For Gym & Studio Owners
Stretch Studio Franchise vs License: Costs Compared
A franchise means opening a new, standalone studio under someone else’s brand, with an ongoing royalty and a territory agreement. A license means adding stretch therapy as a service line inside the gym or studio you already run, keeping the revenue under your own brand. CNU Stretch’s license is a one-time $15,700 — no royalties, no franchise fees, no territory restrictions.
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Franchise vs. license, side by side
| Typical stretch studio franchise | CNU Stretch License | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | $281,390–$814,545 total investment (as published by StretchLab, September 2026) | $15,700 one-time |
| Ongoing royalties | Apply — the specific rate is disclosed in the franchise’s FDD, not on its public franchise page | None |
| Territory restrictions | Terms are set in the franchise agreement — not published on the franchise’s public page | None |
| Brand ownership | Operates under the franchisor’s brand | Operates under your gym’s own brand |
| Build-out requirement | New, dedicated standalone studio | Added inside the facility you already operate |
| Staffing | Hire and train a new studio team | Certify and train your own existing staff (up to 5 staff members annually) |
| Who keeps the revenue | Studio revenue, net of ongoing royalties to the franchisor | 100% of stretch revenue stays with your gym |
Figures above are cited where CNU could verify them directly from the competitor’s own franchise page — see Sources. Nothing is estimated.
What the $15,700 license actually buys
The CNU Stretch License is a one-time $15,700 investment that adds a branded stretch therapy service to the gym, studio or health club you already operate — no royalties, no recurring license fees, no territory restrictions. It includes a done-for-you marketing playbook, a 90-day launch system, in-person Level I & II staff certification (up to 5 staff members annually) with a supervised practicum, pricing templates and sample contracts, and twelve months of group coaching calls. Full detail: CNU Stretch License.
The operator math
Using CNU’s own published numbers: a 25-minute session inside a membership runs $45–$48. A single provider can typically deliver 10–12 paid 25-minute sessions in a day, and weekly memberships run $195–$208 per month per client. Multiply that across a provider roster and a member base, and the revenue math is straightforward — see the full breakdown on how gyms add stretch therapy revenue and run your own numbers with the revenue calculator.
Where a franchise is genuinely the better choice
This page has an obvious commercial interest in its own conclusion — CNU Stretch sells the license side of this comparison. Here is where a franchise is honestly the better fit: you do not yet operate a gym, studio or health club, you have no existing member base to sell into, and what you actually want is a turnkey, nationally recognized brand to open a standalone location under, with the franchisor’s system, name recognition and support structure built in. A license does not fit that situation — there is no existing facility or membership base for it to serve. If that is you, a franchise is the honest recommendation, not a license.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a stretch studio franchise cost?
As published by StretchLab, total investment for a StretchLab franchise is $281,390 to $814,545 (citing Item 7 of the 2026 StretchLab FDD). That figure covers opening a new, standalone studio — it is a different kind of cost than adding a service line to a facility you already operate.
What is the difference between a franchise and a license?
A franchise is a new business under someone else’s brand, typically with an ongoing royalty and a territory agreement. A license is a one-time purchase of a system — training, playbooks, and support — that you run under your own brand inside a facility you already operate, keeping the revenue.
Can I run this inside my existing gym?
Yes — that is what the CNU Stretch License is built for. It adds stretch therapy as a service line inside your current facility rather than requiring a new, separate location.
Do I pay royalties with a CNU Stretch License?
No. The $15,700 license fee is one-time, with no ongoing royalties and no recurring license fees.
Is there a territory restriction with a CNU Stretch License?
No. The CNU Stretch License carries no territory restrictions.
Sources
StretchLab investment figures: stretchlab.com/franchise, as published by StretchLab, fetched September 2026, citing Item 7 of the 2026 StretchLab FDD. CNU Stretch License pricing and inclusions: direct from cnustretch.com.