IS BUTTERFLY LIFE A GREAT FITNESS FRANCHISE?
May 10, 2007 by Sean Kelly
Filed under Business
Read interviews with Butterfly Life franchisees at UnhappyFranchisee.com
We sent out emails to fitness franchise owners, managers, employees, and customers asking which fitness franchise is best, and why. Our first responses were regarding a fitness franchise called “Butterfly Life.”
One commenter wrote:
Butterfly Life is the hottest new fitness franchise to hit since Curve’s… With all 3 aspects of health and wellness under one roof. Diet, Exercise and Well-Being is the combination to SUCCESS!!! Join the movement to make Butterfly Life the #1 Fitness Franchise across the Country!
Phil Gerst said:
The best fitness franchise for Women’s Fitness is Butterfly Life. We’ve been open for 8 1/2 months and have signed over 200 members. Our members are seeing results – losing weight and inches, feeling better and having more energy. The excerise equipment is designed by a women for women and use stacked weight with 12 levels – not the cheap hydraulic stuff. The members really like group exercise classes – and with more than 40 different classes – including step, dance, kick/box, and ball – cardio classes, Pilates and yoga classes and sclupting classes – there is something for everyone. Add BFL’s excellent diet program and nutrition counselling and you have a winning formula for members’ success and ours.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS BUTTERFLY LIFE A GREAT FITNESS FRANCHISE? LEAVE A COMMENT AND TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
Are they still selling this franchise out the front door while hiding all of the failures?
Isn’t this some kind of fraud? You, who post here, do a public service, and maybe prevent those who are about to buy a BFL franchise from financial ruin and emotional stress.
Sean can you please email me, I Have a private question for you…
Carol – From what I am hearing, they have not produced an FDD since the new requirements were put in place….has to make you wonder! My area director told me that he was told that they decided to temporarily suspend selling to focus on the clubs, but I’m wondering if there are other reasons they haven’t prepared the FDD.
I’m preparing to close my club and am wondering if it’s accurate that the Dept of Corporations has moved from investigating them to taking some type of action. Do this mean they have to pay restitution and if so, do we need to file our own individual complaint with the Dept of Corps?
Great points and questions, Also Wondering! Thanks for asking and we are all awaiting the answers!!
Also wondering – Which new requirements? Your area rep would have the most up-to-date information regarding the FDD. They did publish a 2008 UFOC/FDD that was filed with the DOC on 12/28/07. It’s published at the end of each year but sometimes amended during the year to fit their needs. The DOC is extremely interested in resolving our issues with BFL and are doing everything they can to bring them to justice, be it restitution, shutting them down or filing criminal charges. There is no need to file an individual complaint, but it would be very helpful if everyone contacted the DOC asap and let them know that you’re another victim of these scammers. (Steve Bronson, sbronson@corp.ca.gov) We need to make as much noise as possible with all legislators in California, the FTC in Washington DC where the rules are made, the US Attorney General, your State Attorney General, Governors and City Councilmen. If you are a member of the AAFD, please contact the trustees directly for more detailed information.
Vice Versa – weren’t new government regulations implemented in June or July of this year that required the change from a UFOC to a FDD and new disclosure regulations? I’m just starting to learn about this site so maybe I am a little off on my research. My area rep is the one that told me they are not selling right now and that there is no FDD at the moment…which prompts another question…Is the FDD only required if they are selling franchises? Can they continue to operate without one?
Also Wondering – As I said before, please contact me or the trustees of the AAFD if you would like detailed information. Ask Sean, the editor of this sight, to release our contact information. We would be happy to answer your questions.
Also wondering
I think it changed in 2007. . .
According to my rersearch, the Franchise Disclosure Document, or FDD,– was known before July 1, 2007 as the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular or UFOC
Also Wondering:
July 1st, 2008 the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) replaced the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC). Since this document is used for pre-sale disclosure of information to prospective franchisees, it is only necessary if a franchisor is actively selling franchises. I would imagine that they’d need one for renewals. There’s no requirement, though, if they’re not selling.
