Reformer Pilates has rapidly developed from a specialist fitness offering into an increasingly mainstream part of the UK health and wellness market.

Dedicated Reformer Pilates studios are opening across the country, existing gyms are adding reformer classes, and wider wellness concepts are combining Pilates with yoga, strength training, recovery, physiotherapy, massage and other services.

For entrepreneurs and existing fitness operators, that creates opportunity. But opening a high-quality Reformer Pilates or wellness studio can require significant upfront investment.

Before the first membership is sold or the first class takes place, a business may need to pay for:

• Reformer Pilates machines
• Studio fit-out
• Flooring
• Mirrors
• Lighting
• Reception areas
• Changing facilities
• Showers and toilets
• Heating and air conditioning
• Sound systems
• Lockers and furniture
• Booking and membership software
• EPOS systems
• Signage and branding
• Instructor recruitment and training
• Marketing
• Rent deposits
• Initial wages
• Working capital

A premium studio can therefore quickly become a substantial business investment.

At Principal Business Finance, we work with a wide panel of commercial lenders and can help both new and established businesses explore Reformer Pilates Equipment Finance, Asset Finance, Business Loans and wider commercial funding to support the complete project.

Rather than assuming the entire investment needs to come from existing savings or business cash, different elements of the project can potentially be funded in different ways.

The Growing UK Health, Fitness and Wellness Market

The wider UK fitness market has continued to expand.

According to the UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2026, a record 12.2 million people over the age of 16 are now members of a UK health and fitness club.

The sector recorded approximately 679 million visits during 2025, while total income reached £6.5 billion.

Importantly for Reformer Pilates and wellness businesses, the market is also becoming more diverse.

Customers aren’t necessarily looking solely for traditional gyms filled with treadmills and weights.

Fitness businesses are increasingly incorporating recovery, social spaces, specialist classes and wider wellness services into their propositions.

Reformer Pilates is becoming part of that shift.

For an entrepreneur looking to launch a specialist studio—or an existing fitness operator looking to diversify—the challenge is turning that opportunity into a commercially viable facility.

And that starts with understanding the complete investment required.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Reformer Pilates Studio?

There is no single figure.

A small independent studio with eight reformers will have very different costs from a premium 20-bed facility in a major city.

The property itself also makes a substantial difference.

One unit may already have suitable flooring, toilets, air conditioning and changing facilities.

Another could effectively require a complete refurbishment.

The total project could include:

Reformer Equipment

The core investment could include:

• Commercial reformer beds
• Towers
• Cadillacs
• Chairs
• Barrels
• Mats
• Resistance equipment
• Storage
• Small fitness accessories

Property and Fit-Out

The premises may require:

• Flooring
• Mirrors
• Lighting
• Decoration
• Electrical work
• Plumbing
• Air conditioning
• Heating
• Ventilation
• Partition walls
• Reception
• Changing rooms
• Showers
• Toilets
• Lockers
• Accessibility works
• Signage

Technology

Modern studios increasingly depend on technology for:

• Online bookings
• Membership management
• Recurring payments
• Customer communications
• Access control
• EPOS
• CCTV
• Wi-Fi
• Music and sound
• Digital marketing
• CRM systems

Launch Costs

Before revenue reaches its expected level, the business may also need money for:

• Recruitment
• Instructor training
• Marketing
• Rent
• Utilities
• Insurance
• Professional costs
• Initial wages
• General working capital

This is why it can be important to calculate the complete project cost, rather than focusing solely on the price of the reformer machines.

Reformer Pilates Equipment Finance

Reformer beds are potentially one of the most straightforward elements of a studio project to consider for Equipment or Asset Finance.

Rather than purchasing all of the equipment outright, eligible businesses could potentially spread the cost over an agreed period.

Imagine a studio requires:

12 commercial reformers at £5,000 each.

Total equipment investment:

£60,000.

The business could pay £60,000 immediately.

Alternatively, subject to lender criteria and the equipment being acceptable, it could potentially finance the reformers.

The equipment can then be used within the business while repayments are spread over the finance term.

This can be particularly useful because the reformers are intended to generate revenue.

Instead of waiting until the business has accumulated enough cash to purchase 12 machines outright, suitable finance could potentially allow the studio to install the equipment sooner.

Hire Purchase for Pilates Equipment

One potential option for eligible equipment is Hire Purchase.

