Styles Studios Fitness, an Illinois Favorite, Launches National Franchising Arm

Styles Studios Fitness, an Illinois-based brand that offers multiple boutique-style classes under one roof, has launched a national franchising arm and is eyeing expansion across the United States.

Founded in 2020 by industry veteran and former Health & Fitness Association (HFA) board chair Carrie Kepple, Styles Studios touts what it calls a “club of studios” concept, blending the versatility of a big-box gym with the community feel of boutique fitness.

The brand’s flagship location in Peoria, Illinois, offers four different boutique-style group classes spanning modalities including strength and conditioning, yoga, Pilates, cycling and recovery, along with open gym access, for a single membership price. It also offers personal training sessions.

“We’ve created a space where people can explore all aspects of fitness under one roof for one price,” Kepple said. “We are the lower-cost, higher-convenience solution to the boutique fitness industry that we are dubbing ‘LCHC.’ And now, we’re handing the keys to a proven system and brand to entrepreneurs who want to change lives and create vibrant wellness communities.”

The brand also offers expert-curated programming, instructor-led training, body composition scans, app-based habit tracking and the tech to enable 20-hour daily access to facilities.

For franchisees, Styles Studios will offer support with site selection, buildout, marketing, programming and ongoing operations, citing selling points including protected territories in the U.S., a low-overhead model and recurring revenue streams.

Styles Studios is now accepting applications from first-round franchise candidates. The fitness brand’s franchise fee is $40,000, with total investment ranging from $458,000 to $2.2 million, according to its website.

So far, the brand has drawn early interest from fitness professionals, landlords and investors, it says.

Styles Studios enters the franchising game as the concept of offering multiple boutique fitness modalities under one roof is starting to gain early traction in North America, with operators embracing the allure of being able to give consumers access to several class types for a single price at one location.

Altea, a Canadian luxury fitness brand, recently opened an Ottawa club that boasts nine boutique fitness style concepts under one roof. The brand has big plans to scale across Canada, its CEO has told ATN.

Action Black, a Colombia-based brand, opened a similar concept in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood, with plans to expand to other NYC neighborhoods including Williamsburg.