This post explains more:
http://www.franchisepick.com/guest-post-hello-fdd-goodbye-ufoc/
Sean – one more question…do you know if an FDD is required to resell/transfer an existing club?
Does anyone know what happened? I’ve been told they moved out of their office and haven’t been able to reach anyone.
Also wondering
This is the first I’ve heard this but I’m anxious to know if it’s true. How did you find out about it?
I may drive up tomorrow to see if anyone is there. I didn’t try to call but sent an e-mail to one of our AAFD people. Let’s see what she knows.
To all of you wondering:
On my way to the grocery store today, I drove by the corporate office. All the Butterfly posters and signage are no longer on the building. The 2nd floor corner windows were Tom G’s. office is/was, all the chachkie’s that sat on the window sill’s of his office (and he had a lot, it looked like a teens room) which you could see from the street are no longer there. I would have to say that it seems Corporate Butterfly is no longer in this office building.
Last Oct 07
Lost in confusion Wrote on this blog:
Oct 2, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Where’s Waldo?…………..oops…….I mean Mark Golob? Have you been banned from corporate or are you taking a lengthy vacation with the money from those who never opened?
Almost a year later, Mark is missing again and
his entire office is gone too!
For those of you interested: I had to run some errands right across the street from Butterfly Corporate Office today and there are moving trucks and movers taking out all Butterfly Office equipment, cubicles, etc.
Breathe.. Do you have an email?
UPDATED CLOSURE/STATUS LIST
We know more closures are imminent.
Life is ever changing. Cherish Yesterday, Live and Enjoy Today,Tomorrow is not a Given.
Butterfly Life Franchise Closures
City/Open/Closed/Change Info.
List is Subject to change and is a compilation of information given by various sources
Adds/Changes/Deletes welcome
ARIZONA
Glendale, AZ.1st owner 04/04-04/05
Glendale, AZ. Corporate resale 2nd owner NOW CLOSED
Mesa, AZ 04/06- Closed 8/06
ARKANSAS
Benton, AR Closed 8/08
Little Rock, AR Closed 8/08
CALIFORNIA
SAN RAMON, CA. BFL CORPORATE OFFICES, GONE! RELOCATED?10/16/08 No one knows.
Antioch,CA. never opened (pd $30K)
Brentwood, CA. 2/04 – Closed 3/05
Burlingame, CA Paid $? never opened
Cameron Park, CA. 11/04- DEBRANDED AFTER A FEW MONTHS(open operating as an independent)
Clovis, CA . 08/06- Closed 3/07 (3purchased 2 never opened)
Clovis, CA .(North) (3purchased 2 never opened)
Cupertino, CA (Pd $10K – never opened)
Fairfield, CA 6/04 -Closed 12/05
Folsom, CA Closed
Foster City Ca. Open 2005? Closed 11/07 (3purchased 2 never opened)
Fremont, CA. Spring/05-Summer/07 Corporate resale NOW CLOSED
Fresno, CA (3purchased 2 never opened)
Glendora, CA.12/04-02/05(1ST Owner pd corporate $50K) sold- 2nd owner NOW CLOSED
Hayward, CA 2nd owner Still Open (not a standard format Butterfly)
Hemet , CA – 4/07 never opened
Hunnington Beach, CA. 11/04- Closed 6/05
Jackson, CA. Closed late 06-05/07 (only opened a couple months)
Lafayette, CA Paid, never opened
Lincoln, CA. 02/07-8/07, Corporate resale 2nd owner NOW CLOSED
Martinez, CA. (pd corporate $10K) never opened
Menlo Park, CA Paid$? never opened
