Contours Express vs CityRow Fitness Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Contours Express Franchise
CityRow Fitness Franchise
Investment $35,000 - $50,000$253,843 - $609,574
Franchise Fee $12,500N/A
Royalty Fee $395/mo.-
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19982018
Year Franchised 19982018
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Contours Express Franchise
CityRow Fitness Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
Contours Express Franchise
CityRow Fitness Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-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
 
Contours Express Franchise
CityRow Fitness 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

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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)

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Expansion Plans
 
Contours Express Franchise
CityRow Fitness Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
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 CityRow Fitness

"CityRow

Trendy workouts are everywhere - but only the best alter the fitness landscape for good.

Row,row,row your franchise'

Today’s consumer is seeking tailored services that cater to their individual needs, not to the masses. Boutique fitness is replacing crowded, intimidating gyms. It’s changing the way people get fit with effective, hard-hitting workouts that are also a whole lot of fun. The CityRow concept was tested and perfected in New York’s fiercely competitive market. Every aspect, from studio design to instructor training to member retention, has been refined so that you can hit the ground running. Backed by Franworth - the premier franchise development company - CityRow’s proven business model is poised to win markets from coast to coast. Be first in your region with this killer concept and become the breakout brand.

We are looking for franchisees who want to take control of their financial and professional future. Our best franchisees are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get connected to their community. This is a people business first and foremost, so our focus is on the guest experience! Our goal is to make the process of opening a CityRow Studio as easy for you as possible. We will take you through our Discovery Process to ensure that all of your questions are answered and that there is a good mutual fit. You can count on us here at CityRow - we want to see our franchisees succeed.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of one CityRow Fitness Facility is $253,843 to $460,074. This includes $83,927 to $90,985 that must be paid to the franchisor.
The total investment necessary to begin operation as a developer under an Area Development Agreement is $303,843 to 510,074 (3 - CityRow Fitness Facilities) and $403,343 to $609,574 (5 - CityRow Fitness Facilities). The area development fee applicable to each CityRow Fitness Facility will be credited toward the initial franchise fee due under the Franchise Agreement for each CityRow Fitness Facility. To qualify for an Area Development Agreement, you must agree to develop two or more Fitness Facilities.