The Bar Method

What The Bar Method does

The Bar Method is a private boutique fitness franchise that operates a proprietary barre workout methodology originally developed under the guidance of physical therapists. Founded circa 2000-2001 by Burr Leonard, the company has built a footprint of nearly 100 franchised studio locations across the US and Canada, operated by individual studio owners who are required to teach classes themselves. The core product is the Bar Method workout, which combines isometric movements, bodyweight resistance, and timed sequences at the barre with floor-based core work, and is differentiated by techniques such as the proprietary 'Bar Method Tuck' and a physical-therapy-informed approach intended to be safe for clients ranging from prenatal women to those recovering from injury. The company has expanded its offering beyond the studio through Bar Online, a digital subscription platform streaming on-demand and live classes via web, mobile, and Chromecast, and through a branded equipment and apparel e-commerce storefront operated in partnership with Bensussen Deutsch & Associates.

The Bar Method monetizes through four primary revenue streams: studio memberships paid to franchisees, royalty and franchise fees paid to the franchisor (The Bar Method Franchisor LLC), Bar Online digital subscriptions billed monthly, semi-annually, or annually, and direct-to-consumer equipment and apparel sales including a registered 'Booty Kicker' portable barre. Go-to-market relies on introductory class offers (13 classes for $78; first class for $29 with a free week), testimonial- and referral-driven community marketing, content marketing through the company blog, and medical/professional endorsements from physical therapy partners such as Elysian Physical Therapy. HSA/FSA eligibility is enabled through a partnership with Dr. B for members who obtain a Letter of Medical Necessity.

The Bar Method is owned by Purpose Brands, a diversified parent company of wellness and lifestyle brands, and the franchisor entity maintains its corporate headquarters in Woodbury, Minnesota. The company holds registered trademarks for its core brand and the Booty Kicker product line and operates under a small corporate headcount (1-10 employees at the franchisor level), reflecting an asset-light franchise model.

Name

The Bar Method

Legal name

The Bar Method Franchisor LLC

Website

https://barmethod.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Bar Method is a private boutique fitness franchise operating nearly 100 barre workout studios across the US and Canada, complemented by a Bar Online digital streaming platform and branded equipment e-commerce, serving general fitness enthusiasts, prenatal and postnatal women, and clients seeking rehabilitation-oriented low-impact exercise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Fitness Studios

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Barre Classes (HSADABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online/Remote Personal Training & Programming (HSADAAAM), Small-Group Personal Training (Semi-Private) (HSADAAAN)

Keywords

• Barre fitness classes
• Franchise fitness studios
• Online workout platform
• Barre workout equipment
• Boutique fitness membership

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Studio Memberships: Monthly or class-based studio memberships for in-person barre classes at franchise locations across the US and Canada.
2. Bar Online Subscription: Digital subscription for at-home online barre workouts accessible via web, tablets, smartphones, and television (via Chromecast). Memberships are billed monthly, semi-annually or annually with automatic renewal.
3. Equipment Sales: Sale of branded fitness equipment including workout balls, mats, stretching straps, workout sliders, air pumps, and portable ballet barres (Booty Kicker). Also includes apparel, accessories, and grip socks.
4. Franchise Fees: Revenue from franchisee licensing and support fees for studio operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Bar Method sells a proprietary barre fitness workout delivered through nearly 100 franchise studios across the US and Canada and through the Bar Online digital subscription platform for at-home classes. Its core offering is a physical-therapist-designed full-body workout combining isometric movements at the barre, bodyweight resistance, and timed sequences to music, with personalized instructor adjustments in every class. Complementary offerings include branded fitness equipment, apparel, accessories, and franchise licenses for studio operators.

Product overview

The Bar Method is a boutique fitness franchise offering the original barre workout, now comprising a unified fitness platform with in-studio classes and digital offerings. The core product is The Bar Method workout—a physical therapy-informed barre class featuring isometric movements at the barre combined with floor exercises. This is complemented by Bar Online (on-demand and live-streamed classes accessible via web, mobile, and TV), multiple class formats (Bar Strength, Bar Method Cardio, Bar Flow, Bar Restore, Prenatal, Beginner, and Advanced), branded equipment (balls, mats, straps, sliders, and the Booty Kicker portable barre), and apparel/accessories. The Bar Method workout serves as the foundation, with Bar Online extending access digitally, class format variations catering to different fitness goals (strength, cardio, flexibility, recovery), and physical products supporting both studio and home workouts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bar Online: Digital fitness platform offering on-demand barre classes accessible via web, tablets, smartphones, and television streaming.
• The Bar Method Shop