Modesto, CA CLOSED 8/08
Mountain View, CA – Closed
Murrieta, CA- 4/07 -never opened
Pacifica, CA. Spring 05-Spring 07 (2nd owner ,independent sale – still open)
Palm Desert, CA – Closed
Palo Alto – Still Open –
Pleasanton, CA 7/04 DEBRANDED BUT OPEN Not standard format, full service fitness
Richmond, CA pd $? never opened
Roseville, CA – Opened 7/04 closed 9/04
Bought 9 (NINE!) Sacramento/Roseville, CA – never opened 2004 (pd $125K)
Sacramento (Natomas) Opened 09/07 Closed 4/08
Salinas, CA -Paid Never Opened
San Bruno, CA–paid–never opened
San Francisco, CA (Marina District) 1/06- Closed 3/06
San Francisco, CA. (Downtown) Still open but corporate removed from website
San Jose(area), CA pd $10K never opened
San Jose, CA. pd $30k never opened
San Jose, CA. pd $50K never opened
San Leandro,CA. Summer 04 – Closed 4/06
San Mateo, CA. Pd 10K never opened
San Mateo, CA. Fall2006/ Closed
San Ramon, CA 6/04 DEBRANDED STILL OPEN Not standard format, full service fitness
Sausilito, CA. 10/05- Closed 05/07
Scotts Valley, CA – Closed or never opened
Temecula – April 07 – never opened
Vacaville,CA. 06/04- Closed01/06
Walnut Creek, CA (Treat Blvd) (purchased from Linda Evans) 3/05 – debranded 9/07 still open
Walnut Creek, CA (Ygnacio Valley Rd) / / Debranded late 2007
Walnut Creek, CA. 07/04-06/05 sold 06/05-07/06 2nd owner NOW CLOSED
Woodland, CA. Spring 2004/sold 12/05(corporate resale) 12/05- 2nd owner NOW CLOSED
Woodland Hills, CA. 10/04 – Closed 4/05
COLORADO
Boulder, CO. 06/06- Closed 8/06
Colorado Springs, CO – Closed
Fort Collins, CO – Closed
Littleton, CO -Closed
Lone Tree, CO – Closed
CONNECTICUT
Cromwell, CT Closed
Groton, CT. Spring 05-selling Groton, CT closed 10/07
Newington, CT – Closed
Norwich,CT. Early 06 – Closed 09/07
Southington, CT Closed
Trumbull, CT Closed
FLORIDA
Claremont, FL Closed
Lake Worth, FL Closed
Melborne, FL Closed
Miramar, FL Closed
Orlando, FL Pd $29,500 never opened
South Daytona, FL Closed 6/07
Tampa, FL Closed
GEORGIA
Atlanta, Ga. Fall/05-Closed Early 06
Atlanta, GA – Pd $10K never opened
Atlanta, Ga. Fall/05-05/07 Corporate resale NOW CLOSED
Atlanta/Roswell/Alpharetta, Ga. 2/ 04 – 11/05 (3 clubs)
Buford, Ga. club closed 10/07
Lawrenceville, GA Closed
Lithonia, Ga. 05 pd. $10k never opened or received UFOC
Lithonia, Ga. 05/07 – Closed 06/08
Rome, GA 04 /06 Debranded – still open
Roswell, GA. 04 Pd. $10k never opened
IDAHO
Bosie, ID. Pd. never opened
Meridan, ID Fall 05- Closed 07/07
Meridan, ID Pd never opened
Meridan, ID Pd never opened
IOWA
Johnston, IA 1-07 -Closed 10/ 07
MINNESOTA
Burnsville, MN Closed
Rosemount, MN Closed 8/ /08
NEW JERSEY
Audubon, NJ opened 11/05 – closed 2007
Blackwood, NJ Opened 8/06 – Closed
Cherry Hill, NJ 7/06 – closed 5/07
Cherry Hill, NJ Pd $10K never opened
Glendora/Blackwood, NJ – Pd $10K never opened
Howell, NJ Pd. $10K never opened
Turnersville, NJ Closed Paid for 3, opened one
NORTH CAROLINA
Ashville, NC Pd for 3 , opened one.
Cary/Apex,NC. Pd for 3, opened one
Cary, NC. 12/06-sold 09/07
Durham, NC Purchased 06, attended University 12/06 Never Opened –
Fayetteville, NC Pd.for 3 locations opened one
Murphy, NC Closed
Raleigh, NC. Pd. $10K never opened
Raleigh, NC (Brier Creek Pkwy)open 12/05 closed 12/07
Rutherfordton, NC Barely holding on!
