Curves vs Contours Express Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Curves Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
Investment $115,600 - $243,200$35,000 - $50,000
Franchise Fee $39,900$12,500
Royalty Fee 5%$395/mo.
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19921998
Year Franchised 19951998
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Curves Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
Experience
  • Financially stable
  • -

    Financing Options

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

    Training & Support

     
    Curves Franchise
    Contours Express Franchise
    Training At regional meetings (full day), convention (3 days), local events (1 day)-
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluationsNewsletter, 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, National media, Regional advertisingAd 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. (70% 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

     
    Curves Franchise
    Contours Express Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Curves

    At the age of 20, pre-med student Gary Heavin had taken over a failing fitness center in Houston, turning the business around and, within five years, opened six more centers. After 10 years and 17 centers, Heavin's business went under. Not wanting to give up, Heavin took lessons from the strengths and weaknesses of his first chain and decided to open a second. In 1992, Heavin opened Curves for Women, a women-only fitness center, in Harlingen, Texas. The company began franchising in 1995.

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    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.