Contours Express Fitness Franchise Owners Want Support

March 5, 2008 by admin

(Franbest Fitness Franchises) Women’s 30 Minute express fitness franchise Contours Express continues to struggle with franchise relations, according to a March, 2008 story in Franchise Times, excerpted below.

Contours ‘zees want support

By Jonathan Maze
As published in: Franchise Times - March 2008
When he bought into the Contours Express franchise in early 2006, Norman Lindley was convinced it would be successful. How convinced? The retired airline pilot didn’t just open a single location that spring. He opened three of them. “I bought them hoping that I would make some money,” said Lindley, who opened his units near Eugene, Oregon. “I’m old. And I could get out of it quicker.”
Lindley did get out of the business quickly, but he didn’t make money. The units he opened operated in the red and he found himself spending more than he anticipated opening and running the units. Within five months he was down at least $136,000.
He sold two of his locations for a “miniscule amount” to a person willing to take over the leases—the new owner subsequently re-branded the locations. He kept his third location but changed its name and is looking to sell. “I’m done with Contours Express,” he said.
Lindley is not alone. While every franchise system watches owners come and go regularly, for numerous reasons, the exodus from the once high-flying, 30-minute women’s fitness chain has been striking.
Contours has 248 units in the United States, according to the company’s Web site. Yet from 2004 to 2006, 148 Contours Express franchisees left the system, according to the company’s UFOC, while another 96 units were transferred to new owners. Combined, that’s 244 franchises that either closed or were transferred.
There is anecdotal evidence that the exodus continued in 2007—the 248 units noted above was roughly 40 fewer than a previous count in December. The chain has been able to maintain a consistent number of units over these years largely through aggressive franchise sales.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the chain is facing lawsuits… READ ON

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