Franchise Directory

Jazzercise has shown people how to shake their booties toward fitness for more than 30 years. The company's franchised fitness classes, taught by more than 6,000 instructors, blend jazz dancing with an aerobic workout for nearly a half million students worldwide. Jazzercise makes money through franchise fees as well as the sale of clothing, books, and other merchandise online and through catalogs. The company's JM DigitalWorks unit produces Jazzercise workout tapes and provides video production services to other clients. Its Jazzertogs division offers fitness apparel and accessories. CEO Judi Sheppard Missett, a professional dancer, founded Jazzercise in 1969 and began franchising in 1980.

Jazzercise ranked #3 overall in our AllStar list — impressive in itself, but even more so because it’s the second year in a row this dance fitness franchise has been in our top 5.

In 2009, Jazzercise reported its most successful fiscal year ever, with system-wide sales topping $94 million. Those numbers translated into a financial strength ranking of #10 for the second year in a row. In addition to revenues from its franchised dance instruction classes, the company also generated profits from its fitness apparel and video production divisions.

Being a low-cost franchise during a recession has advantages: Jazzercise grew both domestically and internationally, ranking #34 in growth. The company benefits from flexibility: franchisees can opt to teach classes in an “instructor franchise,” or buy a “business franchise” where they manage hired instructors.

Last Year's AllStar Rank: 5