Holly Spring, NC.opened 11/07, closed 02/08
Moorsville, NC. Pd $29,500 never opened
OKLAHOMA
Bakerview Rd, OK Closed
Tulsa, OK (6967 S. Lewis Ave) Closed 08/08
OREGON
Bend, OR – Closed
Hillsboro, OR Paid $10K never opened
Medford, OR. 04/06- Closed 3/07
Redmond, OR -Closed
Tigard, OR – Closed
PENNSYLVANIA
Palmerton, PA 5/06 – closed 4/07
West Hazelton, PA 11/05, sold 9/07 (for a song)
Weissport, PA – Closed
SOUTH CAROLINA
Lexington, SC – Closed
Taylors, SC – Closed
RHODE ISLAND
Westerley, Rhode Island Closed 9/07
TEXAS
Arlington, TX. CLOSED – 4/ 2008
Granbury, TX – CLOSED 2008
Irving, TX. Spring 06- Closed Summer06
Keller, TX 04/07-09/07 Corporate resale -2nd owner closed 9/2008
North Richland Hills, TX Closed 09/2008
San Antonio, TX – Closed – 08/08
VIRGINIA
Ashburn, VA. 11/06- Closed 2/07
WASHINGTON
Bonney Lake, WA – Paid never opened
Federal Way, WA CLOSED 10/08
LONGVIEW, WA – Opened Dec 06 – Barely holding on
Mil Creek, WA -Closed
WISCONSIN
Reedsburg, WI CLOSED 05/08
Viroqua, WI CLOSED
MN- Apple Valley Open for short time and closed this summer.
MN- Shakopee. Open for 7 months. Bought 3 areas 2 never opened. One closed after 7 months. I am sure more are not listed.
Sean – thanks for linking us to Joel’s explanation of the new UFOC/FDD. He does a great job in explaining the changes. Since BFL has not published a new FDD by July 1st, I guess that only means one thing…..they’re not selling any longer. Also, I’m sure they didn’t want to acknowledge the Butterfly Life Association that’s been around for three years. They were asked by letter in Feburary, 2008 to disclose the Association in their new UFOC/FDD. Golob has always been afraid the franchisees would talk with each other and his gig would be up! And I’m sure they don’t want to disclose their affiliates either. Hope the Area Reps sue them for fraud……I know some people who would like to join in that suit if it goes forward. With the Department of Corporations breathing down their neck, the arbitration that has been filed by the Association and hopefully a lawsuit by the AR’s….I’d leave the country if I were them!!!!
I apologize if someone already clarified this, but my mother (a current owner) said that corporate went bankrupt. I’m not sure if by that she meant just closed down or actually declared bankruptcy. Does anyone know about this? Also, is the website down? I wasn’t sure if it was my computer.
To CB:
For personal protection, I do not give my email address out to people I do not know.
I understand however I have some usefull information to share………..
CB – Send your information to Sean (unhappyfranchisee@gmail.com) and he will forward it to Breathe. I am a trustee with the Butterfly Life Chapter of the American Association and Franchisees and Dealers who filed a complaint with the CA Dept. of Corp. and also filed a class action against BFL. and would be happy to communicate with you also. If you like, have Sean send your info to me and I will contact you. Everyone is suspicious because we have had corporate people come on and impersonate franchisees….pretty obvious though.
Burnsville, Mn 4 club deal 3 never opened
CB
The best way to get your information to the appropriate person is to send it through Sean. He is aware of the trustees and can forward it.
Many have been targeted by corporate and singled out. Any of the trustees would be happy to speak with you.
BFL Relative: The BFL Website does seem to longer exist.
CB: Have Sean forward me any information that you feel you need to share with me.
I wasn’t able to access the BFL website but my mom was. Very weird….I’ll try again tomorrow and see what happens.
They are gone… with all our money, hopes and dreams… We stay strong, pick up the pieces and move on!
