How to Become a Jazzercise Franchisee – Commonly Asked Questions

What Does Jazzercise Offer Franchisees?
Jazzercise offers you the opportunity to own your own businesses while staying fit and enhancing the lives of others through exercise and dance.

As independent business people, Jazzercise franchisees can directly affect their own income levels. Jazzercise has appeared as one of the top 15 franchise investment opportunities in Entrepreneur magazine's annual franchise 500 ranking since 1988, and has also garnered top rankings in its fastest-growing and low-investment franchise listings.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of being a Jazzercise franchisee is the opportunity to be a motivating factor in the health and well-being of local community residents. Jazzercise is well-known for its welcoming, non-intimidating atmosphere and its philosophy that exercise programs should be fun and accessible for everyone.

Franchise Types
Three types of franchises are available:

1. Class Owner

2. Substitute (Does not own Jazzercise Classes)

Floating Substitutes work on an "as needed" basis for many different instructors.
Associate Substitutes work on a regular basis for a class owner.
With either of these franchise types, an instructor may teach all Jazzercise formats. These franchise types require the most training.

An addendum may be attached to a franchise agreement restricting the class format an instructor may teach.

Junior Jazzercise addendum
How to Become a Junior Jazzercise Franchisee, Commonly Asked Questions (PDF)
Jazzercise Lite addendum
How to Become a Jazzercise Lite Franchisee, Commonly Asked Questions (PDF)
An instructor with a franchise agreement and addendum may teach only Junior Jazzercise or Jazzercise Lite. This certification requires training specific to these formats.

3. Business-Only Franchisee (Our newest offering for franchisees who do not wish to teach Jazzercise classes)

Standard for Industry Training
A Jazzercise instructor applicant is trained and must be certified before becoming a franchisee. (Every certified instructor holds a franchise.) The certification program, conducted worldwide through many regularly scheduled two to three-day workshops, is comprehensive and requires substantial advance preparation.

Health and Fitness Pre-workshop study of basic anatomy, exercise physiology, nutrition, body composition, dance technique, injury prevention, exercise leadership and Jazzercise teaching technique prepares trainees for a 100-question written exam.
Performance Trainees must learn several Jazzercise routines, some of which must be presented during a practical exam.

CPR Trainees must obtain a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate (before attending a workshop) and are required to maintain the certification once they become franchisees.
Instructor training curriculum and course materials are consistent with the AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America) Basic Standards and Guidelines.

You're Invited To Take the Challenge!
Founded by professional dancer Judi Sheppard Missett in 1969, Jazzercise is the most widely taught dance-fitness program in the world with an international network of more than 5,800 franchised instructors who teach this total-body conditioning program to hundreds of thousands of participants each year.

"Becoming a Jazzercise franchisee is a wonderful experience for anyone interested in helping others achieve their personal fitness goals while enjoying the challenges and tremendous satisfaction that come from owning your own business. I invite you to join the fabulous fitness industry with Jazzercise, the world's leading dance-fitness program."
- Judi Sheppard Missett
President and CEO

Costs of Doing Business
The start-up investment for a Jazzercise franchise is surprisingly affordable.

Regular Status (class owner)
The initial franchise fee is $1000 in the United States and $500 in other countries. The monthly Continuing Franchise Fee is 20 percent of gross revenues. Additional expenses include:

A yearly liability insurance premium available through Jazzercise, Inc. Approximate cost is $180 to $220.
Audio recordings to accompany the new workout routines. Approximate cost is $130 to $150 per routine set.
ASCAP/BMI musicians' royalty fees. Fees average between $41 and $80 per year for each licensing organization and are determined by the number of participants attending your class(es).
Equipment, including:
A sound system (e.g. an audio cassette/CD player with microphone attachment);
A DVD player to view and learn new routines;
A computer system: a PC, printer, access to e-mail and the Internet, and the Jazzercise JFAS software (Windows-based); and a telephone answering machine.
Facility rental and promotional costs.
As a newly franchised instructor, you will teach your first class for an investment as low as $2,980 using public facilities rented by the hour, or approximately $7,980 to $33,130 if you lease a commercial site and open a Jazzercise Fitness Center.

Substitute Status (associate/floating sub)
The initial franchise fee is $1000 in the United States and $500 in other countries. Additional expenses include:

A yearly liability insurance premium. (Available through Jazzercise, Inc.)
Yearly substitute fee of $100.
Audio recordings. (The current policy is that subs are not required to buy all music, subs may pick and choose.)
Equipment, including: A DVD player to view and learn new routines and a telephone answering machine.
Access to equipment meeting the standards specified in the Franchise Agreement and Manuals.

Judi Sheppard Missett
Jazzercise
Founder and CEO

Shanna Missett Nelson
Jazzercise
Executive Vice President