Under a typical Hire Purchase arrangement, the business pays an agreed deposit and the lender funds the remaining cost of the equipment.

The business then makes regular repayments over the agreed term.

Subject to the agreement terms and all required payments being made, ownership normally transfers to the business.

This can potentially suit a Pilates studio that expects to retain and use its reformers for the long term.

Finance Lease for Reformer Equipment

A Finance Lease could provide another potential structure.

Rather than purchasing the equipment outright, the finance company purchases the eligible assets and the business makes agreed rentals.

The exact treatment and end-of-term options will depend on the agreement.

Whether Hire Purchase or Finance Lease is more appropriate will depend on factors including the equipment, business, supplier, deposit, desired term and lender criteria.

Funding More Than the Reformer Beds

One of the biggest mistakes when budgeting for a new studio is focusing almost entirely on the reformers.

Imagine an entrepreneur says: “I need £75,000 to open a Pilates studio.”

But after completing a detailed budget, the actual costs are:

• £60,000 reformers and equipment
• £50,000 fit-out
• £15,000 reception, furniture and lockers
• £10,000 technology and access systems
• £10,000 signage and branding
• £15,000 recruitment and training
• £20,000 marketing
• £20,000 working capital

The real requirement is:

£200,000

That’s a very different project.

And it demonstrates why the complete funding requirement should be established before the business starts committing significant capital.

Example: Financing a £200,000 Reformer Pilates Studio

Let’s take that £200,000 studio example.

The business might potentially explore:

£60,000 Asset Finance
for eligible reformers and equipment.

£100,000 Business Loan
for fit-out, furniture, launch expenditure and other eligible project costs.

£40,000 existing capital
from the business owners.

That’s simply an illustrative structure.

Another business could use a different combination of director investment, Asset Finance, Business Loans or secured funding.

The important point is that a studio project doesn’t necessarily have to be financed using one product.

Different expenditure can potentially be matched with different types of funding.

Studio Fit-Out Finance

The physical environment can be particularly important for a Reformer Pilates or wellness studio.

Customers aren’t simply purchasing access to equipment.

They’re purchasing an experience.

That can mean investment in:

Premium flooring.

Lighting.

Mirrors.

Reception areas.

Changing facilities.

Interior design.

Heating and cooling.

Sound systems.

Showers.

Furniture.

Signage and branding.

But many of these costs don’t fit neatly into traditional Asset Finance.

A £5,000 reformer is a clearly identifiable physical asset.

£5,000 of decorating and building work is different.

A Business Loan could potentially provide broader funding for fit-out expenditure that isn’t suitable for traditional equipment finance.

Preserving Cash When Opening a Studio

Even if the business owner has enough money to fund the project outright, that doesn’t necessarily mean every pound has to be spent immediately.

Imagine an entrepreneur has:

£250,000 available.

Opening the studio costs:

£200,000.

They could fund everything from cash.

But that would leave:

£50,000.

That £50,000 may then need to cover the period while memberships and class bookings are still building.

Alternatively, if suitable parts of the project were financed, the business could potentially retain significantly more liquidity.

That cash could remain available for:

• Wages
• Rent
• Marketing
• Utilities
• Additional instructors
• Repairs
• Unexpected expenditure
• Future expansion

Commercial finance has a cost, so the total cost of borrowing needs to be considered.

But retaining sufficient working capital can also have significant commercial value.

Working Capital for a New Pilates Studio

A studio doesn’t necessarily become profitable the moment the doors open.

Even with a successful pre-launch campaign, memberships and class utilisation can take time to build.

Meanwhile, expenses continue.

The business may have:

Rent.

Business rates where applicable.

Instructor costs.

Reception staff.

Software subscriptions.

Utilities.

Insurance.

Marketing.

Loan or equipment repayments.

This makes working capital an important part of the initial budget.

A studio that spends every available pound on the fit-out and equipment could open with an impressive facility but very little financial headroom.

Building working capital into the funding requirement can potentially provide more flexibility during the early trading period.

Can a New-Start Reformer Pilates Studio Get Finance?

Potentially, yes.

A new company won’t have the same financial history as an established gym or fitness business, so lender options and requirements can differ.

