Franchisor Stories
Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Row House is a boutique fitness studio offering low-impact, high-intensity indoor rowing workouts built around community and full-body training.
Row House is a boutique fitness brand centered on indoor rowing workouts that combine low-impact cardio with strength training. The experience uses rowing to deliver an efficient, full-body workout for all fitness levels, the concept emphasizes sustainability, injury reduction and a community-driven class environment.
Row House was established in New York City in 2014 after its founders identified rowing as one of the most effective low-impact, high-energy workouts available. The brand was created to bring the camaraderie and discipline of the sport of rowing into a boutique studio setting while making the workout accessible to participants of all ages and fitness levels.
Mission: Row House aims to deliver an efficient, low-impact, full-body workout that supports long-term fitness while fostering connection and community.
Vision: The brand seeks to meet growing demand for sustainable fitness options that reduce injury risk while maintaining intensity, results and engagement.
Row House reports ongoing expansion across the United States and Canada. Contact the franchisor for specific available territories.
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Row House franchise ranges from $194,480 to $480,580. The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $49,000 | $49,000 |
| Initial Training Program Fees | $0 | $0 |
| Training Expenses | $0 | $3,000 |
| Real Estate/Lease & Professional Fees | $4,000 | $46,500 |
| Net Leasehold Improvements | $47,000 | $207,000 |
| Signage | $7,000 | $25,000 |
| Insurance | $1,200 | $2,500 |
| Fitness Equipment & Initial FF&E Package | $4,000 | $14,300 |
| Pre-Sales & Soft Opening Retail Inventory Kit | $12,000 | $12,000 |
| Computer System Components & Software Setup | $6,500 | $6,500 |
| A/V & Computer System Package | $31,000 | $47,000 |
| Initial Grand Opening Marketing & Advertising Spend | $15,000 | $20,000 |
| Initial Instructor Training Program | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Technology, Music & Software Fees | $2,780 | $2,780 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $10,000 | $40,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee for a single Row House studio is $49,000. The fee is paid in a lump sum by wire transfer upon execution of the franchise agreement, is fully earned when paid and is nonrefundable. Row House offers a 10% discount for honorably discharged U.S. military veterans.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2025 FDD, Row House franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Royalty | Greater of 7% of gross sales or $345/week |
| Creative Brand Fund Contribution | 2% of gross sales/week |
ROI Potential: According to the 2025 FDD, the 47 franchised Row House studios open for the entirety of FY 2024 reported the following gross sales:
Average | Median | High | Low |
$325,548 | $314,660 | $582,320 | $65,678 |
Row House supports franchisees through the pre-opening phase, including site selection guidance, studio buildout assistance and early-stage marketing preparation.
The brand provides structured training programs designed to prepare franchise owners and staff to operate a Row House studio and deliver the brand’s class experience.
Ongoing operational support includes assistance with staffing, marketing, membership sales and continued business development as studios mature.
Row House franchisees contribute 2% of gross sales to the brand’s national marketing fund, which supports studio-level promotion as well as broader system-wide brand development. Contributions begin once the studio opens or when the studio first receives client payments for approved services, whichever comes first.
Row House provides systems and tools to support class programming, coach empowerment and member engagement.
Prior fitness industry experience is not required, though Row House looks for owners who can lead teams, follow a structured operating model and actively support day-to-day studio performance.
Row House operates on a scalable studio model. Expectations around owner involvement or semi-absentee ownership were not disclosed.
Row House does not offer direct or indirect financing.
“My advice is to just educate yourself about all the facets of the business first. There's a lot behind the scenes that you don't see on the surface level of what you have to do to run a business. Make sure you understand those facets when you're getting into it to make sure it is what you want to do. If you want to do it right, I think you need to invest your time and passion into it. It can't just be something you're doing 5 to 10 hours a week and hiring people to do the rest. You really have to be invested if you want it to be as successful as you want it to be.”
– David Houten, Franchisee – Henderson, NV
The global rowing studio market was valued at $1.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $3.8 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 13.7%. This rapid growth reflects increasing health consciousness, the rising popularity of boutique fitness experiences and advancements in connected fitness technology.
Row House competes with brands like Orangetheory Fitness, F45 Training and CycleBar. However, its rowing-only model and inclusive, team-driven experience make it distinct in the boutique space.
Want to learn more about franchise opportunities on 1851 Franchise? Be sure to visit our Power Rankings to read more on brands making moves.
Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and start your journey.
Disclaimer: This content is for information only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial or other advice. Nothing contained on this site constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any franchises, securities, or other financial instruments in this or in any other jurisdiction in which such solicitation or offer would be unlawful under the franchise and/or securities laws of such jurisdiction.
All content in this article is information of a general nature and does not address the detailed circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in the article constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information in the email constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. You alone assume the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content in this article before making any decisions based on such information or other content.
Sign up for the 1851 Franchise newsletter to get our biggest stories before everyone else
By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.
