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Now Released: The 2024 BFS Pilates Report on Profitability Benchmarks & Growth Insights


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Every Pilates studio owner asks the same essential question: how are others in this industry navigating the challenges that I face?
The 2024 BFS Pilates Report provides the most comprehensive answer available today. This report draws on data from 103 profitable Pilates, Megaformer, and Lagree studios across North America and abroad. Aligned with the boutique fitness industry as a whole, most of these operators (86%) have fewer than three locations, and 61% operate a single studio. For the first time, operators in these modalities can compare their performance to a benchmark group of peers who are not only surviving, but thriving.

In addition to the BFS analysis of profitable studios, we are introducing a powerful new perspective through our collaboration with FitGrid. FitGrid Intelligence analyzes anonymized activity data from thousands of studios worldwide, and it offers a unique lens on leads and client behavior. Together, these dual perspectives provide operators with both depth and breadth, the details of what drives profitability, and the larger patterns shaping the marketplace.

We are excited to share this Pilates Report with the industry because we believe that better data leads to better decisions and ultimately, more sustainable and more profitable businesses.




What You’ll Find in the Report

The 2024 BFS Pilates Report goes beyond numbers. It combines data benchmarks, BFS Member case studies, and recommendations from industry experts to give Pilates studio owners both perspective and practical strategies.


Data Benchmarks

The 2024 BFS Pilates Report distills a comprehensive set of benchmarks into clear insights that Pilates owners can act on. Inside, you’ll discover:

   Revenue & Profit Margins
See how studios at different stages perform, including gross revenue and profit margins broken down by years in business.
   Team Structures
Compare staffing patterns across managers, front desk teams, and instructors, including compensation data.
   Services Driving Revenue
Find out which offerings generate the largest share of income for city vs. suburban studios.
   Recurring Revenue Models
See how studios are building stability through auto-renew memberships, packages, and monthly recurring revenue percentages.
   Objectives & Challenges
Learn the most common goals Pilates owners set, and the biggest obstacles holding them back.
   Marketing & Sales Performance
Get benchmarks for lead generation and conversions, sales conversion rates, intro offers, and first-time visits.
   Client Behavior
Understand the average number of visits per client per week and the average number of paying clients per month.
   Retention Benchmarks
Explore data on churn and average member lifetime, alongside strategies operators use to keep clients engaged.

BFS Member Case Studies

The report includes various BFS Member stories that bring the data to life. For example:

BFS Member Case Study

Front desk staff are hard to train and hard to keep. This is why Reina Offutt, CEO of RTR Pilates, decided to centralize her customer support team to one location and rely on instructors to unlock the studio and check in clients before class. READ MORE»

These case studies illustrate how real operators are applying the benchmarks to solve shared challenges like lead generation and client retention.



Scorecard Metrics + Expert Recommendations

The BFS Scorecard benchmarks five critical metrics, including new leads, conversions of leads to first visit to member, recurring revenue, and retention. To help operators improve these measures, the Pilates Report features expert insights:

ABOUT LEAD GENERATION

"So many studios believe that paid ads are the only way to get new clients. I'm here to tell you that is SO not true, and is actually not even close to the most return you can have on your dollar"

- Alexa Cawley, host of The Friday Society

Together, the data, case studies, and expert advice give Pilates studio owners both the hard numbers and the actionable strategies to strengthen their businesses.

Q&A

Q: What revenue levels do most profitable Pilates studios report?
A: In city markets, 35% of studios gross between $500K–$1M, and another 35% exceed $1M. In suburban markets, 55% report under $500K in yearly revenue.

Q: How profitable are Pilates studios compared to other modalities?
A: Pilates studios report a higher share with profit margins above 20%. In city markets, 40% achieve >20%, while suburban studios are evenly split between 10–19% (38%) and >20% (38%).

Q: What services generate the most revenue for Pilates studios?
A: City studios earn most from small group classes of 5–12 clients (51%), supported by 50–90 weekly classes. Suburban studios split between small groups (35%) and private sessions (32%), with 25–49 classes weekly.

 Q: What are the top business challenges Pilates owners face?
A: The three most common challenges are:
-Client acquisition
-Hiring instructors
-Developing a growth strategy.

Q: How important is recurring revenue in Pilates studios?
A: 91% of city studios and 89% of suburban studios offer auto-renewing memberships or class packs. In cities, 76–99% of monthly revenue comes from recurring payments, compared to 50–75% in suburbs.

Q: How do experts recommend improving lead generation?
A:
The best leads come when you’re visible at the exact moment someone is ready to book.
Anastasiya Goers, Pilates Bridge

Q: How can studios improve sales conversions?
A: The studios that win here don’t treat leads casually. Our best practices combine a system of speed, simplicity, and personal contact.”
Alycea Ungaro, Real Pilates (BFS Member)

 


Collaborators

Alexa Cawley
Host of The Friday Society (a top 2% podcast) and marketing consultant to over 300 studios worldwide.
View her website»

Anastasiya Goers
A web marketing strategist who helps wellness professionals.
View on BFS Marketplace»

Hensley Ellefritz
Founder of a referral-only agency that has helped over 250 Pilates and Lagree studio owners launch and scale profitably.
View on BFS Marketplace»

Reina Offut, MD/VA, US
Is both the creative mind behind and owner of RTR Pilates,she has grown the organization for one location with one employee to six locations with over fifty employees.
View Website»

Alycea Ungaro, NY, US
An authority on fitness and wellness and a pioneer of the Pilates method. Creator of a comprehensive Teacher Training program.
View Website»

Matt Kendrick, UK
 He is the founder of MK, a brand dedicated to providing comprehensive fitness, rehab, and nutrition coaching; with over 5 multi modality locations all over the UK.
View Website»

Dina Elshurafa, Dubai, UAE
A lawyer and entrepreneur, she co-founded Reform Athletica, a leading UAE fitness and wellness brand known for its innovative approach.
View Website»

 

 


Take the Next Step

The 2024 BFS Pilates Report gives Pilates, Megaformer, and Lagree studio owners a rare opportunity to compare themselves against a benchmark group of profitable peers. With data on revenue, margins, services, client behavior, team structures, and retention - plus case studies and expert recommendations - this report is designed to help you make smarter decisions and build a stronger business.

Don’t rely on guesswork. Download the 2024 BFS Pilates Report today and discover the insights that can take your studio from surviving to thriving.