For a startup, lenders could look more closely at:

• Director experience
• Industry experience
• Qualifications
• Personal investment
• Personal credit profile
• Business plan
• Financial forecasts
• Proposed location
• Lease
• Equipment quotations
• Supplier details
• Pricing structure
• Expected membership
• Class capacity
• Pre-launch interest
• Marketing strategy

The fact that a company is new doesn’t necessarily mean the people behind it are inexperienced.

For example, imagine an instructor has:

10 years’ experience in the fitness industry.

They already teach Reformer Pilates.

They have an established client following.

They are investing £50,000 personally.

They have identified suitable premises.

They have realistic forecasts and supplier quotations.

That creates a very different proposition from somebody with no experience, no capital and no clear route to attracting customers.

Funding an Existing Pilates Studio

Established studios can potentially have a broader range of options because lenders can assess actual business performance.

An established business may be able to provide:

• Annual accounts
• Management accounts
• Business bank statements
• Existing borrowing
• Membership numbers
• Class utilisation
• Historic turnover
• Profitability
• Booking data

Finance could then potentially support:

• Additional reformers
• Larger premises
• Refurbishment
• Additional classes
• New services
• Recruitment
• Second locations
• Acquisitions

Adding Reformer Pilates to an Existing Gym

A business doesn’t necessarily need to be a dedicated Pilates studio.

Existing gyms and leisure businesses may see Reformer Pilates as an opportunity to broaden their offering.

This trend is already visible within the wider UK fitness market, with established leisure operators introducing dedicated reformer studios.

Imagine an existing gym has unused studio space.

It wants to convert that area into a:

12-bed Reformer Pilates studio.

The project requires:

• £60,000 reformers
• £20,000 refurbishment
• £10,000 lighting, mirrors and sound
• £5,000 booking technology
• £5,000 launch marketing

Total:

£100,000.

Rather than using £100,000 of existing working capital, the operator could potentially explore Equipment Finance for eligible reformers alongside a Business Loan for the wider project.

The investment could create an additional revenue stream from space the business already occupies.

Funding a Second Reformer Pilates Studio

Once a first studio becomes established, the next stage may be expansion.

A successful operator might want to open:

Site two.

Then:

Site three.

Each location may require substantial upfront investment before reaching mature utilisation.

An established operator could potentially use commercial finance to help fund that expansion rather than waiting until retained profits alone can cover the complete cost of every new location.

Lenders may consider factors such as:

• Performance of existing locations
• Membership growth
• Class utilisation
• Profitability
• Management experience
• Proposed new location
• Forecasts
• Existing borrowing
• Owner investment

Multi-Site Pilates and Wellness Businesses

A growing operator may eventually move from running a single boutique studio to building a multi-site brand.

Imagine a business has two profitable locations and wants to open another three.

Each site requires:

£150,000.

That’s a total expansion programme of:

£450,000.

The funding could potentially be structured across:

Equipment Finance for reformers and eligible assets.

Business Loans for fit-outs and expansion expenditure.

Working Capital for launch costs and the period while each location builds its membership.

Where suitable security is available, Secured Business Finance could also potentially be considered for larger requirements.

Understanding Studio Capacity

One of the useful features of the Reformer Pilates model is that capacity can be relatively easy to understand.

Consider a:

12-bed studio.

If it runs:

7 classes per day

for:

6 days per week

that’s:

504 available class spaces each week.

If the average customer payment works out at an illustrative:

£20 per class

then 100% utilisation would represent:

£10,080 of weekly class revenue.

At 70% utilisation, the calculation would be:

504 × 70% = approximately 353 occupied spaces.

At £20 each:

approximately £7,060 per week.

Over 50 trading weeks, that would represent approximately:

£353,000 of annual class revenue.

These figures are purely illustrative. They don’t represent a forecast and exclude factors such as VAT, memberships, discounts, introductory offers, cancellations, instructor costs, seasonality and other expenditure.

But they demonstrate why lenders and business owners may pay close attention to:

Number of reformers × classes × utilisation × average revenue per customer.

Memberships vs Pay-As-You-Go

Studios can also generate revenue in different ways.

For example:

• Monthly memberships
• Class packs
• Pay-as-you-go sessions
• Introductory packages
• Private sessions
• Corporate sessions
• Small-group sessions
• Workshops
• Instructor training
• Retail products

A studio with a strong recurring membership base may have a different cash-flow profile from one relying primarily on individual bookings.

When building forecasts, it can therefore be useful to demonstrate exactly how revenue is expected to be generated.

