Club Pilates vs Curves
Club Pilates vs Curves: Club Pilates costs $385K to $839K to open; Curves costs $25K to $200K. Club Pilates has 237 units, Curves has 380. SBA loan history: Club Pilates = 281 loans (0.0% default); Curves = 493 loans (16.4% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Club Pilates vs Curves: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Curves requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($25K vs $385K for Club Pilates), a 1440% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $65K for Club Pilates versus $25K for Curves, Curves has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Club Pilates and 7.5% for Curves, giving Club Pilates the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Curves operates 380 units to Club Pilates's 237. Curves has been operating 34 years (founded 1992) versus 19 for Club Pilates (founded 2007), a 15-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Curves has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 493 7(a) approvals compared with 281 for Club Pilates. Club Pilates's peak SBA year was 2019 (65 loans); Curves's peak was 2004 (84 loans). Club Pilates's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Club Pilates has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 57. Curves leads in TX, with 35. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Club Pilates deals is $273K vs $96K for Curves, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Club Pilates and 16.4% for Curves, Club Pilates has the cleaner SBA loss record by 16.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 61 (Moderate) for Club Pilates and 28 (Fair) for Curves, giving Club Pilates the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 61/100 | 28/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 281 | 493 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 16.4% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $385K to $839K | $25K to $200K |
Franchise Fee | $65K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 7.5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $100K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $500K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 237 | 380 |
Franchised Units | 237 | 380 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2007 | 1992 |
Franchising Since | 2012 | 1995 |
Years Franchising | 14 yrs | 31 yrs |
Headquarters | BAKERSFIELD, CA | DALLAS, TX |
Category | Fitness | Fitness |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Club Pilates or Curves?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Club Pilates: $385K starting · Curves: $25K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Curves
Club Pilates: 281 SBA loans · Curves: 493 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Club Pilates
Club Pilates: 0.0% · Curves: 16.4%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Club Pilates: 237 units · Curves: 380 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Club Pilates
Club Pilates: 7% · Curves: 7.5%
More lender financing options
Curves
Club Pilates: 55 unique lenders · Curves: 210 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Club Pilates vs Curves: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Club Pilates and Curves is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $25K to $839K.
Club Pilates has 281 SBA loans on record and Curves has 493. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Club Pilates vs Curves, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Club Pilates or Curves?
How much does a Club Pilates franchise cost compared to Curves?
Can I finance Club Pilates or Curves with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Club Pilates or Curves?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman