This Free Training & Guide Reveals:
• How much it costs to open a barre studio
• The biggest mistakes new studio owners make
• How to choose the right barre studio location
• The systems successful barre studios use to grow
• How to attract members from day one
• What it takes to build a profitable barre business
• How to avoid costly startup mistakes
• The step-by-step process for opening your own barre studio
Discover essential startup costs, avoid common mistakes, and get step-by-step guide on building a successful studio—all without the $50,000 barre franchise fee! This guide is your key to opening a studio on your terms—don't miss out!
Discover essential startup costs, avoid common mistakes, and get step-by-step guide on building a successful studio—all without the $50,000 barre franchise fee! This guide is your key to opening a studio on your terms—don't miss out!
This question can vary widely. I’ve seen people spend over $350,000 with many of the franchises - our goal is build out, equipment, marketing, signage - and to get the doors open for less than $100,000.
The US Chamber of Commerce has shown that 50% of companies that do not have systems for success close within their first five years, compared to only 3% of those that do have access to the systems of those that went before them.
Most barre studios do not fail because the owner lacked passion. They struggle because the business was built without the right plan, numbers, systems, lease terms, and launch strategy.
I have watched talented women open beautiful studios and still lose money because they signed the wrong lease, underestimated startup costs, waited too long to market, hired too quickly, or opened without a clear member acquisition plan.
That is exactly why this guide exists. Before you invest in buildout, equipment, rent, instructors, software, or a franchise model, you need to understand what actually makes a barre studio profitable.
One of the absolute biggest mistakes I have seen made time and time again are surrounding the lease:
How Much Does it Cost To Open a Barre Studio and Other Frequently Asked Questions?
The cost of opening a barre studio depends on your location, lease terms, buildout, equipment, staffing, and marketing strategy. Understanding startup costs before signing a lease can help you avoid expensive mistakes and launch with confidence.
Is a Pure Barre franchise worth it?
A Pure Barre franchise offers brand recognition and systems, but it also comes with franchise fees, royalties, and operating requirements. This guide helps you compare franchise ownership with opening an independent barre studio.
Should I open a Barre3 franchise or my own studio?
Both options have advantages. A franchise provides structure, while an independent studio offers more flexibility, control, and profit potential. The best choice depends on your goals, budget, and vision.
How long does it take to open a barre studio?
Most barre studios take several months to launch depending on location, funding, construction, staffing, and pre-sale marketing. Having a proven roadmap can significantly reduce delays and costly mistakes.
How do I open my own barre studio without buying a barre franchise?
Many aspiring studio owners begin by researching a Pure Barre Franchise, Barre3 Franchise, or other barre franchise opportunities before deciding to open their own barre studio. To start a barre business successfully, you'll need a business plan, startup budget, financial projections, location selection strategy, studio operations plan, instructor recruitment plan, and marketing system. Understanding the real cost to open a barre studio and creating a clear launch roadmap can dramatically improve your chances of building a profitable barre studio.
This past year, Diana reached out to hire me AFTER she had negotiated her lease.
Her lease was the WORST lease I had ever seen. The landlord saddled her with a series of annual expenses that were not typical. But worse than that - they not only didn't give her any building concessions - they charged her to INSTALL the AC, to INSTALL the walls between her and her neighbor, to INSTALL the initial electrical (an expense of over $150,000!)
Where we normally negotiate about $20,000 - $50,000 in concessions for our clients, she didn't get any concessions - she also incurred over $150,000 in EXPENSES she shouldn't have! She will STRUGGLE for YEARS TO COME because of this one mistake!
My goal is to help other women AVOID these costly mistakes and build successful, super profitable studios - without the $50,000 in franchise fees!
To get access to our spreadsheet and comparison of potential expenses to open a studio - as well as our FREE GUIDE on How to Open a Barre Studio Without The Fees and Rules of a Barre Franchise - click below now!
After receiving a glowing testimonial from another client of Amy’s, my decision was simple - I went all in. It was one of the easiest (and best) decisions I have made.
While the abundant information and resources in the SIB portal are valuable time and money savers, I have found the most value and support in my direct contact with Amy (my “Amy Dates”). Our entire process of opening our studio was just a few months and Amy’s analogy of “drinking water through a fire hose” was spot on! In addition to her vast knowledge and experience (lease negotiations build out, staffing, marketing, etc.).
Amy is honest, professional, personable, kind, and fun. Opening a studio has been my dream for the past 8 years. My investment in Amy and SIB has been worth every penny.
Past Client
Studio in a Box was without a doubt the best money I have spent for my studio to date.
Studio in a Box is fantastic; it walks you through your business plan, studio build out, hiring packets, and props. Literally, everything you need is in an online portal that walks you from step one to step 100. How to protect your brand by trademarking it, how to find employees, how to register your business with the state. Licenses and permitting and things that when I said I wanted to own a studio I never would have guessed, and I am a third generation entrepreneur! The logistics of business ownership - that is where Amy shines and where she saved me time and time again.
