Franchise and Business Opportunities

For franchise information visit Contours Express on BISON.

Contours Express – 3rd Largest Women’s Only Gym – Projects 140 New Domestic Gyms by end of ‘05

30% Growth in Overseas Franchises by end of Year

Overall Revenue has Increased 547% Over last Four Years

NICHOLASVILLE, KENTUCKY - (August 15, 2005) - Contours Express ®, one of the fastest growing women’s only gym franchises in the United States, today projected an end of year total of 140 new gyms in the United States for a total of 450 gyms. Overall, Contours has experienced a 547 percent increase in revenues over the last four years.Bill Helton, president of Contours, also predicted on-going growth internationally with a 30 percent increase in overseas gyms by the end of ’05, for a total of 130 gyms throughout Central America, South America, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, Australia and the UK.

“Our success has everything to do with the difference we provide for women interested in improving their health and their lives,” Bill Helton said. “Women want to exercise in a clean, friendly environment without the stress and competition too often found in co-ed facilities. At the same time, they want access to equipment geared toward their needs that helps them deal with health and fitness issues that are unique to them.

“From a business standpoint,” Mr. Helton continued, “we have created a model for individuals interested in working for themselves and in their communities. Also, we’re particularly pleased that to date, over 85 percent of the franchises are owned by women, providing them with business opportunities and allowing them to help other women who are dedicated to helping themselves by improving their health.”

Unlike other women’s only gyms, Contours Express uses weight-bearing equipment scaled down to fit a woman’s body. Women have an opportunity to choose a workout that includes both positive and negative resistance, a highly important ingredient in an overall program to deter bone loss.

“Our members love the weight-bearing equipment because it allows the workout to ‘grow’ with them and removes the possibility of plateauing, which often happens on hydraulic equipment,” Mr. Helton explained. “Additionally, our club owners love it because as long as members are benefiting from the workout they will remain clients."

The first Contours Express opened in Nicholasville, Kentucky in 1998. By the end of 2005, there will be 450 Contours in 40 states. The first clubs outside the U.S. were sold in Canada and Mexico in 2003. By the end of 2005, as mentioned above, an additional 30 clubs will have opened in other countries, for a total of 130. Last January, Entrepreneur named Contours Express the 23rd fastest growing franchise in the country. INC Magazine ranked Contours Express as the 80th best private owned franchise in 2005.

For franchise information visit Contours Express on BISON.

Back to this month's Franchise News