Australian-born boutique fitness franchise STRONG Pilates is ramping up its U.S. growth strategy, announcing a major expansion that will see new studios open across nine states throughout 2026 while laying the groundwork for further nationwide growth in 2027. The latest rollout is expected to increase the brand’s U.S. footprint to 25 studios by the end of the year, reinforcing its ambition to become one of the fastest-growing boutique fitness franchises in North America.
The expansion includes new studios in Massachusetts, California, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, along with signed franchise agreements that will introduce the brand to Florida, Oregon and South Carolina in early 2027. According to the company, upcoming openings include Santa Monica (July) and Westlake Village (September) in Los Angeles; Gambrills (August) and Columbia (September) in Maryland; Back Bay and Fenway in Boston (October); Tribeca, New York City (October); Wayne, Pennsylvania (October); and South Park, Charlotte (November).
The announcement follows STRONG Pilates’ successful entry into the U.S. market and reflects growing consumer demand for hybrid, low-impact fitness concepts that combine strength training, cardio and Pilates.
Co-founder Michael Ramsey said the brand is deliberately targeting cities where consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable, results-driven fitness experiences. “Boston, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Maryland, New York City and Philadelphia each have their own distinct identity, but they share the same quality we look for in every market: a community that’s ready for a smarter, more sustainable way to build long-term fitness and well-being,” Ramsey said.
He added: “STRONG Pilates aims to deliver the numerous benefits of Pilates, the cardiovascular gains of high-intensity training, and real changes in body composition and strength in one turnkey, spring-loaded solution. We’re looking forward to building more STRONG humans across these diverse communities as we take the next step in our growth journey.”
Founded in Melbourne in 2019 by fitness entrepreneurs Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong, STRONG Pilates has built a differentiated position in the boutique fitness market through its proprietary Rowformer and Bikeformer equipment. Rather than offering traditional reformer Pilates, the concept combines Pilates-inspired resistance training with cardio and strength exercises in a 45-minute, low-impact workout designed to improve body composition, cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength while reducing injury risk.
The company says its programming rotates daily across upper body, lower body, core, obliques and full-body sessions, helping members maintain long-term engagement while supporting recovery and functional movement.
The franchise has expanded rapidly since launch and now operates more than 120 studios across 15 countries, serving over 50,000 members worldwide. The business reported US$75 million in net revenue over the past 12 months and currently ranks No. 3 in Australia and No. 15 globally on ClassPass, highlighting its growing international appeal.
The U.S. rollout forms part of a broader international expansion strategy. Prior to the latest announcement, STRONG Pilates had already confirmed an ambitious American development pipeline, signing agreements for more than 100 future studios across multiple states following the successful launch of its first U.S. locations.
With boutique fitness continuing to attract franchise investment, STRONG Pilates believes its hybrid training model and scalable franchise system position the brand to capitalize on growing demand from both consumers and multi-unit franchise operators across the United States.
STRONG Pilates was established in Melbourne, Australia, in 2019 by Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong. The boutique fitness franchise combines reformer Pilates, strength training and cardio using proprietary Rowformer and Bikeformer machines. The brand operates more than 120 studios across 15 countries, has over 50,000 members worldwide, and generated approximately US$75 million in net revenue over the past year. The company is expanding internationally through franchising, with significant development underway across the United States.
