JETSET PilatesExplore a boutique fitness concept.

Welcome to Franchise Roundtable. I'm Alex. And I'm Jordan. So imagine your 50-minute Pilates escape. It is the end of a really long, incredibly demanding work day. Oh, yeah. We all know that exact feeling. Right. Your calendar has been just absolutely full of things that, you know, other people needed from you, urgent calls, strategy meetings.

That was endless email threads. It's exhausting. It really is. But now you step through the doors of a studio. You meet the instructor, the music begins, and for the next 50 minutes you have something totally different to focus on. Yep, an appointment you chose strictly for yourself.

Exactly. And you find peace in that room because everything just feels seamless. We are flipping the perspective. Instead of being the customer walking in for a workout, what if you were the person building the business around that welcoming experience? It's a completely different lens.

It really is. We and you know, the physical footprint in the neighborhood. We're taking a deep dive into the ownership question behind JETSET Pilates. And to understand how this specific machine works, we really have to look at where the blueprint came from. Well, the blueprint comes directly from the founder, Tamara Galinsky.

If you look at the company's franchise disclosure document. The FDD, right. Exactly, the FDD, which is just the comprehensive legal and operational paperwork franchises provide. Her account of the brand's origins is very specific. So, she discovered Pilates while living in London, and then eventually moved to Miami in 2010.

Okay. Quite a change in scenery. Definitely. And when she got to Miami, she had this really distinct desire to combine controlled movement with choreography and music all within a 50-minute class format. So, it's very intentional. Extremely. The disclosure dates the very first Miami studio to October 2010, and then the official franchise is offering began much later in April 2022.

Wow, okay. So this is not just some generic room with fitness equipment thrown into it. I mean, bringing a London Pilates background into a Miami environment and specifically engineering the music and choreography, it creates a highly specific creative idea. It does. It really sets a mood.

Yeah, it's actually a lot like a restaurant, you know, where the room, the service and the menu all work perfectly together to create an atmosphere. But here, the equivalent is the studio, the instructor, and the class. Oh, that restaurant comparison captures the dynamic perfectly.

Because you really cannot separate the physical environment from the service being delivered, right? They are completely intertwined. Right. The disclosure describes this modern approach to Pilates using a distinctive customer former, which is the specialized resistance equipment central to the workout. And that's paired with exercises and sequences that vary between classes.

So as an owner, you are essentially taking that highly developed atmospheric offering and figuring out how to bring it into a local studio in your own community. Exactly. So let's actually walk through those front doors through the customer's eyes. Let's imagine that very first visit.

You've booked your class, you are craving that 50 minute escape we talked about, but you have never used this custom reformer before. And the equipment is very distinctive. Right. So, to a beginner, walking into a room full of unfamiliar resistance equipment can be incredibly intimidating.

It is intimidating, and the brand fully recognizes that hurdle. This is why their onboarding process for new clients is highly structured. How does that work? Well, they ask new clients to arrive 15 minutes early for a studio tour, and a very specific introduction to that distinctive equipment.

Oh, that makes sense. Yeah, the brand's new client materials describe the instructor explaining the class flow and providing guidance in a group setting before anything actually begins. You know, that 15 minute window is fascinating to me from a business perspective, because a first visit to any fitness concept has its own silent internal anxieties.

Oh, absolutely. Like, where do I go? Where do I put my bag? What happens next? Am I going to completely embarrass myself? Right. Everyone thinks that. Exactly. So, by having that 15-minute buffer, someone is right there to help the new client find their bearings.

And that is a highly appealing part of the business to explore for a prospective owner. Because you were figuring out exactly how your team introduces people to the service. It's all about the hospitality. It is. It is a customer experience with a definitive beginning, a middle, and an end.

It really makes the operation incredibly tangible. Like, you can literally walk into the space and see the work you would be supporting. Exactly. The instructors preparing the room, the clients are arriving for their 15-minute intro, the music is queued up, and you know, a scheduled session is about to start.

So how does that rhythm translate into how the customers actually interact with the business financially? Well, the booking model is very straightforward and relies on several revenue streams outlined in the FDD. It includes monthly memberships, individual classes, and packages of classes. Okay. And customers can easily view the schedule and reserve available spaces online.

