Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Jazzercise Inc.

Dance-fitness program

Year began: 1977 Franchising since: 1983
While teaching traditional jazz dance classes in Evanston, Illinois, in 1969, Judi Sheppard Missett turned her students away from the mirrors and started a “just for fun” class that incorporated dance moves to provide aerobic exercise. After moving to Southern California, she started training other instructors in the Jazzercise program in 1977. Six years later, the company began franchising. Now Jazzercise’s CEO, she continues to teach weekly Jazzercise classes and choreograph new dance routines. Based in Carlsbad, California, Jazzercise has more than 5,000 instructors teaching its total-body conditioning program to almost half a million participants each year in the United States and more than 30 other countries. Jazzercise instructors are trained and certified before becoming franchised.

2460 Impala Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92008

Phone: (760)476-1750
Fax: (760)602-7180

Franchisor is a privately-held company with 150 employee(s); 10 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth

Year

2007
2006
2005
2004

U.S. Franchises

5,918
5,693
5,166
5,007

Canadian Franchises

111
102
94
94

Foreign Franchises

1,092
998
989
937

Company
Owned

1
1
1
1

Where Seeking Franchisees

Nationwide

Worldwide

Costs & Fees

Total investment: $2.99K-33.1K
Franchise fee: $500/1K
Ongoing royalty fee: to 20%
Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable

Type of Financing Available
	In-House	Third Party
Franchise Fee	No	No
Startup Costs	No	No
Equipment	No	No
Inventory	No	No
Accounts Receivable	No	No
Payroll	No	No

Operations

Franchise can be run from home
1% of all franchisees own more than one unit
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training & Support

TRAINING

At franchisee's location: 2-3 weeks home study
Seminars: 3 days

ONGOING SUPPORT

Newsletter
Meetings
Toll-free phone line
Internet
Security/safety procedures
Field operations/evaluations

MARKETING SUPPORT

Co-op advertising
Ad slicks
National media
Regional advertising

Rankings in Entrepreneur magazine 2004-2008

Franchise 500® rank:
#44 (2008); #35 (2007); #25 (2006); #26 (2005); #25 (2004);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2008;

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#14 (2008); #5 (2007); #26 (2006); #23 (2005); #10 (2004);

Top home based franchises:
#8 (2008); #9 (2007); #4 (2006); #6 (2005); #6 (2004);

Low-Cost Franchises:
#11 (2008); #12 (2007); #9 (2006); #11 (2005); #11 (2004);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#39 (2008); #23 (2007); #20 (2006); #21 (2005); #19 (2004);

Last Updated: 11/26/2007 12:00:00 AM