Is Curves for Women a Good Franchise Investment?
March 7, 2007 by Sean Kelly
Filed under Business
Do you own a Curves for Women franchise? Have you owned one, or know anyone who has? What are your thoughts on this franchise?
Curves For Women is one of the fastest growing franchise companies of the decade, having now topped 10,000 locations. I know in our area the concept seems to have passed the test of time. However, according to Franchise Pundit, 8% of the current Curves franchise locations are for sale.
What’s the inside scoop on the Curves for Women franchise opportunity?
SHARE YOUR INSIGHT. LEAVE A COMMENT.
I just got back from the Curves regionals meeting. touting a 20 city tour. We (owner, myself and another trainer) drove over 5 hours to get there. What we drove there for could have been sent via web cast or DVD. It was a DVD of Mike Raymond and the other talking heads! Yes, a DVD projected onto a giant screen, I was very put out. Mike began by talking about how we MAY be in a recession, but he was “Not going to participate”! I wanted to cry, and nearly did. I took a job at our local curves, because my husband was laid off from his job, so I don’t have the luxury of choosing “Not to participate” in the current recession. BUYER BEWARE!
We looked into purchasing curves smart and the initial investment is $8K, this will be installed on only the basic 8 machines any other machines are an additional $300. there is a $1500 set up fee, you’ll have to purchase a separate computer for down loading the members information into, plus the monthly fee that they will charge you for “maintenance” and the additional money for the card that you slip into each of the mini computers at each of the machines…so we rounded it up to about a $10k investment. NO THANKS!!!
Well there are only 180 people part of this lawsuit. That’s out of 6000+ US locations.I seriously doubt any court is going to award anythign substantial to such a smapp percentage of the franchise system. That’s 3 percent of the franchisees.
SBA loan closings on some big brands are as follows:
FRANCHISE #LOANS Closing rate
21420–CURVES FOR WOMEN 362 11.33%
78760–SUBWAY SANDWICH SHOP 5.87%
17205–CICI’S PIZZA 155 14.84%
75988–SNAP FITNESS 50 2.00%
10955–BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO16 37.50%
04516–ANYTIME FITNESS 103 5.83%
46561–LADY OF AMERICA 31 41.94%
52300–MCDONALD’S 14 14.29%
Curves is named AAFD’s Total Quality Franchising Franchisor of the Year.
Comments invited:
http://www.bizzia.com/franchisepick/curves-is-franchisor-of-year-say-what/
Haven’t posted here in a while, but I thought I’d let you know we closed on the short sale of our home today and have moved into a rental home. We avoided foreclosure by a little more than two weeks, so we’re grateful for that. We were blessed to find buyers during this terrible economy.
As we extricate ourselves slowly from this Curves nightmare, I wish all you owners and former owners the best.
New post: Happy Curves franchisee speaks out
http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/curves-happy-franchise-owner-speaks-out/
another curves says: “Keith said “Let’s just face it fat people figgured out you have to sweat at curves and that is not acceptable. That equels zero results.”
I can’t believe no one else has taken issue with this remark.
This is the kind of mean-spirited and ignorant remark that gives credence to the idea that Curves Franchisees are failing because they don’t have enough business sense.
For Goodness Sakes people.”
Keith’s phrasing might be insensitive, even insulting, but it’s the truth, isn’t it?
Curves strategy was to cater to the “deconditioned” woman which is a nice way of saying “couch potato” who doesn’t like to exercise. Isn’t one of the big flaws with this concept that most couch potatoes return to their couches, eventually?
I am still considering purchasing a curves franchise even after reading all the comments. Ive looked at their numbers and they are spending way to much on payroll, I will be running the club and keeping several pt. The area is good and no competition in the area and the the woman age market that the club needs. So how crazy and I?
I agree with what you are saying. I am so stressed about my job at Curves that I feel the need to vent somewhere. I have been managing a franchise. Being a previous aerobics instructor and loving fitness I ws so excited to start Curves. But during the past couple of years the owners have fallen to the way side and with myself full time and only two part time it is hard to get all of the marketing etc. done. But of course the owners still want all of this work done so they can make money and go about working other jobs. But mean while I have been cut in wages etc.And I was all but thrilled with the smart system coming unti all of the maintenence comes along. Cheap plastic parts that like to constantly slip out of place and all of the readings on memebrs results are off. So basicly ALL!! day I here about how they cannot get green, this machine is not working. So everyday during our closed time I go around to check all of the machines. I have a feeling after a while more franchises are having to many problems and members will not like it so much. It does make them work harder to a point. They still get distracted and strart talking to much….etc…And I am pretty mechanily able to maintain these machines, but I feel real bad for owners and manager who can barely handle a screw driver. And don’t even get me started on the back pads. I have also gotten certified as a personal trainer and do not like some of the machines either.
