If you’re really not comfortable with the gym, you’re never going to go.

At the Curves website, Marlene gives an excellent testimonial, but an even better explanation for why Curves works for her. "If you’re really not comfortable with the gym, you’re never going to go."

How true...

The most efficient and time-tested motivation one has to get out there and do it - is other people encouraging you to do it. That is what Curves for Women is all about.

Marlene has this right. Curves Dearborn has some of the best women in all Southeast Michigan in their membership ranks. We know it. They know it. And even more importantly, when you come in for your life-changing workout, you will know it too.

Get in here and experience what so many of our members call "the best club they've ever been in."

Buying a Curves: Startup Costs

Buying and opening a Curves For Women Fitness Facility takes time and money. I am not going to kid anyone and tell them that it is not hard work. But, let's be fair, so is anything else worth having in your life. From good health, family relations, extra money, and so much more - if you want to make it happen it takes work to achieve.

Same goes for establishing a Curves fitness franchise. There are many great reasons to choose to buy a Curves Franchise (and even more reasons to buy Curves in Dearborn Michigan):

1. Curves owns 25% of the fitness facility market; 1 in every 4 exercise clubs is a Curves
2. Curves ownership promotes Women In Business; most clubs are owner operated
3. Curves corporate marketing partnerships and promotions drive traffic to thier franchises
4. Curves franchise education and training resources supports and guides novice owners
5. Curves has one of the lowest franchise start-up costs and fees in the franchise industry

Where I am an expert, though, is in the arena of finances. I am a Financial Analyst by trade and do all of the accounting for the business. Today it costs $100,000 plus to open up a brand new club - if you can find a new territory. Since there are no new franchises being awarded in Michigan, the person wanting to change their life by buying a Curves can only do so through a resale.

So, how much money do you need to start a Curves franchise? Well, you start by understanding what it will cost to open up a new one from scratch. First, Curves International wants $50,000 to use their world-class name and brand. From there, it is up to you to do the following which take both TIME and MONEY ($30-40,000):

1. Research potential LOCATIONS (make sure there is good store traffic)
2. NEGOTIATE your LEASE and pay security deposit (get a lawyer and accountant)
3. Customize the space (leasehold improvements) with walls, carpet, bathrooms, office etc.
4. Decorate the facility (make sure to creature comforts and ambience)
5. Install Office: Computers, Scanner, Printers (color and BW), Fax, File Cabinets, Refrigerator
6. Buy electronics (TV w/dvd player, music receiver, 2 cd players, surround sound speakers, cd's and music licensing)
7. Prepare for operating the business (i.e. insurance, banking, credit card processing, payroll, taxes, licenses, etc.)
8. Develope Marketing Plan and Advertise, Advertise, Advertise the grand opening
9. Hire and train employees to help run the club
10. Budget in negative cash flow while building up Curves clientele (plan for an additional $30-50,000 for this)

Now since you are looking to buy a curves resale it is most important that you find an owner who did steps 1-9 correctly. Otherwise you might end up paying them for work they did and having to redo the work your yourself which will be an additional expense.

Number 10 is really the scary wild card. You could open the doors and have nobody walk through for months to sign up and provide the revenue needed to stay in business. How do you forecast or guess the future?

When buying a resale Curves you have the opportunity to see the history of how many people have called, walked in, and signed up to be a member. Make sure to look at that carefully because if the trend is not consistent that location could be troublesome. At Curves Dearborn we are excited that our location receives calls daily from women driving by and seeing our sign or walking in to find out more. We currently sign up approximately one new member each day without any local advertising.

Fortunately for you our Curves for Sale in Dearborn, Michigan, has been well built and cared for. We have top of the line location, ambience, equiptment, maintenance and staff. Our membership is stable and our sales are beyond the break even point and experiencing positive cash flow. All you need to do is drive. Drive the vision for marketing and advertising. Drive the growth of local corporate relationships with neighboring business. Drive the membership growth.

In short, if you are new to business or don't want to completely roll the dice on opening up a brand new business from scratch (which the setup costs can be very high and more importantly, unknown), then take a long hard look at buying our Curves for your business investment. You can make significant improvements to that business while already being positive cash flow and profitable. This is a win-win...

Springtime

Every year around this time is just amazing for me. Springtime is the time for eternal hope. Hope for better times ahead after about 4 months of VERY nasty weather where most people really believed that the long, cold winter would never end. It truly is the best time of the year for me.

