Lucille Roberts Fitness Express vs Contours Express Franchise Comparison

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

Company Overviews

About Lucille Roberts Fitness Express

Inspired by a love of aerobics classes and a dream, Lucille Roberts opened her first gym in 1969. She took what seemed like millions of group aerobics classes before realizing that although the classes were predominantly women, the fitness clubs lacked a specific camaraderie that she craved. A pioneer of female empowerment, Lucille sought to create gyms that fostered a positive environment where women could come together to work out, meet new friends, and get inspired. An inspiration herself, Lucille Roberts was tough both in and out of the gym; rumor has it she would complete sets of curls while on conference calls and challenge coworkers to push up contests on Fridays.

Recognizing a gap in the industry and a convenient location accessible to shoppers and commuters alike, she opened her first gym near the famed Macy’s flagship at Herald Square. Lucille's goal was to offer affordable gyms tailored specifically for women who needed to use their gym time productively. Shopping could be a workout itself, but she knew that women were capable of so much more than shoulder pads and pants suits. Thus the Lucille Roberts customer was born. No longer did she need to maneuver around men lifting weights or spend hundreds on memberships dedicated to spa-like experiences in order to complete a proper workout. Today, Lucille Roberts prides itself on offering the most current, in-demand classes to cater to its busy and informed clientele. Lucille Roberts is seeking both men and women franchisees to join our growing brand. Candidates should have business sales or management sales experience, but do not need to have a health club, fitness or wellness background. Prospective franchisees can either be active owner-operators or semi-passive investors looking to diversify their portfolio through this unique franchise investment.

Also, franchisees should share a common goal with Lucille Roberts, which includes building a strong brand and a profitable business in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Lucille Roberts began as a family business of women's fitness centers and we like to think of our franchisees and members as part of our extended family. To our members and guests, we are more than just a health club - we're a source of wellness where nutrition, weight loss and exercise become the foundation for a healthier lifestyle. 

Our success is a result of our low membership fees with no contracts, our smaller facility size  (approximately 4,500 to 6,000 square feet) and our location in centers with national, daily-need and female-oriented retailers in both suburban and metro markets.

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.