Time For Fitness vs Contours Express Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Time For Fitness Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
Investment $58,000 - $68,000$35,000 - $50,000
Franchise Fee $30,000$12,500
Royalty Fee 5%$395/mo.
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 20041998
Year Franchised 20051998
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Time For Fitness Franchise
Contours Express Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Interest in fitness
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Time For Fitness 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

     
    Time For Fitness Franchise
    Contours Express Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, 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, Regional advertisingAd slicks
    Operations 0% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 3

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

    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

     
    Time For Fitness Franchise
    Contours Express Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Time For Fitness

    NO LONGER FRANCHISING

    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.