Sarah Smith spent 15 years in corporate America before shifting her focus to building a business centered on movement, health, and community. She was drawn to NEIGHBORHOOD barre for its low-impact, strength-based method that delivers an effective, sustainable workout rooted in functional movement. Opening in Apex, North Carolina in July/August, her studio will focus on creating an inclusive, results-driven environment for all fitness levels, with on-site childcare designed to support busy families.
Smith spoke with 1851 Franchise about her transition into franchise ownership and why she believes NEIGHBORHOOD barre is the right fit for Apex. Here’s what she had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Sarah Smith: I have worked in corporate America since graduating college about 15 years ago and I was ready for a career change. I've always been into fitness, and when I discovered barre during COVID, I just fell in love with it. I started going to a NEIGHBORHOOD barre studio, and as soon as I walked in, I was like, "This is what we're going to invest in." I started becoming an instructor right away, and I signed the paperwork about six months later to start a franchise.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Smith: I've worked in HR and recruitment, then I spent the last five years as a chief of staff in the financial industry. During that time, I also had two young kids close in age, and I started thinking more intentionally about the long-term work I wanted—something aligned with my interests and energy.
I wasn’t originally focused on franchising specifically, but when I looked at NEIGHBORHOOD barre, it made a lot of sense. I already had my group fitness certification, I loved the training and structure the franchise model provided, and I was drawn to the idea of building something in the fitness space with a strong support system behind it.
Ultimately, it felt like a practical way to step into business ownership in an industry I care deeply about.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Smith:Before I became a franchisee, I assumed it was rigid and corporate, and not something that would really fit the way I wanted to build a business.
Once I actually started learning about it, that changed. I realized it’s really more of a framework — you’re not giving up ownership, you’re getting structure, systems, and support that help you move a lot faster and avoid doing everything from scratch.
For me, it started to feel less like ‘franchising vs. independence’ and more like choosing the right kind of support system so you can focus on actually building something strong.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Smith:What drew me to NEIGHBORHOOD barre was the method itself and how aligned it is with where fitness is heading. There’s a clear shift toward low-impact, strength-based training that supports longevity, not just intensity — and barre sits right in that space.
It combines isometric strength and functional movement in a way that builds real, sculpted strength without the wear and tear of higher-impact formats.
What excites me most is bringing that kind of intentional, sustainable training into a community like Apex, where people are actively looking for workouts that help them feel strong, lean, and supported long-term.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Smith: I've hired seven instructors so far, and we are going to create our own community. It's a very welcoming, warm, challenging environment for people of all walks of life. Apex is a big, growing community, and the number of people moving here is wild. I have wanted to bring something like this to Apex, and I really think it's going to have a huge impact. It's for all ages and all walks of life — working moms, retirees, everyone. I want to create a community and a place where people just love to be.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Smith: We moved to the Raleigh area about eight years ago, and we realized very quickly that Apex was home and we were embraced by the community. Now I feel blessed to have the opportunity to give back to it. Being a working mom and creating a studio that caters to women, especially moms, is important to me. We actually have a child care center in my space, and founding members all get unlimited child care built into their rate. Not all fitness studios can offer this, so we're excited to have that differentiating space. Our town is young, vibrant, and filled with working parents who need somewhere to take their kids, so everyone is welcome.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Smith: The biggest thing I have learned is you might feel like you need to rush into it, but actually slowing things down in the beginning is the best way to go about it. Take your time, get your finances figured out, and make sure that this is the right thing for you. I think so many businesses fail because people jump in headfirst without looking at all the angles. You have to ask, "Is this right for me? Is this right for my community? Is this right with my financials?" Slow down, look at everything, and then decide if it all makes sense.
About NEIGHBORHOOD barre:
Founded in 2011 by Katy Richardson, NEIGHBORHOOD barre delivers a fresh, modern approach to fitness, one that is welcoming, effective, and rooted in community spirit. With studios across the United States, NEIGHBORHOOD barre combines low-impact, high-result training with an inclusive atmosphere that empowers clients of all fitness levels. For more, please visit www.neighborhoodbarre.com.
About Extraordinary Brands:
Founded by Paul Flick in 2022, Extraordinary Brands is a multi-brand franchisor platform specializing in boutique fitness and wellness concepts. The company empowers entrepreneurs to launch, scale, and grow standout studio brands through a shared services model and operational consistency. Its expanding portfolio now includes CycleBar (indoor cycling), Rumble (boxing-inspired group fitness), Row House (rowing-based HIIT), and NEIGHBORHOOD barre (barre). Extraordinary Brands continues to pursue growth across Pilates, spin, HIIT, barre, and recovery verticals, with a focus on franchisee success and long-term brand revitalization. Visit www.extraordinarybrands.com to learn more.
