support Annual Franchisee Conference |
| Marketing | 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 |
||
| US Expansion | - | - |
| Canada Expansion | No | - |
| International Expansion | Yes | - |
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 Express Train
Express Train Fitness for Men was born out of a need to provide men with an alternative to the large "Social Gyms" that have become the norm in today's fitness industry. This gives them a place where they can feel comfortable and receive the guidance and support needed to achieve the goals they set for themselves with regard to health and fitness. Express Train Fitness for Men provides an atmosphere in which we promote good physical fitness habits along with nutritional guidance without the hard-sell environment of the other gyms. Our memberships provide for all the instruction and guidance at no extra charge to the client. Our main goals are to help our members reach and maintain their visions of health and fitness. OUR GOALS ARE OUR MEMBERS GOALS