Expanding into a Wider Wellness Studio

Reformer Pilates can also form one part of a broader wellness concept.

A business might combine:

Reformer Pilates

with:

Yoga

Barre

Strength and conditioning

Personal training

Massage

Physiotherapy

Sports therapy

Recovery services

Sauna

Cold-water therapy

Nutrition

Beauty or wellness treatments

This can create additional revenue streams and potentially increase customer spend.

But it can also increase the investment required.

Wellness Equipment Finance

A broader wellness facility might require equipment such as:

• Reformer machines
• Gym equipment
• Treatment beds
• Massage tables
• Recovery equipment
• Saunas
• Cold-plunge equipment
• Compression systems
• Strength equipment
• Lockers
• Audio-visual equipment
• EPOS systems
• Access-control technology

Depending on the assets and lender criteria, some of this equipment could potentially be funded through Asset Finance.

Funding Recovery and Wellness Areas

Recovery is becoming an increasingly visible part of the fitness market.

A premium studio may want to create a dedicated recovery area alongside its core fitness offering.

For example:

£75,000 Reformer Pilates equipment

£50,000 recovery equipment

£75,000 fit-out

£25,000 technology and furniture

£25,000 working capital

Total project:

£250,000

Rather than treating this as one £250,000 expense, different parts of the project could potentially be funded separately.

Finance for Booking Systems and Studio Technology

A modern studio can rely heavily on technology.

Customers increasingly expect to:

Book online.

Manage memberships through an app.

Join waiting lists.

Receive automated reminders.

Purchase class packs.

Enter the studio digitally.

Technology investment could therefore include:

• Booking software
• CRM systems
• Membership software
• Access-control systems
• Tablets
• Computers
• EPOS
• CCTV
• Wi-Fi
• Audio systems
• Digital displays

Some eligible physical equipment could potentially be suitable for Asset Finance, while broader software and implementation costs may be considered as part of a Business Loan or technology funding requirement.

Refurbishing an Existing Studio

Finance can also support businesses that don’t need another location.

Perhaps the existing studio is successful but needs modernising.

The business may want to:

• Replace older reformers
• Increase the number of beds
• Improve changing facilities
• Upgrade flooring
• Install new lighting
• Add recovery equipment
• Improve reception
• Introduce access control
• Rebrand
• Upgrade technology

A refurbishment could potentially be funded using a combination of Equipment Finance and a Business Loan.

Replacing or Upgrading Reformer Equipment

Commercial equipment won’t necessarily last forever.

As a studio matures, it may decide to replace older machines or upgrade to premium equipment.

Imagine an established 16-bed studio wants to replace all of its reformers at a total cost of:

£80,000.

Paying cash immediately would remove £80,000 from the company’s reserves.

Equipment Finance could potentially allow the business to upgrade while spreading the expenditure over an agreed period.

Equipment Refinance

Established fitness and wellness businesses may already own valuable equipment outright.

Depending on the assets and lender criteria, Equipment Refinance could potentially release capital tied up in eligible equipment.

For example, a multi-site fitness business might own:

£250,000 of unencumbered gym and studio equipment.

It wants to open another location.

Rather than selling the equipment or relying entirely on a new Business Loan, suitable existing assets could potentially be refinanced to release working capital.

Commercial Mortgages for Fitness and Wellness Businesses

Some operators may eventually decide to purchase their premises.

This could include:

• Studios
• Gyms
• Wellness centres
• Mixed-use fitness facilities
• Suitable commercial units

A Commercial Mortgage could potentially support the purchase of suitable premises.

The property purchase could then be funded separately from the equipment and fit-out.

For example:

Commercial Mortgage – building.

Asset Finance – reformers and equipment.

Business Loan – fit-out and launch expenditure.

Again, the objective is to match each type of finance with the underlying requirement.

Buying an Existing Pilates Studio

An entrepreneur or established fitness operator may decide that purchasing an existing studio is preferable to starting from scratch.

The acquisition could potentially include:

• Existing members
• Brand
• Lease
• Equipment
• Staff
• Booking systems
• Customer database
• Established revenue

Suitable Acquisition Finance may potentially be available.

Lenders could consider:

• Historic accounts
• Profitability
• Membership levels
• Purchase price
• Existing management
• Buyer experience
• Existing debt
• Customer retention
• Post-acquisition forecasts

Funding a Reformer Pilates Franchise

Franchise and licensed studio models are another potential route into the sector.

