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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy an Arthur Murray Dance Studios Franchise

Arthur Murray Dance Studios is one of the most recognized names in ballroom and social dance education, with roots tracing to 1912 and a franchise system that dates to 1938, making it one of the longest-running franchise brands in North America. Today the network spans 329 studios across 19 countries, with a substantial footprint of locations throughout the United States and Canada.

Studios deliver ballroom and social dance instruction in a three-part format: private lessons, group classes, and practice parties. The curriculum covers waltz, tango, rumba, cha cha, swing, salsa, hustle, and other styles, serving adult students of all experience levels. Revenue flows from individual lesson packages and group programs, with additional income from student events and competitions.

Arthur Murray International, headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, owns and supports the franchise system. Franchisees operate brick-and-mortar studios and are responsible for hiring and developing a team of dance instructors, managing student enrollment, and running local marketing. Under CEO Gary Edwards, the brand is investing in franchisee training, operations systems, and North American growth.

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Why buy an Arthur Murray Dance Studios Franchise?

Arthur Murray’s brand recognition spanning more than a century gives studio owners a meaningful marketing advantage; prospective students are drawn to a name they already know, reducing the cold outreach required to build an initial client base. The brand also operates an active conversion pathway for independent dance studio owners, which shortens the startup timeline and lowers entry costs relative to opening a new studio from scratch.

Each studio benefits from multiple revenue sources: ongoing lesson packages, group class programs, and participation in the brand’s Dance-O-Rama event circuit. That event programming reinforces student retention and community visibility, both key drivers of stable enrollment.

Arthur Murray Dance Studios Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1912

    • Franchising Since

      1939

    • New Startup Cost

      $71,120 – $252,120

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $25,000 – $100,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $5,000

    • Royalty Fee

      5–10%

      of weekly Gross Receipts

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of weekly Gross Receipts

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      237

    • New Units Opened *

      11

    • Units Transferred *

      5

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $715,610

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Arthur Murray Dance Studios – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Arthur Murray provides approximately week-long initial training covering studio operations, dance teaching systems, and marketing. Ongoing support includes digital tools: a branded website, booking system, social media content management, and listing management. Franchisees receive national advertising support, local lead-generation guidance, and a global franchisee peer network. The franchisor provides frameworks for hiring, training, and retaining dance instructors. Resale buyers should confirm what initial and transfer training is provided to incoming ownership and what digital system access carries over with the transaction.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The ideal Arthur Murray franchisee is a people-first operator comfortable in a community-facing, relationship-driven business. Dance experience is not required; the brand trains incoming owners in its teaching methodology and operational systems. Strong team management skills matter: franchisees hire, develop, and retain dance instructors whose quality directly affects student retention and studio revenue. Comfort with local marketing, student outreach, and organizing studio events is a practical asset. Multi-unit ownership is common in the network, indicating the model supports both single-studio operators and those looking to grow.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Arthur Murray describes itself as the world's largest dance studio franchise, a positioning supported by its 329-studio global network and more than 110 years of continuous operation. The brand is a member of the International Franchise Association, and its standing as one of North America's longest-running franchise systems carries its own credibility in the market. Local studio reputation, including online reviews, student word-of-mouth, and community visibility, varies by territory and is a meaningful due-diligence factor for resale buyers alongside brand-level recognition.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US dance studio industry generated approximately $5.4 billion in revenue, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.5% in recent years (ResearchAndMarkets, January 2025). Demand is driven by dance's appeal as both a fitness activity and social pursuit, with social media platforms helping introduce new audiences to studio enrollment. Adult learners represent a growing share of activity, drawn to structured ballroom and social programs. For resale buyers, local market density, competing studio presence, and the demographic profile of an existing territory are relevant factors in assessing revenue stability.

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