The Best Pilates Franchises To Open
Get to know the studios aiming to stretch Pilates’ appeal even further in the years to come
Exploring options to invest in a Pilates franchise? With an increasing number of brands, formats and approaches to this century-old exercise regimen, there’s never been a better time to get into the business. The key is finding the right franchise fit for the right investor. Whether it’s location, technology, cost or stage of growth, potential franchises must weigh all considerations when determining which studio checks all the boxes for them.
Here are the leading Pilates franchises that should be on your radar as you look at investment opportunities this year, including insights into their future plans, current offerings and how they’ve managed to differentiate themselves in this dynamic market.
Studio Pilates International
Investment: Each franchise runs between $400,000 and $700,000 in total start-up costs, which varies depending on the size of premises, number of reformers and location.
About: Established in 2002, Studio Pilates International has expanded from its original Brisbane, Australia location to 100 studios including locations in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia; New Zealand; Brooklyn, New York; and Louisville, Kentucky.
“Studio Pilates International is currently growing at the rate of 20 to 30 new studios a year and already increasing with 31 signed agreements in the first 10 months of this fiscal year, from July 23 to April 24th,” says Jade Winter, co-founder of Studio Pilates International. On the horizon, Studio Pilates International expects to launch 17 more studios in 6 additional states within the year. All of this is part of a larger plan for over 400 new studios over the next five years.
Winter looks for franchise owners who are passionate about Pilates and bring sales, networking and people skills to the table. “We love a strong personality and someone who has the ability to run a busy franchise and interact with clients, and is willing to undertake an instructor class,” he said.
Studio Pilates International offers several unique value propositions to potential franchisees including corporate accounts, stretch classes, custom-designed reformers and physical therapy-based sequences. There is support across the financial and administrative back-end, as well as marketing templates and a KPI dashboard that each franchisee can access directly.
Additionally, Studio Pilates International was an early pioneer in video classes, and PTV video systems are installed in every studio.
Learn more here.
Jetset Pilates
Investment: The initial franchise fee for Jetset is $50,000 with a 3-unit cost of $135,000.
“We provide detailed financial information and planning support to interested franchisees during our discovery process to ensure transparency and alignment,” says Tamara Galinsky, founder and brand president of Jetset Pilates, Galinsky. “The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Jetset franchise and 3 months of cash flow starts from $398,800 and includes the initial franchise fee.”
About: Galinsky opened her first studio in Miami in 2010. She spent over a decade building a sought-after brand before opening the business to the franchise system in 2022.
Currently, Jetset Pilates has locations throughout South Florida and nearly 50 locations in development, including U.S. locations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, California, Utah, Colorado and New York, as well as a studio in Melbourne, Australia. They are attuned to identifying the most strategic locations to focus efforts on new studios.
Galinsky is committed to fostering loyalty by keeping up with the evolving needs of the Jetsetters, as she calls her clients, both in-class offerings, membership options like the Jetsetter Premium Access Membership, as well as technology integration. “We offer custom DJ-curated playlists designed to integrate seamlessly with the workout flow, creating a holistic and elevated experience that goes beyond just another fitness class. This unique feature adds an extra layer of energy and motivation to our sessions,” adds Galinsky.
Galinsky has also created comprehensive support resources to assist franchisees at every stage of their journey. “From initial training programs to ongoing operational support, marketing assistance, and access to advanced client engagement platforms powered by state-of-the-art technologies, we empower our franchisees with the tools and resources they need to thrive in the competitive fitness industry.”
Learn more here.
Club Pilates
Investment: The franchise fee is $60,000, and the investment range is $196,525 to $458,575.
About: With over 1,000 locations globally, Club Pilates is one of the largest Pilates franchises in the world. Founded in San Diego in 2007 to align Joseph Pilates’ original Reformer-based Contrology Method with a modern group practice and state-of-the-art equipment, Club Pilates now delivers more than 8 million workouts a year.
The goal of Club Pilates is to create an approachable and welcoming environment for anyone and everyone to experience Reformer Pilates.