Extraordinary Brands
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Driven by a desire for meaningful community impact and a family-friendly business model, Sarah Smith is bringing a highly anticipated boutique fitness studio to her booming North Carolina town.
Sarah Smith spent 15 years in corporate America before shifting her focus to building a business centered on movement, health, and community. She was drawn to NEIGHBORHOOD barre for its low-impact, strength-based method that delivers an effective, sustainable workout rooted in functional movement. Opening in Apex, North Carolina in July/August, her studio will focus on creating an inclusive, results-driven environment for all fitness levels, with on-site childcare designed to support busy families.
Smith spoke with 1851 Franchise about her transition into franchise ownership and why she believes NEIGHBORHOOD barre is the right fit for Apex. Here’s what she had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Sarah Smith: I have worked in corporate America since graduating college about 15 years ago and I was ready for a career change. I've always been into fitness, and when I discovered barre during COVID, I just fell in love with it. I started going to a NEIGHBORHOOD barre studio, and as soon as I walked in, I was like, "This is what we're going to invest in." I started becoming an instructor right away, and I signed the paperwork about six months later to start a franchise.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Smith: I've worked in HR and recruitment, then I spent the last five years as a chief of staff in the financial industry. During that time, I also had two young kids close in age, and I started thinking more intentionally about the long-term work I wanted—something aligned with my interests and energy.
I wasn’t originally focused on franchising specifically, but when I looked at NEIGHBORHOOD barre, it made a lot of sense. I already had my group fitness certification, I loved the training and structure the franchise model provided, and I was drawn to the idea of building something in the fitness space with a strong support system behind it.
Ultimately, it felt like a practical way to step into business ownership in an industry I care deeply about.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Smith:Before I became a franchisee, I assumed it was rigid and corporate, and not something that would really fit the way I wanted to build a business.
Once I actually started learning about it, that changed. I realized it’s really more of a framework — you’re not giving up ownership, you’re getting structure, systems, and support that help you move a lot faster and avoid doing everything from scratch.
For me, it started to feel less like ‘franchising vs. independence’ and more like choosing the right kind of support system so you can focus on actually building something strong.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Smith:What drew me to NEIGHBORHOOD barre was the method itself and how aligned it is with where fitness is heading. There’s a clear shift toward low-impact, strength-based training that supports longevity, not just intensity — and barre sits right in that space.
It combines isometric strength and functional movement in a way that builds real, sculpted strength without the wear and tear of higher-impact formats.
What excites me most is bringing that kind of intentional, sustainable training into a community like Apex, where people are actively looking for workouts that help them feel strong, lean, and supported long-term.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Smith: I've hired seven instructors so far, and we are going to create our own community. It's a very welcoming, warm, challenging environment for people of all walks of life. Apex is a big, growing community, and the number of people moving here is wild. I have wanted to bring something like this to Apex, and I really think it's going to have a huge impact. It's for all ages and all walks of life — working moms, retirees, everyone. I want to create a community and a place where people just love to be.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Smith: We moved to the Raleigh area about eight years ago, and we realized very quickly that Apex was home and we were embraced by the community. Now I feel blessed to have the opportunity to give back to it. Being a working mom and creating a studio that caters to women, especially moms, is important to me. We actually have a child care center in my space, and founding members all get unlimited child care built into their rate. Not all fitness studios can offer this, so we're excited to have that differentiating space. Our town is young, vibrant, and filled with working parents who need somewhere to take their kids, so everyone is welcome.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Smith: The biggest thing I have learned is you might feel like you need to rush into it, but actually slowing things down in the beginning is the best way to go about it. Take your time, get your finances figured out, and make sure that this is the right thing for you. I think so many businesses fail because people jump in headfirst without looking at all the angles. You have to ask, "Is this right for me? Is this right for my community? Is this right with my financials?" Slow down, look at everything, and then decide if it all makes sense.
About NEIGHBORHOOD barre:
Founded in 2011 by Katy Richardson, NEIGHBORHOOD barre delivers a fresh, modern approach to fitness, one that is welcoming, effective, and rooted in community spirit. With studios across the United States, NEIGHBORHOOD barre combines low-impact, high-result training with an inclusive atmosphere that empowers clients of all fitness levels. For more, please visit www.neighborhoodbarre.com.
About Extraordinary Brands:
Founded by Paul Flick in 2022, Extraordinary Brands is a multi-brand franchisor platform specializing in boutique fitness and wellness concepts. The company empowers entrepreneurs to launch, scale, and grow standout studio brands through a shared services model and operational consistency. Its expanding portfolio now includes CycleBar (indoor cycling), Rumble (boxing-inspired group fitness), Row House (rowing-based HIIT), and NEIGHBORHOOD barre (barre). Extraordinary Brands continues to pursue growth across Pilates, spin, HIIT, barre, and recovery verticals, with a focus on franchisee success and long-term brand revitalization. Visit www.extraordinarybrands.com to learn more.
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