Edwin:
3% of all US franchisees being part of a single lawsuit seems pretty high, doesn’t it? I mean, this is only one suit. Plus, most failing or failed franchisees don’t have the money to pursue legal action.
It’s worth noting that the loan default numbers only reflect SBA guaranteed loans. Curves has one of the highest default rates in franchising. Here’s the list here:
http://www.bizzia.com/franchisepick/quiznos-cold-stone-subway-curves-top-franchise-loan-defaults/
Gary Heavin claims this is due to Curves resales with inflated prices. While this doesn’t seem completely plausible, stories like this below add some credence to it:
http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/curves-disturbing-resale-story/
http://www.bizzia.com/franchisepick/curves-franchise-resale-buyer-cries-fraud/
It also shows how some franchisees may be doing a bit of underhanded dealing as well.
Here is what other owners are saying about CI. They are so stupid that they ncan’t even see that all the problems are a direct result of Gary Heavin’s bad business decisions. Needless to say we won’t be going to the regionals or convention again this year.
I think that it’s great that we are sharing the results of our food drive…1,000 pounds here and 5 new members…but what scares me more are the total number of members that we have left. Folks…what is happening out there…what’s going on…why is Curves in the sewer the past couple of years…we have a niche market of overweight women over the age of 50 who wouldn’t normally go to a gym…where is everyone…why aren’t the women in that demographic joining anymore…all of your numbers are scaring me quite frankly. I had 712 CDs plus about 100 yearlys in my current club back at the beginning of 2004…now I have about 250 members including yearlys and dropping every month. I cannot keep up with the attrition rate any longer. I would have to work 15/hours a day and be out of the club half the time putting flyers on mailboxes, servicing the lead bags all over town, going to EVERY health fair, spending hours in my car everyday getting the news out, praying that the newspapers would print my Grassroots press releases which they have NEVER done even once for me yet…i can no longer bang my head against the wall and keep praying that my numbers will ever go up again because too many are leaving and either no longer going anywhere or joining Planet Fitness 5 minutes down the road. I have done everything I can do keep my business viable but I don’t know how much longer I can hold out.
I’m afraid that most of us who used to have dreams years ago about helping our population of older women get fit…can no longer keep up with the fact that our bills are getting higher and our incomes are getting lower…and Avon and the Walking Poles are just not going to bring in 1000s of dollars a MONTH to make up for it.
I am so scared…I hear you guys loud and clear….As a resale new owner, thank god I didn’t pay much but still scared regardless, I am appalled that the facts are not represented. Like one, very important one, the new average club is members is about 250, and we all know 250 just doesn’t cut it. And believe me, I have cut everywhere I can. I have spent buckets on marketing…I look my gals in the eye promising I can keep it open…And then I read this and remember the sad, pathetic Club Camp and feel like a liar…
I know and the gals love Curves the product, I love my club, but if Ding Dong doesn’t sell to someone with a masters in biz, or an smart innovative, motivated company, the crash and burn is imminent.
And by the way Gary said beyond, Peaks and Valleys, and Keep the Promise and crazy heathen remarks, oh and hates California, he said, ha-ha the lawsuit had been lost.. I’m confused…
Sadderbutwiser,
Good to hear from you again. It sounds like you are well on your way back although I’m sure it will take a while. I know you will be ok and have learned a very valuable lession. God Bless you and your family
We sold a curves before the market crashed on sales. But Gary Haven can not blame the resale mark up on that He like GOD aproves every sale. If the price is to high he should stop it.
For a godlike ruler he sure can not see our current econemy. We have #2 curves for sale (almost give it away) to someone who wants it. We are getting out making more money at home online. Let’s just face it fat people figgured out you have to sweat at curves and that is not acceptable. That equels zero results.
To all curves owners who have had problems with curves International and Gary Howie Havein please send your complaints to the BBB of your city and Waco TX. As well as the attorney general of your state and TX. And the federal trade commission. Below are web links where you can file the complaints on line.
http://www.bbb.org/
http://waco.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=40&id=ab5100aa-4c5a-4314-8e1b-f5996973f10c
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/index.shtml
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/index.shtml
Hello Sean,
I appreciate all you do, and thank you for telling our story, “Resale Buyer Cries Fraud.”
