Barre3 Gears Up for Expansion
The upscale strength, cardio, and mindfulness omnichannel brand with multi-revenue streams is open to like-minded studio owners who would like to convert their spaces into Barre3 studios
Portland-based Barre3 (the ‘3’ representing strength, cardio, and mindfulness) is reflecting on its growth since its 2008 launch, celebrating more than 197 franchised boutique fitness studios that are locally owned and operated by female entrepreneurs.
It’s been a notable year for the upscale and community-focused fitness franchise, having acquired The Barre Code, a Midwest barre fitness brand, and increasing average unit volume by 27% year-over-year. Barre3 also partnered with Whoop, the human performance company, allowing members to access their personalized health metrics.
Class offerings include a whole-body signature class that combines strength, cardio, and mindfulness, a strength-focused class, a cardio class for aerobic fitness, and a mindful flow class for mobility, stability, and active recovery. Barre3 also offers a subscription-based digital offering with over 2,300 on-demand workouts.
In an exclusive interview with Athletech News this summer, Barre3 co-founder Sadie Lincoln shared that while Barre3 has scaled sustainably, the brand is ready to put the pedal to the metal.
“In five years, I think we’ll have 500 domestic and at least 500 international locations,” Lincoln said. She was recently recognized on the Forbes 50 Over 50 List and received the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Mountain West award.
“It could be more, honestly,” she continued. “Based on our mapping software, we could open another 500 locations just with this specific demographic we serve. We know it’s available but we won’t do it too quickly and compromise our brand and our resilience for the future.”
Barre3 charges a $50k initial fee and 6% in monthly royalties. Studios are built with a Play Lounge — a designated childcare space that is unique in the boutique fitness arena and adds an additional revenue stream. The brand also partners with premium wellness brands, such as activewear giant Beyond Yoga, to provide an in-store retail experience as an additional revenue driver.
“I’ve owned a different business for over 20 years and understand the value of an established business model to help me succeed,” said Jen Bobodzhanov, owner of Barre3 Eagle and Barre3 Boise, which recently opened. “My quest for meaningful work is what drew me to become a Barre3 franchise owner. I love that I have been able to provide a place for others to find meaningful work as well.”
As Barre3 continues to expand, the fitness and wellness franchise is also seeking like-minded studio owners from the barre and yoga world to convert their spaces into Barre3 studios — a pathway requiring less of an investment.