“At a time when Reformer Pilates was only delivered one-on-one, Club Pilates revolutionized the industry by offering modernized Reformer Pilates with group practice and expanded state-of-the-art equipment at an affordable price to effectively scale the brand and bring the incredible benefits to the masses,” explains Tianna Strateman, president of Club Pilates.
Growth has been rapid in the past few years, growing from 30 studios in 2015 to the current number of over 1,000 in just nine short years. Club Pilates has a presence in every major market in the U.S., as well as across APAC, Europe, the Middle East and North America.
According to Strateman, when assessing potential franchise owners, they look for experience in team development/leadership, business experience, whether in the corporate world or as an existing business owner, an appreciation for the franchise model, a passion for health and wellness, and minimum net worth and liquidity requirements.
Learn more here.
Bodybar Pilates
Investment: The investment to open a Bodybar Pilates franchise is location-dependent, with a low range of $216,00 to $816,600.
About: “Bodybar delivers a fiercely effective workout experience powered by Pilates to build a balanced, athletic and real community,” says Kamille McCollum, president and COO of Bodybar Pilates. Founded in 2012, Bodybar started franchising in 2014, and it now has 30+ locations across the Southwest, South and Southeast regions of the U.S., with a focus on growing the West and East Coasts.
Classic Pilates roots are used as the foundation, then elevated to create the signature Bodybar workout, which focuses on strength, endurance and challenging athletic intensity. “The science behind the Bodybar Method includes optimizing your muscles’ ability to contract repeatedly without getting fatigued, challenging your whole body, and moving in compound patterns through all planes of motion,” explains McCollum.
Their method includes eight unique class formats across four distinct Pilates apparatuses that integrate hundreds of exercises. There’s always a new challenge, no matter how long you’ve been practicing Pilates.
Bodybar Pilates looks for entrepreneurial-minded fitness enthusiasts when talking to potential franchise owners.
“We have raised the bar for a rewarding fitness franchise opportunity for people from diverse business backgrounds. Bodybar Pilates looks for natural leaders with management skills and an appreciation for fitness. It’s even better if you’re a fan of non-traditional Reformer Pilates, or if you want to convert an existing fitness business,” says McCollum.
Learn more here.
FS8
Investment: An investment to open an FS8 franchise in the United States is between $292,700 and $719,600. This includes a franchise fee of $50,000.
“FS8 seeks dedicated investors who are passionate about impacting health and wellness globally. Ideal franchisees should have strong business acumen, financial stability and a readiness to actively engage with their communities,” explains Scott Breimhorst, vice president of franchise development.
About: FS8 opened its inaugural studio in Manly, New South Wales, Australia back in April 2021 and has since expanded to 33 studios globally across six countries. The company plans to open two more by the end of June 2024. While initial plans were delayed due to the pandemic, FS8’s growth and expansion extended to Qatar, Thailand and London, then reached the United States by March 2023.
“Each of these entries was carefully timed to capitalize on market opportunities and build brand presence. The recent sale of master franchise rights in March 2024 for regions like the UK, Europe, and South Korea further emphasizes FS8’s commitment to strategic expansion and leveraging local expertise for regional management and growth. These strategic decisions have been crucial in FS8’s expansion and in establishing its footprint as a global player in the Pilates and yoga industry,” says Breimhorst.
FS8 is known for its unique approach — a 3-in-1 workout that combines Pilates, tone and yoga. It uses a functional style of workouts, which is backed and developed by leading industry experts—that are structured around eight key elements: cardio, mobility, posture, coordination, resistance, mental health, balance and flexibility.
Workouts are aided by FS8 TV technology, which delivers centrally programmed workouts developed by the company’s dedicated athletics team to studios globally. “This ensures uniformity and consistency in training, irrespective of the trainer. This approach allows trainers to focus on technique, providing a personalized training experience within a group environment,” says Breimhorst.
FS8 also offers programs like Strength Reset & Strength Reboot, which are designed to motivate members to take 20 classes over a 30-day period, as well as class options like Express, which are 30-minute sessions for a busy lifestyle.
Learn more here.