Is Anybody Here a Curves Franchisee?

[cursor]

Without a doubt there will always will be a market for mediocracy. If you're satisfied with that target market for your business, then by all means go for it.

[Lady C]

You say I'm babbling. Lets see.

I point out it is a waste of time and money. I give you facts (of my own investigation into franchises, not web data). You dismiss them and categorize ALL women into a box. How? Because I workout, I don't fit the profile (I'm middle aged and overweight when I started). Because Cursor mentions intimidation factor and you quickly assume women are more intimidated than men. (Did you ask women what they want?) I try to show you that the system is easily outgrown by those that use it. More or better results can be had with a good diet and walking for exercise. A good diet and walking can be done for free (this is really where most people need an education). You think the social part is REALLY important. I can talk to friends for less than a $40 per month gym membership.

I posted so you would gain a female perspective - And I thought I was being helpful. No, I don't talk to hear myself. I rarely post these days.

[cursor]

By the way, I respectfully submit that your opinion of Lady C is unfounded.

[cursor]

How rewarding would it be to develop a small gym that could successfully break (or at least bend) the false notion that women should exercise differently? How many clients would such a small gym need to be successful?

Originally Posted by dandjdad

I've seen your progress pics, cursor. It looks like you made gains pretty rapidly, and I would venture to guess that you probably took to weight training pretty quickly.

I would suggest that any success that I've realized (which by no means was rapid -- note the time stamps on the pics) is directly connected with 1) the fact that I adopted a quality method of training, and 2) learned how to reasonably change the way that I fed my body. It would seem to me that there are several hundred folk (clients) in a reasonably sized town/city that would be willing to moderately change their lifestyles in order to realize serious physical changes. Wouldn't that be more rewarding that dealing with mediocracy?

[dandjdad]

Originally Posted by Lady C

You say I'm babbling. Lets see.

I point out it is a waste of time and money. I give you facts (of my own investigation into franchises, not web data). You dismiss them and categorize ALL women into a box. How? Because I workout, I don't fit the profile (I'm middle aged and overweight when I started). Because Cursor mentions intimidation factor and you quickly assume women are more intimidated than men. (Did you ask women what they want?) I try to show you that the system is easily outgrown by those that use it. More or better results can be had with a good diet and walking for exercise. A good diet and walking can be done for free (this is really where most people need an education). You think the social part is REALLY important. I can talk to friends for less than a $40 per month gym membership.

I posted so you would gain a female perspective - And I thought I was being helpful. No, I don't talk to hear myself. I rarely post these days.

No, I said you were babbling because, when I was talking about a possible career move, your segue, "I can do that with diet changes and just walking. No franchise fees involved" made no sense (You can do what? What is "that"? I'm talking about attaining job satisfaction, you're talking about losing weight. Apples to oranges, oranges to apples.). And when I called you on it, your response was essentially "see that's what I mean!" See what? I'm still confused, and I've re-read your post about ten times.

As far as me assuming women are more intimidated than men in the gym, it's because I have five years experience working in a gym atmosphere (again, refer to post #13) and nearly twenty years of working out in meat head gyms. In my experience, women with no experience in weight training are typically more intimidated than men with no experience in weight training. Maybe it's a blanket statement, and maybe it varies region to region, but I'd be willing to bet that if one were to do a proper nationwide study, they'd find that my claim is true.

Don't get me wrong, Lady C...I appreciate your female perspective, and I know you post here quite a lot. I've read many of your posts and have learned a lot from you, which is why I was quite surprised that you have such disdain for Curves. Isn't one big point of the discussfitness forum to recognize that everybody is different, and there are different levels of fitness. Lady C and cursor are obviously not in Curves' target demographic. (Of which I would have to respectfully disagree with cursor's characterization of "mediocrity"; calling thousands upon thousands of women mediocre? I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole.) Thousands of other women are in the Curves demographic though. Can they all be so horribly wrong?

[dandjdad]

Originally Posted by cursor

How rewarding would it be to develop a small gym that could successfully break (or at least bend) the false notion that women should exercise differently? How many clients would such a small gym need to be successful?

It would seem to me that there are several hundred folk (clients) in a reasonably sized town/city that would be willing to moderately change their lifestyles in order to realize serious physical changes. Wouldn't that be more rewarding that dealing with mediocracy?

Perhaps it would be. But then you're doing something different than franchising, aren't you? The point of franchising is to allow a common guy like me to own his own business and minimize the future risks. To start my own gym from scratch contains many more risks and a lot more $$$ that I'd be willing to pony up at this juncture of my life.

[cursor]

By franchising, how are you saving money? On top of all the normal costs of doing business as a small gym, you will need to pay several hundred dollars in monthly franchise fees. Corporate Curves won't be helping with any of the operational costs.

I'm a CPA who gives advice to clients about a variety of financial matters. While I've never given advice to someone contemplating an investment in a Curves' franchise, I've given advice to many clients comtemplating opening up what I call a "nickel and dime franchise" which is what I consider Curves to be. I have seen a Curves' facility and have talked to women who have or currently go to a Curves' facility.

When you consider the capital and time investment of opening a business like Curves, it is hard for me to understand how anyone could be adequately compensated for that investment. If the reason for comtemplating such an investment is psychic or lifestyle-related, then perhaps it might contribute to some of these goals.

With regard to making overweight, unfit and middle-age women happy, you'll have far greater success opening up a flower shop or a bakery.

Don't quit your real job if you decide to make this investment unless you are independently wealthy.

I've taken my time to express my thoughts and give you some free advice so please don't come back at me hard like you did Lady C. It will not be appreciated.

