Curves vs Ellipse Fitness Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Curves Franchise
Ellipse Fitness Franchise
Investment $115,600 - $243,200$80,000 - $120,000
Franchise Fee $39,900$29,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19922002
Year Franchised 19952006
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Curves Franchise
Ellipse Fitness Franchise
Experience
  • Financially stable
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Curves Franchise
    Ellipse 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
    Ellipse 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
    Ellipse Fitness Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    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 Ellipse Fitness

    With combined annual revenue of $15 billion dollars, the fitness industry is hot! We would like to introduce to you, Ellipse Fitness, a different kind of fitness franchise. We're not a 30 minute circuit, not your typical gym. Ellipse provides members a unique "classes only" concept and a state-of-the-art nutrition program, both results driven! Unlike competitor fitness concepts, Ellipse provides both fitness and weight loss, and does them well. With unpublished, unannounced and ever changing classes, exercise programs for all fitness levels, and personalized weight loss, Ellipse has created an amazing niche in the industry. We offer our core program of 7 class times a day. We also offer an AMP'D program of super high-intensity classes. When you join our team you will quickly see that the same passion, dedication, honesty and enthusiasm that we began Ellipse with, has been poured into supporting our franchisees. We are experienced, trained, fitness certified, and ready to bring you the benefits of being part of an established team and a recognized brand. History The first Ellipse Fitness was founded in 2002 because the company saw a need for a facility that specialized in personal attention and goals, rather than weights and equipment. In 2004 Ellipse opened a second location to test the franchise systems. In September 2006 the company began selling franchises, and in January 2007 the first franchise location opened in WI. Ellipse now has several locations in the Midwest and is prepared to go national. Our current franchisees will attest to the fact that this system works! The weight loss and fitness industry has never been in a better position to change the world!