For all the ladies at Curves For Women in Dearborn, it is the time to get energized and get moving. Personally, this time of the year gets me up to go do an extra workout. It gives me the energy of wanting to feel good and feel better than I have in a long time.

Springtime is wonderful for Gail and her team at Curves Dearborn. Women's fitness is their life and helping our members achieve their fitness goals is what it is all about. It makes their job that much easier when our members decide to come do the most famous circuit training workout around. The energy our Curves members bring to the club at this time of year is contagious to them and to other members working out.

I am not an expert on the dynamic of the club and what happens with women's fitness in the Curves concept. I am, admittedly, a man who likes being macho by lifting weights and running. When I go to the gym to workout, I am usually working out alone and in my head. I love this time of year and love working out, but when I see what our members enjoy at Curves Dearborn...I am jealous.

The group dynamic that exists during the circuit training is second to none in making you feel good about what you are doing. Marry that with this perfect time of year for hope and renewal, then you get something very special.

A Man's Perspective: Magical

Kevin is Gail's husband and an avid supporter of the Curves women's fitness club in Dearborn Michigan. He contributes at this blog occasionaly and offers the man's perspective the best he can. He also manages many parts of the business for Gail while she focuses her efforts on the members' success.

I really love what happens at the Curves club. Gail and her team are the best in the business and I am proud to be married to her. What I am most proud of, though, is the difference she and the Curves fitness instructors have on the members.

I used to think it was all about losing weight and looking better. I was only partially right. What happens at the club can truly be magical. If you have ever been around somebody who achieves their life's goals and you were there to either help them along or just be part of it...magical. There might be another word for it, but I really like this one.

Curves members are not just about losing weight - albeit a very important part of it. No, it is about giving yourself some "me time" to set the mind and body in motion. Spending 30 minutes with other women who are all attempting to achieve very similar goals does more for the soul than just going to a gym and working the machines. It feeds the soul and bonds you to who you share the experience with.

What I see when women leave the club after an breath-taking workout is an aura of happiness about them. They did it again. They spent another 30 minutes in the exact way they wanted to AND without the pressure of showing up for men who are working out right along side of them. They show up for themselves and what it can mean to their self esteem.

As a man who works out regularly, I can vouch for the fact that men and women approach fitness in a completely different manner. Men like to go to get buff and, yes, even those of us who are married, have an ego to get stroked by having other people (other men as well as women) notice their workout physique.

For women, especially those not interested in playing the fitness gym fashion show, the process is completely different. This is where Curves for Women steps up and provides the atmosphere and tools that are perfect for success; perfect for them.

I am so proud to be a part of this journey which these members embark. Some potential members come into the club feeling defeated and troubled that almost nothing has worked for them in the past. They take the chance and sign up with us - and committing with signing up is VERY important to the oomph needed to push forward. When success finally comes, it is magical - even for those of us watching from a distance...

~Kevin

No Men? Really?

For anyone who has been living in a cave for the past 10 years (or simply does not know the Curves system), I think it is necessary for me to explain what this great fitness club is all about.

Originally Curves was called "Curves For Women". Now they are just called "Curves". It is a women's only club because that IS the concept. This is a low-impact, high cardio workout is designed specifically for women. It is by far the absolute best fitness concept ever created for busy women who want to lose weight and get fit, in the privacy of their own club. Combine the Curves workout with proper diet for your unique body type and presto!!! LOVE the results. This concept works because it is designed for women....period

(Here are some of our members getting to it...)

We women don't necessarily like normal, run-of-the-mill fitness clubs for several reasons:

1. Women don't like men staring at them while they are trying to work out - especially if we aren't in our ideal shape yet (but just wait...we will be after Curves Dearborn...)


2. Women don't care to have the club's Barbie doll girl flirting with all the men while they are trying their darnedest to lose weight and work out


3. They like to share our journey with other women who are sharing the same experience as them


4. Women want to belong to something special - that puts women's needs, goals, feelings, etc at the forefront of the experience


5. and on, and on, and on....

Curves is a women's only, fitness facility that uses hydraulic machines for resistance training. It is a 30-minute, 3 days per week schedule that, when followed with an ideal diet, has proven to be the most successful weight-loss concept of all time...for women like you!

~ Kevin

Tip: Ask friends if they would like to join up with you. It is always more fun to lose weight and share your life-changing actions with people you love