A franchisee may need capital for:

Franchise fee.

Equipment.

Premises.

Fit-out.

Training.

Marketing.

Recruitment.

Working capital.

The total investment can therefore be considerably higher than the initial franchise fee.

Principal Business Finance can potentially explore funding for suitable franchise projects, subject to lender criteria and the individual proposition.

What Might Lenders Look for?

The information required will depend on whether the studio is new or established.

For an established business, lenders could request:

• Latest accounts
• Management accounts
• Business bank statements
• Existing borrowing
• Equipment quotations
• Supplier information
• Lease details
• Funding requirement
• Purpose of funds

For a new studio, they could also place greater emphasis on:

• Director experience
• Qualifications
• Personal investment
• Business plan
• Financial forecasts
• Proposed pricing
• Location
• Lease
• Number of reformers
• Class timetable
• Expected utilisation
• Marketing strategy

Providing a clear breakdown of the complete project can be particularly valuable.

Don’t Forget VAT and Deposits

When calculating the cost of equipment and a fit-out, businesses should ensure they’re looking at the complete cash requirement.

A quotation might be shown excluding VAT.

There may also be:

Deposits.

Delivery charges.

Installation.

Professional fees.

Lease deposits.

Initial rent.

Utility deposits.

These costs can change the amount of capital actually required to complete the project.

Business Funding Should Match the Project

Suppose the total project is:

£300,000.

It consists of:

£100,000 equipment

£100,000 fit-out

£50,000 launch and recruitment

£50,000 working capital

Automatically requesting a £300,000 Business Loan may not be the only approach.

It could potentially be structured using:

Asset Finance for suitable equipment.

Business Finance for fit-out and launch expenditure.

Existing capital from the owners.

Working-capital funding for the early trading period.

The exact structure will depend on the business and lender criteria.

How Principal Business Finance Can Help

At Principal Business Finance, we work with a wide panel of commercial lenders and can help businesses across the fitness, Pilates and wellness sectors explore different funding options.

PBF already arranges products including Asset and Equipment Finance, Business Loans, Hire Purchase, Finance Lease, Equipment Refinance, Commercial Mortgages, Secured Business Loans and Acquisition Funding.

For a Reformer Pilates or wellness business, that could include:

Reformer Pilates Equipment Finance

Funding for eligible commercial reformers and associated studio equipment.

Asset Finance

For suitable fitness, wellness, recovery and technology equipment.

Hire Purchase

Potentially allowing eligible equipment to be purchased over an agreed term.

Finance Lease

An alternative structure for suitable business assets.

Business Loans

For fit-outs, refurbishment, recruitment, marketing, launch costs, expansion and working capital.

Equipment Refinance

Potentially releasing capital from suitable equipment already owned by an established business.

Commercial Mortgages

For suitable businesses purchasing commercial premises.

Acquisition Finance

For entrepreneurs or operators purchasing an existing studio, gym or wellness business.

Rather than treating every studio project in exactly the same way, we can look at the complete funding requirement and explore the lenders and products that could potentially fit the transaction.

Opening or Expanding a Reformer Pilates Studio?

The growth of Reformer Pilates and the wider wellness sector is creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, instructors and established fitness operators.

But turning the concept into a successful business requires more than buying the reformers.

There is the property.

The fit-out.

The technology.

The instructors.

The marketing.

The launch.

And, critically, the working capital required while the business builds its customer base.

For an established operator, the challenge may instead be finding the capital to add more reformers, introduce new services or open the next location without draining existing cash reserves.

Commercial finance can potentially help businesses spread those investments over time.

At Principal Business Finance, we can help new and established Reformer Pilates, fitness and wellness businesses explore funding through our wide panel of commercial lenders.

Whether you’re opening your first 10-bed studio, adding Reformer Pilates to an existing gym, developing a premium wellness concept or expanding into multiple locations, we can help explore the funding options available for the complete project.

If you’re planning a Reformer Pilates or wellness studio and want to understand what funding could potentially be available, contact Principal Business Finance to discuss the project. Contact us on 01604217998, email info@principalbusinessfinance.co.uk, or enquire here.

All finance is subject to application, status, lender criteria and approval. Security and/or personal guarantees may be required. Illustrative examples are provided for explanatory purposes only and do not represent guaranteed revenue, utilisation or funding outcomes.