Reigning in the pounds

Developed about 11 years ago, YogaBugs has grown in size and stature, and more began pushing through plans for national growth through franchising.

YogaBugs is a management franchise, whereby franchisees are responsible for recruiting and developing a regional network of Yoga teachers, who then deliver goal-orientated classes to children aged two-and-a-half and seven years of age. For older ones, up to 12 years, Yoga'd Up, which is also part of the investment package, has more advanced stretching, meditation and visualisation classes.

For franchisees, getting started means building strong relationships with nurseries, schools, community facilities and other suitable venue providers, as well as developing a resource of qualified Yoga teachers to conduct the classes. Franchisees' income is then generated from the classes, as well through sales of its YogaBugs branded merchandise.

Once on board, franchisees gain from ongoing support, their own territory, all of the tools needed to get the business off the ground, plus stationery, equipment, a licence to operate, an operations manual, a website listing to help generate new business, along with bespoke software to help manage operational flow and other administrative aspects of their franchise.

While YogaBugs and Yoga'd Up franchisees don't need to be practicing yoga teachers themselves, they will run events; deal with parents, teachers, schools and nurseries; find venues; manage waiting lists; and collect registration fees. While this may sound like many tasks, franchisees have a monthly review with the franchise support team to make sure that projections are on track, and that they are happy with the way business is going.

Min total investment: £9900 plus working capital
Website: www.yogabugs.com
Phone: 0208 772 1800

Attiva

Started in 2003, Attiva began franchising in 2004, and today has three company-owned and seven franchised health clubs. Attiva health clubs offer many facilities, including a wide range of classes, routines and bespoke exercise regimes plus social events and parties, a running club, and a licenced café-bar where customers can sit and relax.

Attiva offers a truly turnkey operation. From sourcing and selecting suitable premises to analysing demographics to ensure that gym membership numbers are capable of reaching an optimum level, head office takes an early hands-on approach to helping its new recruits.

It's comforting to know that Attiva takes care of landlord negotiations and securing D2 planning permission, a legal requirement to get a building listed for leisure use. On behalf of new franchisees, Attiva takes care of gym fit-out and café bar installation. Using its own contractors to do construction work, move in equipment and get a site running, Attiva strives to go from signed franchise agreement to operational club in the shortest possible time.

Attiva has also invested time and money into analysing the best places to set up new gyms, and has identified almost 300 market towns around the UK that are prime places for new gym opportunities. Those interested in discovering if one of those prime locations is close by should contact Attiva on the number listed below.

Franchisees buying into Attiva get full training in running a health club, recruiting staff, delivering top customer service and marketing. They also get branded materials and corporate clothing needed to give the gym and its staff a professional look.

Min total investment: £80,000+ depending on gym size
Website: www.attivauk.com
Phone: 0845 230 1365

Énergie Fitness

Énergie Fitness has, since it began in 2003, become one of the fastest growing fitness club brands in the UK. Today, the company offers different franchise packages for different needs. Firstly, there's the studio package with gym, a group exercise area for classes, changing rooms, and an open reception area and exercise studio. For the more ambitious, there's the énergie fitness club package with relaxation areas, sauna and/or steam room, sunbeds and a café-bar. Franchisees can also tap into an additional revenue stream by adding a shop to their setup to sell gym-related equipment. Ultimately the type of fitness club purchased should reflect the franchisee's personal budget and lifestyle choice. A larger gym, while offering the potential of higher remuneration, will take longer to reach membership capacity and will have higher ongoing costs than a smaller outlet.

Recently, énergie diversified its interests by creating a new brand of fitness clubs exclusively for women, designed around a 30-minute workout. Using a combination of aerobic exercise and muscle toning, instructors offer motivation and support for women wanting to get fit. Because the studio sizes fall into the sub-1600sqft bracket, they also require a lower level of investment from franchisees, and can be turned around more quickly.

With énergie fitness gyms, franchisees benefit from a tailored membership administration and direct debit service at their premises; full training and support from énergie's development team; licence to operate under the brand name; training events; and central purchasing power for products and services, among other things.

Min total investment: £19,000-£120,000 depending on size and type
Website: www.energiefitnessclubs.co.uk
Phone: 0845 363 1020

Contours Express

Contours Express caters exclusively to women, offering a range of health and fitness services. Using cutting-edge weight-stack equipment combined with an intensive programme run by qualified fitness trainers, women attending the classes quickly get the results they're looking for in a timeframe that's easily slotted into a busy lifestyle. And from a business perspective, franchisees can turn around a high number of classes in a day, thereby maximising profits.

The company, which began franchising in the US 10 years ago, today has some 600 outlets worldwide and is looking for business-minded people to invest in the company.

At present, there are four franchises up and running in the UK, with a fifth on the way. The last Contours Express franchise to open was in Southampton, and marked the company's biggest coup to date, with South African franchisees Clinton and Laureen Pearce clinching a huge space in their town centre, which enabled them to open the world's largest Ladies Only Express Workout Gym.

To become a Contours Express franchisee, prior experience in the fitness sector is not essential, nor is previous business experience, as full training and support are provided. However, an entrepreneurial spirit, common sense, and high energy levels are a must.

Franchisees get a sizeable territory and are able to offer women the chance to work out and relax in a safe and comfortable single-sex environment.

The package includes, among other things, grand opening support and a press campaign, marketing tools and products, employee procedures, recruitment training, first aid training, and all fitness equipment.

Min total investment: £35,000
Website: www.contoursexpress.co.uk
Phone: 0208 123 2968

Rosemary Conley

Set up in 1993, the eponymously entitled Rosemary Conley is a franchise opportunity available to anyone wanting to combine the benefits of exercise and carefully controlled dieting. Rosemary Conley's unique selling point is that both exercise and dieting are offered in the same classes, so for those with busy lives, Rosemary Conley classes offer members the chance to save time and money while still achieving tangible results.

Today, Rosemary Conley's network has more than 180 franchisees throughout the UK, with franchisees running about 2000 classes between them each week, boasting around 80,000 members.

Conley herself is what you might call a hands-on franchisor, heavily involved in every aspect of her business, and this includes the selection and training of new franchisees, who she meets with face-to-face, personalising the business at every level.

As a potential franchisee, you must be interested in running a full-time enterprise, and take up to four classes each week. Naturally, you will also need to be in good physical shape. Once on board, franchisees are trained in nutrition through Rosemary Conley's Applied Nutrition and Weight Management Training Course, which is accredited by The University of Chester. Franchisees are also trained to achieve the OCR (Oxford Cambridge Royal Society of Arts) exercise to music qualification. Other elements in the franchise package include first aid training, business and marketing support, choreography sessions, plus all equipment that is required to run the classes.

Min total investment: £20,563
Website: www.rosemaryconley.com
Phone: 01509 620222