Fitness Together vs Contours Express Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Fitness Together Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
Investment $189,162 - $328,576$35,000 - $50,000
Franchise Fee $39,900$12,500
Royalty Fee 6%$395/mo.
Advertising Fee 2%-
Year Founded 19841998
Year Franchised 19961998
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee 25% of current franchise fee-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Fitness Together Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Fitness Together Franchise
    Contours Express Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Fitness Together Franchise
    Contours Express Franchise
    Training Classroom Training: 40 hours -
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform 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 Network Support Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/appAd slicks
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 5

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    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

     
    Fitness Together Franchise
    Contours Express Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About Fitness Together

    Established by Rick Sikorski in 1983, Fitness Together offers individual instructional courses to customers between the ages of 15 and 80. The organization, which started diversifying in 1996, works diversified studios over the United States.

    Best 5 reasons why you ought to consider owning a Fitness Together establishment:

    - A one of a kind private preparing idea
    - Solid establishment bolster with more than 30 years involvement in the individual preparing industry.
    - Set up working frameworks that use best business hones.
    - The chance to change lives with enhanced wellness and wellbeing

    - Proposals for showcasing and advancement of your studio

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Fitness Together studio ranges from $189,162 to $328,576. This includes $43,559 to $48,559 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Fitness Together area development franchise ranges from $79,800 (for a 2-studio commitment) to $299,000 (for a 10-studio commitment). This entire amount must be paid to the franchisor.

    VetFran incentive - 20% off the initial franchise fee

    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.