Tom and Mark,
Do you know what your attrition rate is at this moment? Unmeasured guess, upward of 75%+ that is unprecedented in franchise history(fraud)
You have a new office address. Why? What brand equity can be valued in BFL. If you are rebranding, a name change needs to be in that effort. But scratch is your starting point. And when you restart we will be here. Until you atone for your BFL sins, you will never resurface.
Mark, Tom, Lisa, Susan, Taylor, Cheryl, Cathy, Carly, Janet, Amiee all of you will be named. If bankruptcy is your route then the DA is ours. Common law fraud pierces the corporate veil.You lost in Southern Califorina and you will lose here. Everytime you resurface we will be there. You have no network, no pipeline, NO FRANCHISE! You took 6 million dollars, we will find it.
To CB:
I received the email you had Sean forward to me. I just do not understand why you zero’d in on me to tell me this information that has nothing to do with BFL Corporate or anything I would find remotely interesting. Please do not send me any emails again.
To Sean: Please do not forward me any emails from this particular person. Thank you.
I am so thankful for all of the postings I have found on here. My sister-in-law and I have been wanting to open a women’s fitness center and were considering Butterfly Life. I even sent them an email over a week ago requesting franchise info and was wondering why I never heard from anyone. I guess now I know! Thank you for keeping us from making a huge mistake!! Best wishes to others who have lost so much with this company!
Heres the latest, they moved… And the website is back up!!!!
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Denny Marsico
Date: Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Subject: FW: Server is back up – draft
To:
Cc: Cathy Galli , Thomas Gergley
Hi All,
Due to the office move our server has been down for nearly 2 weeks. We are terribly sorry that the email we sent to notify you was not received by most.
However we are happy to say that we are up and running again. We have many emails to work through, so please be patient as we get back to you over the next few days.
Also, please note that our new address and phone numbers are:
2415 San Ramon Valley Blvd. # 4158
San Ramon, CA 94583
Cathy 925-786-9395
Denny 925-786-9396
Lastly, please mail any Martha Stewart subscription forms or documents to the above address. We will inform you as soon as our fax is in operation.
Thank You
Denny Marsico
CAH – If you read some of the other topics Sean posted, you’ll see this address appears to be a PO BOX and the phone numbers are for cell phones.
Opps sorry, alittle behind
It just keeps getting better. After they all squeezed into their PO Box, they sent out an email suggesting we add live classes. Keep in mind, this is after we were all sold on how great their Life Vision concept was….ya know….the great advantage we have over other gyms since we don’t have the added payroll required to hire instructors. Instead of sending us updates for our Life Vision library, we get an email suggesting we hire intructors and, just wait..here’s the best part….we charge our members who want to participate in the class. So, how many other fitness centers charge extra to take a live class? Let’s see, they can join my gym and pay a monthly membership fee plus a fee per class or they can go down the road and join a gym where, what do you know, live classes are included in their membership!
The whole deal is bad….was bad from the beginning and just gets worse. I am so glad to be out of the business….looking forward to these criminals getting their due! I feel bad for those of you that are trying to maintain….I think it’s hopeless but with all my heart wish you the best of luck!
Sean….you may have already answered this question months ago, but I want to ask it again. What are franchisee’s to do when their business is bottoms up, they are out of money yet the landlord for the overpriced, oversized space that BFL insisted on you leasing refuses to allow you out of the lease? Some people can file bankruptcy against the landlord and BFL-where as others can not file bankruptcy but also do not have $4,000.+ every month to pay that lease. With the economy of today-commercial spaces are vacant every where. What is your suggestion to the ex-franchisee’s? Talking, begging, pleading with the landlord does not work.
Some people can file bankruptcy against the landlord and BFL-where as others can not file bankruptcy
You need to talk to a good attorney and/or a bankruptcy attorney in your area. FYI bankruptcy is not the end of the world – it’s called “bankruptcy protection” for a reason. It doesn’t mean you lose your house, etc. It protects you and relieves the pressure.
The key thing is to remember this is just business. Business is business. Landlords deal with thisall the time – figure on it. Don’t let it personally devastate you and don’t prolong a situation that you know isn’t going to get better.
