Starz Program Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Starz Program is a mobile children's franchise providing fitness and skills programs, including sports, dance, cheer, and yoga, delivered at preschools and schools. Franchisees run home-based operations, managing instructors and school partnerships.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Starz Program franchise requires a total initial investment of $42K – $131K, including a $39K franchise fee and an ongoing 8.0% royalty[2]. The 2026 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: D (Below average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2026 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $42K – $131K
- 3rd pct Health & Fitn…
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- 59th pct Health & Fitn…
- Units
- 7
- 30th pct Health & Fitn…
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Health & Fitness · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Health & Fitness avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $42K – $131K including a $39K franchise fee, 8.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSItem 19 discloses MONTHLY figures only; no annual revenue is stated anywhere in the filing. FPR#2 covers the six franchisee outlets for FY2025 (year ended December 31, 2025) and reports average monthly gross sales $10,007 and median $11,123; average monthly expenses $3,241 and median $3,729; average monthly net profit $6,765 and median $5,234; highest monthly gross sales $31,025 and lowest $2,257; and 2 of 6 units (33 percent) attained or surpassed the average monthly gross sales. These cannot be annualized: only four of the six outlets operated a full calendar year - one ran 8 months and one ran 4 months - and the program is a seasonal, part-time school-based business in which a location may 'operate at only a few hours per week based on the school year in session and summer', with owners working 20 hours a week or less. The monthly net profit figure deducts school givebacks, royalties, staff wages and vendor costs but NOT owner compensation, rent, depreciation or taxes, so it is an owner-benefit measure, not net income. A separate FPR#1 covers the single company-owned outlet (monthly gross sales $16,263.24, monthly net profit $10,478.77, adjusted to $9,177.72 after imputing an 8 percent royalty); it is excluded here because the franchisor states its territory is twice the size of the territory now offered and it has operated since 2005.
- RISKVerdict D (Below average), verdict score 36/100 (higher is better).
- FLAGAuditor disclosed a going-concern note, which flagged doubt about the franchisor's ability to continue operations. Verify against the latest FDD.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Starz Program Worldwide LLC
- Parent company
- The Starz Program, LLC
- Predecessor
- Sophie's Choice Industries, LLC (renamed Sophies Choice, LLC, then The Starz Program, LLC)
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- Managing Member
- Sophia Wastler
- Incorporated in
- VA
- HQ
- 10307 W. Broad St., #121, Richmond, VA 23060
- Auditor
- Metwally CPA PLLC
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $57K
- vs $56K prior year
- ⚠ Going-concern note
- Disclosed in FDD 2026
- Auditor flagged doubt about continued operations. Verify against the latest FDD before deciding.
Overview
About
- CEO
- Sophia Wastler
- Headquarters
- VA
- Founded
- 2004
- FDD year
- 2026
- States available
- 3
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 85% below the typical health & fitness franchise.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 5–7
FDD Item 7 · 2026 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $39K | $39K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $500 | $1K |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $3K | $91K |
| Total initial investment | $42K | $131K |
Source: Starz Program 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $42K – $131K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $500 – $1K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $39K – $39K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- formula · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 0.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 10.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 8.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 0.0% of gross sales |
| Transfer fee | $4K |
| Renewal fee | $8K |
| Inventory (initial) | $300 – $4K |
| Total fee load | 10.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Starz Program did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Starz Program unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
258%
Above the 30–60% band. Verify revenue is per-unit average
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2026 FDD
Financial Performance
Item 19 discloses MONTHLY figures only; no annual revenue is stated anywhere in the filing. FPR#2 covers the six franchisee outlets for FY2025 (year ended December 31, 2025) and reports average monthly gross sales $10,007 and median $11,123; average monthly expenses $3,241 and median $3,729; average monthly net profit $6,765 and median $5,234; highest monthly gross sales $31,025 and lowest $2,257; and 2 of 6 units (33 percent) attained or surpassed the average monthly gross sales. These cannot be annualized: only four of the six outlets operated a full calendar year - one ran 8 months and one ran 4 months - and the program is a seasonal, part-time school-based business in which a location may 'operate at only a few hours per week based on the school year in session and summer', with owners working 20 hours a week or less. The monthly net profit figure deducts school givebacks, royalties, staff wages and vendor costs but NOT owner compensation, rent, depreciation or taxes, so it is an owner-benefit measure, not net income. A separate FPR#1 covers the single company-owned outlet (monthly gross sales $16,263.24, monthly net profit $10,478.77, adjusted to $9,177.72 after imputing an 8 percent royalty); it is excluded here because the franchisor states its territory is twice the size of the territory now offered and it has operated since 2005.
