The short answer. The BFT franchise is a master franchise model: BFT (Body Fit Training), a strength-first group training brand from Melbourne, appoints one exclusive partner per country. VF Franchise Consulting, a cross-border franchise advisory firm focused on Asia Pacific and MENA, sees it as a fit for well-capitalised multi-site operators who want to build a franchisor in their market.
BFT, short for Body Fit Training, is a functional strength and conditioning studio brand headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. According to BFT’s own franchise page, it was founded in Melbourne in 2017 and has grown to over 330 studios worldwide, while VF’s brand profile cites 350+ studios and 500+ franchise agreements. VF’s profile adds that BFT is part of Xponential Fitness, which it describes as 3,100+ studios across five brands in 30 countries.
VF’s brand profile also lists BFT as the 2025 International Franchise of the Year and as APAC Franchise of the Year in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Read the full BFT franchise opportunity profile for the structure VF publishes.
The master franchisee becomes BFT’s franchisor in its market. You open the first company-owned studios, then sell, train and support a network of franchisees, and you earn on every studio in the territory. VF describes this as a long-term country build, not a studio purchase.
VF’s profile lists a named HQ team from signing with a Regional Franchise Manager assigned to your market, BFT Boot Camp in Melbourne, the full operations manual and trainer certification, and HQ-led property support on the first five studios, including territory mapping. It also covers a franchise sales playbook, CRM pipeline and a fixed weekly, monthly and quarterly operating rhythm with HQ. For a wider comparison of structures, see master franchise versus area development and joint ventures.
For the right operator, yes: the model pairs a documented international network with a clear development structure and HQ support at every stage. The fit question matters more than the brand question, because the master model asks for a senior team and long-term capital from day one.
| Fit factor | What VF’s profile says |
|---|---|
| Partner type | One partner per market, usually a well-capitalised multi-site operator from hospitality, retail or fitness, or an investment group with an operating partner |
| Team on the ground | An Operating Principal, a General Manager, a Lead Instructor and a full-time Head of Franchise Sales from signing |
| Training before opening | The first three roles attend BFT Boot Camp in Melbourne before the first studio opens |
| Commitment horizon | Long-term, tied to the Minimum Development Schedule agreed for the market |
That profile suits fitness groups adding a scalable brand, and it compares with other formats VF covers, such as the Crunch Fitness high-volume gym model and the Pilates Addiction reformer model.
BFT is a strength-first, coach-led group training studio. Classes run 50 minutes, supported by BFT³ heart-rate technology with in-studio screens and an app, and the brand uses a small-footprint, high-yield membership model. Studios run in 24- or 36-member formats, and each opening is backed by a 10-week pre-sale playbook, according to VF’s brand page.
For context on where boutique formats sit in the wider market, see fitness franchise opportunities in Asia Pacific and MENA.
As of November 2026, VF’s brand page lists Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and India as countries available for master rights. BFT appoints one partner per market, so operators should ask VF Franchise Consulting for the current territory profile instead of assuming a country is open. The official BFT franchise page sets out the brand’s own franchise offer.
VF recommends testing three things in any market before engaging: the depth of the local strength-training audience, access to a flagship site good enough to train future franchisees, and the ability to recruit a franchise sales lead. Practical country guidance is in VF’s guide to franchise brands entering Southeast Asia and the Gulf.
VF’s brand page sets out a five-step process from first enquiry to launch.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Enquiry | Request the territory profile for your target country |
| 2. Briefing | Executive briefing on the development schedule and financial model |
| 3. Due diligence | Review with your own advisors |
| 4. Agreement | Master franchise agreement signed for the market |
| 5. Launch | Territory launch with full HQ support |
VF publishes a minimum investment of US$1,000,000 for master rights, which it describes as buying exclusive rights for the country plus the capital to open the company-owned flagship and build the in-market team. The master franchise fee is set per market, so the figure confirmed for any territory comes later in the process. Operators comparing advisors can read franchise consultant versus franchise broker.
VF Franchise Consulting’s view is that the BFT master model rewards operators who already think like franchisors. The strongest candidates are groups that can field a full senior team at signing and treat the first studio as a training asset, not just a revenue site. Single-site buyers and operators without sales capability will find the structure heavy, and are better served by a unit-franchise format.
A BFT franchise is a right to develop BFT (Body Fit Training), a strength-first, coach-led group training studio brand founded in Melbourne, Australia. In Asia Pacific, BFT awards exclusive master franchise rights, so the partner becomes BFT’s franchisor in its country, opens the first company-owned studios and then supports a network of franchisees.
BFT has a documented international footprint, with 350+ studios and 500+ franchise agreements according to VF’s brand profile, and the brand has received industry awards listed there. Whether it is a good franchise for you depends on operator fit: the master model suits well-capitalised, multi-site operators with a senior team, not first-time single-unit buyers.
A BFT master franchisee builds a franchisor inside one country. Year one centres on a company-owned flagship studio that must become the best BFT studio in the market. After that the master runs franchise sales, trainer education and operational support, and shares in the initial fees and ongoing royalties from every studio in the territory.
VF Franchise Consulting publishes one figure for BFT: a minimum investment of US$1,000,000, which covers exclusive country rights, the company-owned flagship and the in-market team. The master franchise fee is set per market based on population, studio potential and development schedule, so the final commitment is confirmed during the briefing and due diligence stage.
As of November 2026, VF’s brand page lists Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and India as countries available. Availability can change, so operators should request a territory profile from VF Franchise Consulting rather than treating any market as confirmed.
Email: info@vffranchiseconsulting.com | Hotline: +84 90 306 54 58
Author: Sean T. Ngo, CEO and Co-founder of VF Franchise Consulting.