Your business is not you, and you are not your business.
There’s nothing to be ashamed of in pursuing a worthwhile dream. There are many, many in your situation… You’ll get through it and live to fight another day… wiser, and with thicker skin.
Great answer Sean. Many successful business people were scammed by the lies that Golob told. It’s no ones fault except those who helped him spin his tales. Their time will come. I’m sure that Golob and Gergley know there are many of us out here who stand together and we will pursue him till the end of the earth. Our numbers keep growing! It will be impossible for him in ANY state to do business until he settles with those he screwed! I advise those who stand by him to exit while they can or be prepared to pay the price. If anyone wants to obtain information about our Chapter of the American Association and Dealers, please go to http://www.aafd.org. Sean – thanks so much for this public forum and letting franchisees expose those who take advantage of innocent victims.
Ok, in the state I live in, Chapter 7 is not an option… Sadly enough we make too much money, which in nothing for a family of 5 one car payment and a mortgage. The laws have changed!!! We have no expediable income to pay back a Chapter 13. So to say its all about image and feeling less of a person. For some its not an option! Sorry hits to close to home!
OMG! I can not believe this.
A new club opening in North Carolina-with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for Monday Nov. 3, 2008?
Owners: Edna J. Ennis and Sher-Lene Dickson
Address: 6801 Parker Farms Dr.
Wilmington, NC 28405
BJA……give it a few months and they’ll be on the list of closed ones!!! Such a shame they aren’t reading this blog or maybe they live in a fantasy world! I wish them luck but not sure it will help!!! Maybe we should send them a good luck note and the contact info for AAFD!!
Yeah I think We should mail them the application to keep on file for the inevitible.
HoW can you trust a leadership team that has set up shop in a p.o. box in the UPS store?
I spoke with the owner about a month ago and offered her my equipment. Apparently, she bought her franchise over a year ago and had signed a lease but is only opening now. She bought all of her equipment from someone in Georgia and has had it in storage. She said she’s been working with Aimee at the corporate office. I told her to check this site, wished her all the best and told her that she would really need to think outside the box in order to make it!!!
What are the updates on the new concept? Hard to believe with the economy the way it is…that anyone is going to be buying in to a concept run by a group of people who have two fairly monumental failures under their belts.
Denny, Janet and Cathy….have some pride. There are other jobs…you don’t need to keep sticking around out of some misguided sense of loyalty. You are three intellegent women who need to step back and break the ties that bind. Do it now!
Hey Sunshine and everyone else,
Thought I would throw you an update. First of all, I’m so sorry for all of your losses, especially Cynthia Holt. Her family has suffered the ultimate loss. I’m one of the lucky ones who never opened so I’m only out about $40K. I was close to signing a lease when I decided to wait and see what was going to happen with corporate. That was the best decision I made since Discovery Day. I still think it’s a great concept – too bad corporate is run by greedy bastards. Out of my BL University, 3 are still in business (I’m not sure how) and 1 (against my advice) is opening in about a month. I wish that there was this much info in cyberland when I was researching BL. I can’t see how anyone would buy a BL franchise now…there’s so much info out there. I wish you all a better year than last!
PS
It was kind of funny reading over the past post. Accusing me of being Denny…really?
Jackie,
Thanks for the update-but we tried to tell you and glad you waited about going any further. The friend of yours that is opening…if she is still in need of sign, or any of the other “REQUIREMENTS” from BFL-she can certainly purchase them from any number of people including my family-who is out over $300,000. and still having to pay off a landlord.
Jackie- you may want to let your friend know that at this point BFL can not sell any new franchises-so where does that leave her? With about 20 other open clubs that are getting NO support from that new post office box that Corp. calls an office.
Guess Corporate is suing all the owners who closed and didn’t sign the agreement. Hello… they financially ruined all of us, what do they expect to get… Blood out of a turnip? Big whatever!!! Guess they will do anything to suck more money out of us!
Very interesting topic and comments, the most important factor is Research before you invest in a Franchise.