Products and services

• The Bar Method (Core Barre Workout) The original, physical-therapist-designed barre workout combining dance conditioning, Pilates-style elements, isometric movements at the barre, and bodyweight resistance for strength, flexibility, toning, and cardiovascular conditioning. Delivered in-person at franchise studios and via the Bar Online digital platform for individual adult consumers across all fitness levels.
• Bar Online Digital Subscription Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 250-500 calories burned per class with additional post-workout calorie burn
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dr. BminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bar Method has partnered with Dr. B to help determine HSA/FSA eligibility for members who have a Letter of Medical Necessity from a healthcare professional. Members can use HSA/FSA funds for their Bar Method membership if they obtain the required documentation.
• Bensussen Deutsch & Associates (BDA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBDA operates the Bar Method Shop e-commerce site on behalf of the company. BDA is a merchandise management and promotional products company that handles online retail operations including order processing, customer service, and fulfillment.
• Elysian Physical TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElysian Physical Therapy, led by Elyse Quartini, MS, DPT, OCS, endorses The Bar Method for patients with hip pain and injuries. The physical therapy practice recommends The Bar Method's functional training approach for rehabilitation and injury prevention.
• Purpose BrandscoreOthersThe Bar Method is a Purpose Brands company. Purpose Brands is a parent company that owns multiple health and wellness brands, providing shared resources, brand positioning, and strategic direction.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Solidcore: Solidcore is a rapidly growing boutique fitness franchise using sliding-disc strength workouts on reformer-like machines. It is an emerging direct competitor to Bar Method for the affluent female consumer seeking low-impact strength training, and has recently expanded its franchised studio footprint rapidly.

Broad incumbents

• Xponential Fitness: Xponential Fitness is the publicly-traded parent company of Pure Barre, Club Pilates, CycleBar, StretchLab, and Rumble. As a multi-brand boutique fitness platform, it represents the dominant capital-backed incumbent that franchises and competes with Bar Method across multiple sub-categories and across international master franchise deals.
• CorePower Yoga: CorePower Yoga is a large national boutique yoga and fitness studio chain with 200+ locations. It competes with Bar Method for the same female, urban/suburban, affluent fitness consumer and offers class formats that overlap with Bar Flow and Bar Restore.
• F45 Training: F45 Training is a global functional training franchise with 1,500+ studios. While format differs, it competes for the same franchisee capital and the same boutique-fitness member demographic; the franchise economics and unit-level scaling are highly comparable benchmarks for The Bar Method's franchisor business.
• Orangetheory Fitness: Orangetheory is a global franchised boutique fitness brand with 1,500+ studios offering heart-rate-based interval training. While format differs (cardio-focused group training vs. barre), it competes for the same franchise investor pool and the same middle-to-upper-income consumer fitness dollar.

Direct peers

• Barre3: Barre3 is a barre franchise with ~150 studios offering group classes blending ballet, Pilates, and yoga. It is a directly comparable single-modality brand with similar pricing, instructor-led model, and franchised expansion strategy targeting the same female-skewing affluent demographic as The Bar Method.
• Physique 57: Physique 57 (formerly Physique 57) is a barre-focused boutique studio chain offering high-intensity interval-based barre classes. It competes head-to-head with Bar Method on methodology, premium positioning, and in-studio experience, though it leans more company-owned than franchise.
• Club Pilates: Club Pilates is a rapidly scaled reformer/mat Pilates franchise with 800+ studios owned by Xponential Fitness. While it is mat and reformer Pilates rather than pure barre, it competes for the same boutique fitness customer wallet share and franchise investors, making it the most consequential adjacent-format competitor.
• Pure Barre: Pure Barre is the largest barre-focused franchise in North America with 600+ studios. It is a direct competitor offering group barre classes using similar small-isolate-movement methodology, with comparable pricing and class-pack structures. Pure Barre is owned by Xponential Fitness, giving it greater capital and unit-economics visibility than Bar Method.

Regional players

• beemok (formerly Fitness Formula Clubs / East Bank Club): beemok is the parent company of Self Esteem Brands, which shares Purpose Brands affiliation. While not a direct barre competitor, it is a meaningful regional multi-brand wellness operator in the same parent ecosystem and represents a relevant comparable for unit-economics and franchised wellness brand operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thebarmethod

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Bar Method