Curves vs Bally Total Fitness Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Curves Franchise
Bally Total Fitness Franchise
Investment $115,600 - $243,200$1,000,000 - $2,500,000
Franchise Fee $39,900N/A
Royalty Fee 5%-
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19921962
Year Franchised 19951997
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Curves Franchise
Bally Total Fitness Franchise
Experience
  • Financially stable
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Curves Franchise
    Bally Total Fitness Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    Curves Franchise
    Bally Total Fitness 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/evaluations-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad 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. (70% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Curves Franchise
    Bally Total Fitness Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    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 Bally Total Fitness

    NO LONGER FRANCHISING