Plus beyond the standard classes, the disclosure also details private or dual training sessions, as well as ancillary retail products available in the studio. And if someone really enjoys the intersection of hospitality and fitness, having this highly visible customer journey from that 15-minute welcome straight to the booking platform, it just makes the entire business model much easier to communicate.

It takes what could be an abstract fitness concept and grounds it in a daily manageable reality. Right. So now that we understand the customer's journey through the front of the house, we need to look at what is happening in the back. As a customer, you arrive for your class and enjoy the music, but as an owner, you are thinking about the people and the preparation that make the studio function.

The logistics. Exactly. So what is the owner actually doing while the class is happening? The documented ownership structure for JETSET is very concrete on this point. The owner is a designated owner-operator, committing full-time effort to daily on-site management and supervision.

Wow, okay. So this is fundamentally a hands-on role. Very hands-on. Picture an owner meeting with their team before the busy evening rush. They are reviewing the schedule, identifying the first-time visitors who need that 15-minute equipment introduction, and ensuring every single instructor understands their role in that specific block of classes.

That's exactly what it looks like. Set does permit a qualified general manager to handle those on-site functions. Okay. That manager must be a certified JETSET instructor. They must complete all required training, and they must take full-time responsibility for the on-site management.

Wait, if they have to be a certified instructor, does that mean they are actively involved in the class delivery itself? Like, what are the actual physical presence requirements for this manager? The FDD details a crucial nuance here. The manager is required to be physically in the studio for minimum of 25 hours specifically while classes are in session.

The 25 hours during active class sessions is just the baseline requirement for when the service is actively being delivered. And of course, they remain subject to all the operations manuals requirements. If that qualified manager leaves or cannot perform their duties, the designated owner remains fully responsible.

The owner must step in and cover the vacancy, fulfilling all management duties until a suitable replacement is found. Think about your own career and your own leadership style. Right. How does it translate? Exactly. How would your previous experience in organization, in team building, or in high level customer service translate into running this specific physical space?

Are you drawn to being in the studio yourself? Because it sounds like you do not have to imagine this as a completely unfamiliar world. Not at all. You can take the things you already excel at managing people, organizing schedules, delivering hospitality, and apply them directly to this operation.

And those are exactly the kinds of operational logistics you should discuss with the company management as you learn more. The core attraction of this model is the chance to lead a business with a recognizable service and a physical place in the community. The staff and management structure simply gives that vision a practical everyday shape.

So you have the vision and you understand the daily management structure, but how do you actually build this? So what resources does the franchisor provide to bridge that gap? The franchise resources play a significant role in getting the doors open. According to the FDD, the initial training covers a wide array of necessities, studio operations, sales, local marketing, hiring, utilizing the booking technology and understanding the specific JETSET approach.

Okay, so a lot of ground covered. Oh, absolutely. And this training is delivered through a combination of virtual learning, hands-on training at a designated studio. Studio, and finally on site training at your location right before you open. That covers the owner's knowledge base, but what about building the actual team?

If the manager has to be a certified instructor, I imagine the standards for the rest of the staff are just as high. They are. The system requires a lead instructor, and at least six part-time JETSET instructors. Six. Okay. Think about the logistics of that team.

All of them must complete the JETSET Training Academy, perform mock classes, and pass final evaluations before they can teach the public. And even after opening they have continuing education requirements. An owner will want to ask management to explain their recruitment strategies, the training schedules, and how exactly that lead instructor helps support and manage the broader team of six-part timers.

And what about the physical room itself? Well, to support the build out of the studio, JETSET provides access to designated real estate and project management providers. Oh, nice. Yeah, they conduct site and design reviews, supply the necessary manuals and architectural specifications, and help implement a grand opening marketing program.

Ongoing guidance continues after opening, addressing marketing operations and periodic training. These are disclosed resources within the development process, but the owner is absolutely the one funding, organizing and executing the actual business. Right. So reviewing these resources really forces you to move from an abstract interest and fitness to a concrete business plan.