Someone made the statememt that we should have done our “due diligence”, before buying the clubs. We did our “due diligence” and looked over everything available to us, before we made the decision to buy these clubs. The previous owner of our clubs was abusing and deceiving the women in our communities. As far as we’re concerned, Curves International allowed this to happen. They should be held accountable.
Thank you again!
Keith said “Let’s just face it fat people figgured out you have to sweat at curves and that is not acceptable. That equels zero results.”
I can’t believe no one else has taken issue with this remark.
This is the kind of mean-spirited and ignorant remark that gives credence to the idea that Curves Franchisees are failing because they don’t have enough business sense.
For Goodness Sakes people.
I see so many disheartened comments about owning and operating Curves for Women, but I do want to encourage you to stick with it. I am a Supervisor for 3 Curves locations in the Lynchburg, VA area. These 3 locations have been open between 10 and 12 years and are thriving. Our locations hold between 300 and 500 members each.
I understand this is a bad economy, but we really haven’t lost a lot of members…those we have lost, we have replaced with new members. Our locations are not in a hugely populated area either. I truly believe it is what you do for your members at this very difficult time in our nation. Try to make it fun…spend a few dollars on games, have a themed week (ie – Oldies, 80s, etc…). Get people to buy supplements – shakes mainly – by having a shake tasting! Make sure you do the recipes from the Weight Managment book.
The Regional conference, I have to admit, was a bit of a disappointment. It was held in Charlotte, NC for our area in 2008 and was very nice. There were approximately 200-300 people in attendance and was a great learning experience. I agree they could have done a much better job on it, but I understand why they did it the way they did…get it over in one day so they didn’t have to travel the nation. Oh well! The conference in Nashville should be much better!
If you have any questions for me or need any advice on how to keep your members in your club, please respond! I would love to help in any way possible!
Hello, my name is Della. I work at a club in Pa. we have about 188 members( a very small town). but at one time we had 400. The owner is selling and she offered it to me. I am a little scared about it. I really want to,But I am worried about keeping members and getting new ones and any idea that you have would be great. It might help me decide if I could do that and if it would work ,wow that would be great!!!
My current situation is this. My partner is trying to force me to close. I want to try to turn the club around but am concerned about being soley responsible for the fees should I not beable to increase membership and have to close anyway. I am looking for help in anyway of ideas to increase and retain the current members. I have a big decision to make soon.
Thank you for your help
LeAnn
Della:
Please read the comments on these posts at UnhappyFranchisee.com
http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/curves-overview/
Meanspirited but true, unfortunately.
Curves struggles but Dunkin Donuts is doing just fine.
McDonald’s is posting record profits.
For having thousands of locations, has Curves made a dent in the American waistline?
Curves sells to couch potatoes. The couch is tough competition.
I am a co-owner/manager of a Curves in a pretty busy town with the closest Curves being about 1 hour away in any direction. It’s doing ok but it has been a very long hard road and we still need to grow more.
We had also taken over another Curves that was about 45 minutes away from where we live and thought we would be able to grow it. We busted our butts and put in very long hours and days trying to grow the membership. It was doing worse than we were told when we took it over. The club was a total mess and we fixed a lot of stuff and even tho we would gain a few new members we continued to lose just as many.
After a horrible 9 monts, we made the difficult decision to close that club and now Curves International wants $10,000. They told us if we got a letter to them by a certain date they would negotiate that, but they just contacted us today stating they will not negotiate that fee down and we need to wrap it up and get the $10,000 to them by the end of November or they will send it to their legal department! WTH! We told them for months before we closed that we were in trouble and thinking down that path. We even tried to move our club to a busier area (no other curves were in the area we wanted to move to) and they would not let us. They provided us with no support what so ever and totally dropped us on our butts! And now they want that money.
Does anyone have any suggestions how to handle this? I have heard about a class aciton law suit and would like more info on that……
My business partner and I are both single mothers and are trying to provide a service to the ladies in our communities. We told them it would break us and we would probably not be able to keep the club we still have open. They don’t care.
FOR ANYONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT BUYING A CURVES: DON’T!!!!!!
I WOULD NOT RECCOMMEND BUYING A CURVES FRANCHISE TO ANYONE. I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL MY 5 YEAR CONTRACT IS UP WITH THEM. WE DO NOT PLAN ON RENEWING THE CONTRACT WITH THEM AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROVIDED US WITH ZERO SUPPORT.