[dandjdad]

Originally Posted by cursor

By franchising, how are you saving money? On top of all the normal costs of doing business as a small gym, you will need to pay several hundred dollars in monthly franchise fees. Corporate Curves won't be helping with any of the operational costs.

Trust me cursor...there is a big big BIG difference from the numerous studies I've read. Show me one study that shows it's more cost effective and/or less risky to open up an independent from scratch rather than a franchise. You won't find it--it doesn't exist.

[dandjdad]

Originally Posted by pierini

I'm a CPA who gives advice to clients about a variety of financial matters. While I've never given advice to someone contemplating an investment in a Curves' franchise, I've given advice to many clients comtemplating opening up what I call a "nickel and dime franchise" which is what I consider Curves to be. I have seen a Curves' facility and have talked to women who have or currently go to a Curves' facility.

When you consider the capital and time investment of opening a business like Curves, it is hard for me to understand how anyone could be adequately compensated for that investment. If the reason for comtemplating such an investment is psychic or lifestyle-related, then perhaps it might contribute to some of these goals.

With regard to making overweight, unfit and middle-age women happy, you'll have far greater success opening up a flower shop or a bakery.

Don't quit your real job if you decide to make this investment unless you are independently wealthy.

I've taken my time to express my thoughts and give you some free advice so please don't come back at me hard like you did Lady C. It will not be appreciated.

Thank you pierini. This is exactly the type of thoughtful analysis I was looking for.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by dandjdad

when I was talking about a possible career move, your segue, "I can do that with diet changes and just walking. No franchise fees involved" made no sense

I'm saying DON"T make that career move when what Curves is trying to do is essentially something people CAN (not necessarily WILL) DO for free.

Originally Posted by dandjdad

You can do what? What is "that"?

I can get a woman or man to lose 30 pounds and keep it off for free. No franchise or gym membership is required. That is what "that" is. The majority of what is wrong with most people is their eating habits are outrageous. A little education in nutrition will go a long way. Most people are simply overeating. Reduction in calories can lead to weight loss. Add in some exercise and increase that loss.

Originally Posted by dandjdad

In my experience, women with no experience in weight training are typically more intimidated than men with no experience in weight training. Maybe it's a blanket statement

You won't find a study. I, like many women, don't like being dumped into the same class as someone else. - touchy area, tread lightly.

Originally Posted by dandjdad

I was quite surprised that you have such disdain for Curves.

I hate how women are always portrayed as helpless and should be treated dainty.

Originally Posted by dandjdad

Thousands of other women are in the Curves demographic though. Can they all be so horribly wrong?

Maybe there are thousands of women in this class but DON"T make the mistake of thinking they should all be treated the same. Treating all women the same is why I hate Curves. It perpetuates the classification/generalization of how women should work-out.

[cursor]

If it might help, we can run though some specifics. First, let's look at the costs involved with buying a Curve franchise:

• Financial qualification (by Curves Corporate)
• Start-up
  • Initial franchise fee ($39,900 -- includes equipment)
  • Lease commitment (varies dramatically, depending on location)
  • Leasehold improvements
  • PreOpening advertising
  • PostOpening advertising
• Monthly expenses
  • Curves recurring franchise fee
  • Rent
  • Wages
  • Advertising
  • Maintenance

[dandjdad]

Originally Posted by cursor

If it might help, we can run though some specifics. First, let's look at the costs involved with buying a Curve franchise:

• Financial qualification (by Curves Corporate)
• Start-up
  • Initial franchise fee ($39,900 -- includes equipment)
  • Lease commitment (varies dramatically, depending on location)
  • Leasehold improvements
  • PreOpening advertising
  • PostOpening advertising
• Monthly expenses
  • Curves recurring franchise fee
  • Rent
  • Wages
  • Advertising
  • Maintenance

That's right. All these costs, except the franchise fee, would be incurred with an independent start up as well. But when you factor in the franchise success rate vs. a non-franchise success rate, the fact that a franchise has controls in place to make the transition as smooth as possible, franchisor experience, franchisor training, franchisor perks et al, a solid, reputable franchise will beat out an independent every time.

[cursor]

Here is a list of constructive considerations: Are You Suited to Be a Franchisee?

[dandjdad]

Originally Posted by Lady C

I'm saying DON"T make that career move when what Curves is trying to do is essentially something people CAN (not necessarily WILL) DO for free.

Some people have difficulty finding motivation. Sometime, a Curves or something similar can provide that motivation to people.

Originally Posted by Lady C

I can get a woman or man to lose 30 pounds and keep it off for free. No franchise or gym membership is required. That is what "that" is. The majority of what is wrong with most people is their eating habits are outrageous. A little education in nutrition will go a long way. Most people are simply overeating. Reduction in calories can lead to weight loss. Add in some exercise and increase that loss.

Again, see my motivation comment. Perhaps a Curves or something similar could provide motivation AND education in regards to fitness and eating better.

Originally Posted by Lady C

You won't find a study. I, like many women, don't like being dumped into the same class as someone else. - touchy area, tread lightly.

I don't see how this is touchy. If you don't want to be dumped into this category, then...you're not dumped into this category. Simple as that. I already prefaced this statement with the fact that it's a "blanket statement", and I stand by what I said.

Originally Posted by Lady C

I hate how women are always portrayed as helpless and should be treated dainty.

Maybe there are thousands of women in this class but DON"T make the mistake of thinking they should all be treated the same. Treating all women the same is why I hate Curves. It perpetuates the classification/generalization of how women should work-out.

Again Lady C, like I said, not all women are as motivated or committed to their fitness as you are. If a Curves or another so-called "cookie cutter" establishment can provide the catalyst to get them off the couch, I don't see what's so bad about it. After they become comfortable or bored or plateau, they can always go somewhere else or do something else.