- Item 19 type
- Historical FPR - company outlet and franchisee outlets, monthly gross sales/expenses/net profit
- Sample size
- 6
- vs category median 12
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Fiscal year the figures cover
- Source filing
- FDD 2026
- Disclosed in the 2026 filing, covering 2025
- Transparency
- 6 / 10
- vs category median 4 / 10 · above
Compared against 173 Health & Fitness brands
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 10.0% — above the Health & Fitness average of 8.4%.
Disclosure
Item 19 reports Historical FPR - company outlet and franchisee outlets, monthly gross sales/expenses/net profit rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable.
Multi-unit rate
Only 1% of franchisees own multiple units. Could indicate challenging economics or a young system where operators haven't had time to expand.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Health & Fitness averages
How Starz Program Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 7
- Opened
- 2
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 0.0%
- Company-owned
- 1
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 86%
- vs corporate-owned
- Multi-unit owners
- 1.0%
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 0
- Closed (3yr)
- 1
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
Last reporting year only, multi-year history not disclosed in this brand's FDD.
Item 20 · 3 states with active franchisees
The Territory Map
Derived from franchisee contact records. Shows states with at least one current operator. Not where the franchisor is registered to sell new units (that data is re-extracting in a future refresh).
States derived from franchisee contact records (FDD Item 20). Shows states with at least one current operator on file. Full state registration data (Item 12) will appear on a future FDD refresh.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
No SBA loan data available for this brand.
What could kill this investment?
The auditor flagged going-concern doubt (Item 21) — the single biggest risk here.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Financial distress flagged with negative net worth of -$96,087 and a net loss of -$43,539. No litigation or bankruptcy; audited with Item 19. Small 7-unit system with low avg gross sales of $120,084 and zero turnover.
Litigation (Item 3)
No litigation disclosed in Item 3
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Metwally CPA PLLC⚠ Going-concern note flagged
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 36 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORNegative net worth -$96,087, net loss -$43,539
- 02MINORfinancial_distress=true
- 03MINORSmall 7-unit system, low AUV $120,084
- 04MINORNo litigation/bankruptcy
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 10.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 2 |
| Territory type | protected |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Territory population | 150,000 |
| Online sales rights | Granted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 5 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Termination groundsℹ | 15 |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Richmond, Virginia |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | VA |
| Litigation count | 0 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
No litigation disclosed in Item 3
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 4 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 4 hrs
- Training location
- Richmond, Virginia (or another location designated by franchisor); may be offered online/virtually
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Site selection
- Franchisee operates from home office; no required site selection process
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- QuickBooks Online and Enrollsy (classroom management/billing)
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: QuickBooks Online and Enrollsy (classroom management/billing)
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
7 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Starz Program · FDD (2026) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Starz Program franchise?
The total investment to open a Starz Program franchise ranges from $42K – $131K, with an initial franchise fee of $39K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Starz Program franchise owners earn?
Starz Program does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the Starz Program FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Starz Program FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Starz Program's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Starz Program (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many Starz Program franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Starz Program has 7 total units in the United States, including 6 franchised units and 1 company-owned units. 2 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Starz Program a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Starz Program as a D-grade franchise with a verdict score of 36 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
Are you the franchisor?
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.