Instead of just saying, I like Pilates, you have to picture the actual footprint of your studio, the construction timeline, and the faces of the lead instructor and the six part timers you'd be leading. It takes the hypothetical atmosphere we started with a mix of structural.

Which brings us to the most structural element of all. You have built the beautiful room, you have hired the team, and you are delivering the service. Let's look at the financial realities of what it takes to get to that point, based strictly on the disclosure.

closure. Okay, we need to look at this financial overview completely and in its proper context. According to the March 13 2025 FDD, the estimated initial investment for a single studio ranges between $413,100 and $806,900. Okay, $413,100 up to $806,900.

That is a substantial range. It is. What specific assumptions are built into that estimate? It. So that estimate assumes a few key variables. It assumes you are utilizing equipment financing rather than paying cash upfront. It assumes you receive landlord contributions toward your leasehold improvements.

And it assumes a timely opening process. Got it. And what does it leave out? Well, it is equally important to note what this estimate excludes. It entirely excludes taxes. It excludes any compensation for the owner's own work during that period. And it excludes any finance charges, interest, or debt service on those additional funds.

Also that total estimate range I mentioned includes the initial franchise fee of $60,000 as well as an estimate for additional funds needed during the first three months of operation. Let me play that out practically. If an owner decides to buy the custom reformers and all the equipment outright instead of financing it, or you know if they negotiate a lease that provides less landlord contribution for the build out, their initial cash needs could be significantly higher than that estimate.

Precisely. Buying equipment outright or receiving a lower landlord contribution can absolutely result in higher initial cash needs. This is exactly why management and your own legal and financial advisors are so critical. Right. They help you work through a specific location and a specific financing plan based on the variables of your actual market.

Exactly. Okay. That covers the investment side of the equation. Once the doors are open and the classes are running, what does item 19 of the FDD report regarding revenue? For calendar year 2024, the reporting focuses on a very specific six-studio group located in Florida.

Okay, six studios? Yes. To break that down, this group consists of three franchisee-operated studios and three affiliate-operated studios, and all six of these locations qualified for the full year reporting period. Period. And what were the reported numbers for that specific six studio group in Florida for 2024?

The average annual gross revenue across that group was $924,048. Okay. The median annual gross revenue was $856,138. And to give you the full spectrum, the range of reported gross revenue went from $552,638 on the low end, all the way up to $1,358,060 on the high end. Okay, so having the average, the median, and the full range really gives a prospective owner incredibly concrete data points.

First and foremost, these figures represent total studio revenues from the reported activities. They are not profit, and they are not owner take home pay. Crucial distinction. Second, this is strictly data from those six Florida locations. It is not an average of the entire franchise system, nor is it a franchise only average average, since half the group were affiliate studios.

And how is this data collected and verified? The data came directly from the monthly profit and loss reports submitted by the studios. The franchisor explicitly notes that it did not independently investigate or verify the franchisee's self-reported data. And while some studios have earned these amounts, individual results may differ.

Correct. There is no assurance you will earn as much. However, reasonable written substantiation of the data used in preparing these figures is available from the franchisor upon request. It gives a prospective owner a factual, documented foundation for their next conversation about location, operating plans, and the specific ownership role they want to take on it.

It brings the entire business model out of the clouds and into reality. It brings everything we have unpacked today into sharp focus. It really does. You know, we started this deep dive by imagining walking into the studio as a customer, seeking a break from a demanding day, creating that structured focused 50 minutes and finding peace in a welcoming environment.

Yeah. And now we have walked through exactly what it means to stand there as the leader providing that space. It raises a great final question for anyone listening. Think about what draws you to the picture we painted today. Is it the fitness setting itself?

Is that the chance to lead a team of instructors? Or is it the opportunity to build a local business around a fully developed, highly least structured system. The thought to ponder is this. When you create a space that people actively choose to step into at the end of a stressful day, you aren't just selling workout.

You are managing a cornerstone of their weekly routine. If owning a Pilates studio sounds like an exciting next chapter, take the next step. Talk through your goals, background, and questions with company management and your own advisors. Visit FranchiseBrokers.com, the presenting sponsor of Franchise Roundtable.