I’m not sure when Amy sleeps, but I know she never ignored a late night email or a desperate “what do I do?!” text message. I would choose Studio in a box every time. Good Luck!
Past Client
I was able to take the information from the marketing and PR section and get local media coverage for my events!
Amy’s program is exceptional. She goes above and beyond to assist and help you succeed. She provided every bit of feedback I requested when asking for assistance. Amy checked on me on a regular basis. I would highly recommend her program versus trying to wing it or go it alone.
The most valuable pieces to me were the wealth of documents containing information that I needed prior to opening. This would include:
Past Client
If you have a dream of owning your own studio, Amy’s so worth it!
As I started out my dream of having my very own studio, I really didn’t think I would be able to NOT go with a franchise. I just didn’t think I had enough business and marketing knowledge to start up a studio from scratch.
As I looked deeper into the world of franchises, I realized how limited I would be, financially and creatively, to start up this dream.
Her studio in a box business program is a packed with everything I could think of that I needed for my business.
If there is a form or document out there that you need, Amy has it! I have been able to get sound advice on my studio build out, marketing ideas, and encouragement on a personal level. She is everyone’s cheerleader!
I can’t imagine the stress I would be under if I had decided to go with a franchise--the fees, the monthly royalty payments, the lack of personal expression… the list goes on.
Past Client
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Amy's Studio in a Box program. I highly recommend it for anyone dreaming of starting a studio without the franchise fees, while maintaining true creative freedom.
I had contemplated opening a franchise and had been speaking with one in particular but I had always heard that you were buying yourself a job when you buy into a franchise...which is what I wanted to leave. They also required very high liquidity and required me to quit my job. I thirsted for the freedom to do what I wanted and to have the flexibility without rules and fees, but also wanted (and needed) the support.
I would not have gotten my loan or a real estate agent to take me seriously without the documents provided for a business plan and financial projections within the program.
Creating these documents from scratch would have taken forever since I have zero experience in the management of a studio.
The operations manual, instructor guide, and client forms were a huge time saver and had ideas in them that I hadn't thought to implement. I continue to reference all the documentation and it is the first place I go if I'm running into an issue and not sure what to do.
Past Client
Hi! I'm Amy Mewborn! I spent over fifteen years in finance and management before I left my six figure career to open my first barre studio in 2010 and my second barre studio in 2011.
In 2009, I found barre and it CHANGED MY LIFE! I went from a size 12 to a size 4. It improved my confidence and I fell in LOVE! I had loved fitness for years, but was afraid to leave my six figure corporate career to open a fitness studio. Barre was one of the first business models that really made FINANCIAL sense to me!
Despite over 15 years of business and management experience, when I launched my first studio, I made over $75,000 in mistakes in JUST the first year!
Less then a year later, when I opened my second studio, it was three times more successful and more profitable. Since that time, I have helped write franchise manuals and have helped launch over 45 studios across the world!
Today I teach women all over the world how to open a successful barre studio - and get the systems they would get from a franchisor - without the $50,000 in initial barre franchise fees, the 7% annual royalties - and all the rules and restrictions that come with a barre franchise.
Ready To Open Your Own Barre Studio?
Discover exactly how to open a barre studio, avoid costly startup mistakes, choose the right location, attract members, and build a profitable barre business.
Inside this free guide, you'll learn the real barre studio startup costs, the systems successful studio owners use to grow, and the step-by-step process for launching with confidence.
Whether you're just starting to explore the idea or actively planning your studio, this guide will help you move forward with a clear roadmap and avoid the mistakes that cost new owners thousands.
Copyright © 2026 Amy Mewborn
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If you have been researching how to open a barre studio, start a barre business, own a barre studio, barre studio startup costs, or what it takes to build a profitable barre studio, you are in the right place.
Amy Mewborn helps women open successful barre, Pilates, yoga, cycling, and boutique fitness studios. Through years of experience launching studios and helping entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes, she has developed systems, tools, and strategies designed to help studio owners launch with more confidence and profitability.
Whether you are wondering how much it costs to open a barre studio, how to choose the right location, how to attract members, how to create recurring revenue, or how to build a successful barre business, this guide will help you understand the key decisions that impact long-term success.
Before you sign a lease, invest in equipment, hire instructors, or spend money on buildout costs, learn the systems, startup strategies, and business fundamentals that successful studio owners use to avoid expensive mistakes and build profitable fitness businesses.
We are not associated with Pure Barre, Barre3, Bar Method, Barre Code, Studio Barre, or any barre franchise organization. We help aspiring studio owners understand their options and build successful independent barre studios with greater flexibility, control, and freedom.