Founding a Pilates studio involves many decisions — location, legal structure, marketing, trainer team. The equipment decision is one of them, and it is often underestimated. It is a long-term decision, capital-intensive (€15,000 to €60,000 depending on studio size), and it shapes your clients' studio experience more than almost anything else.
This guide focuses on the equipment aspect — what you need, what you don't need, and the order in which to invest. We develop and sell Pilates equipment, regularly advise studio founders, and know the recurring mistakes. We are writing this guide based on the questions we hear most frequently in consultations.
1. Before you think about equipment: three prerequisites
We will get to the equipment shortly. Three points should be settled beforehand — otherwise, the equipment investment makes no sense:
1.1 Your own training
You can own a studio without teaching yourself. However, you should know the method you are investing in. At least a Pilates mat certification, ideally a Reformer or Comprehensive certification. Look for a recognised Pilates school with a training programme lasting several months. A complete Reformer certification usually takes 200–600 hours, costs €3,000–€8,000, and is the prerequisite for you to a) recognize good instruction yourself and b) hire trainers effectively.
1.2 Your business model
Studios function in very different ways:
- Boutique small studio (1–2 trainers, 4–6 Reformers) — typical for first-time founders, low fixed costs, limited capacity
- Mid-sized studio (3–5 trainers, 6–10 pieces of equipment) — established location, Pilates class mix with mat, Reformer, and private sessions
- Premium concept studio (multiple rooms, 10+ pieces of equipment) — usually in larger cities, high-priced, often with health/physio connection
- Combo studio (Pilates + Yoga / Pilates + Personal Training) — more flexible, but investment per square meter is lower
Clarify this question before ordering equipment. It determines everything else.
1.3 Your location
Location is the variable on which most studio startups fail. Pilates thrives on repeat clients — someone expected to come twice a week will not travel from 30 km away. The location must match the target group.
- Districts with high purchasing power + proximity to residential areas
- Ground floor or a floor with an elevator (Pilates equipment is heavy; upstairs without an elevator = logistics nightmare)
- At least 80 m² of training space for a boutique studio, 150 m² for a mid-sized one
- High ceiling (at least 2.80 m for Cadillac applications)
- Parking nearby — or good public transport connections
→ Once the location and business model are set, we come to the equipment question.
2. What equipment does a studio need?
The short answer: Reformer + 1–2 supplemental pieces of equipment. The longer answer depends on the studio concept.
Reformer — the centerpiece
Per parallel class, you need at least 4 Reformers (small boutique), typically 6 (medium), and up to 10+ in premium studios. Important: All Reformers in a class should have the same configuration, otherwise you cannot lead a uniform class choreography.
→ View all models: Reformer Collection · Aluminum Reformers · Wooden Reformers
Reformer material:
- Wood: for a classic, elegant studio look. Preferred in boutique concepts and premium studios.
- Aluminum: for mobile setups, combo rooms, climatically demanding locations. Also cheaper to purchase.
Both materials are suitable for studio use. We manufacture both.
→ Dig deeper: Pilates Reformers made of wood or aluminum — an honest comparison
Cadillac (or Half-Cadillac) — the supplemental equipment
A Cadillac (also trapeze table) supplements the Reformer repertoire with exercises that the Reformer does not cover. In a typical studio, there is one Cadillac for private sessions and individual training. Half-Cadillac is a more compact variant that allows for many Cadillac exercises but uses the Reformer carriage.
Recommendation: At the start, at least one Half-Cadillac (or a Reformer with a tower). A full Cadillac can be added later if the utilization rate warrants it.
→ To the equipment: Cadillac Collection · more on this in the guide Pilates Cadillac & Trapeze Table explained
Chair (Wunda Chair, Combo Chair) — the advanced equipment
A Chair is compact, high-intensity, and is primarily used in private sessions and for advanced classes. In a boutique studio, one is usually enough; in a larger studio, 2–3 chairs are useful.
→ To the equipment: Chairs / Pilates Chairs
Ladder Barrel and Arc Barrel — flexibility and mobilization
Barrels are more affordable and are used for spinal mobilization and flexibility work. At least one Ladder Barrel or Arc Barrel should be in every studio.
→ To the equipment: Ladder Barrels
Small equipment
Mats, Pilates rings, rollers, balls, bands, springboards. Count on €1,500–€3,000 per studio for a complete set of small equipment.
3. Concrete setup recommendations by studio size
Setup 1 — Boutique small studio (80–120 m²)
Target group: First-time startup, 1–2 trainers, classes of 4–6 participants + private sessions
| Equipment | Quantity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Reformer (classic or with tower) | 4 | parallel class possible |
| Half-Cadillac | 1 | for private sessions and one-to-one training |
| Wunda Chair | 1 | for advanced classes |
| Ladder Barrel | 1 | for mobilization work |
| Arc Barrel + small equipment | 4–6 each | beginner-friendly equipment |
Investment range: approx. €14,000 – €22,000 (depending on material and configuration)
Setup 2 — Mid-sized studio (150–220 m²)
Target group: Established concept, 3–5 trainers, parallel classes + intensive private sessions
| Equipment | Quantity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Reformer (classic or with tower) | 6 | comfortable parallel class size |
| Cadillac (Full) | 1 | for private sessions and one-to-one training |
| Half-Cadillac | 1 | parallel private session capacity |
| Wunda Chair | 2 | multi-trainer setup |
| Ladder Barrel | 1 | |
| Arc Barrel | 2 | |
| Small equipment | complete |
Investment range: approx. €25,000 – €40,000
Setup 3 — Premium concept studio (250+ m², multiple rooms)
Target group: Large city, premium positioning, health connection, multiple rooms
| Equipment | Quantity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Reformer (classic or with tower) | 8–10 | parallel classes in 2 rooms + private sessions |
| Cadillac (Full) | 2 | parallel private session capacity |
| Half-Cadillac | 1 | flexible supplement |
| Wunda Chair | 3 | multiple studios |
| Ladder Barrel | 2 | |
| Arc Barrel | 3 | |
| Spine Corrector | 2 | premium mobilization offering |
| Small equipment | complete |
Investment range: approx. €45,000 – €70,000
4. Room requirements per piece of equipment
Important before signing a lease: Does the equipment even fit?
| Equipment | Footprint | Clearance space | Total area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reformer (classic) | 245 × 70 cm | 50 cm per side + 50 cm in front | approx. 4 m² |
| Reformer with tower | 245 × 70 cm | as above + 50 cm behind tower | approx. 4.5 m² |
| Cadillac (Full) | 220 × 90 cm | 60 cm all around | approx. 6 m² |
| Half-Cadillac | 245 × 90 cm | 50 cm per side | approx. 5 m² |
| Wunda Chair | 60 × 70 cm | 100 cm per side | approx. 2.5 m² |
| Ladder Barrel | 90 × 70 cm | 80 cm per side | approx. 3 m² |
| Arc Barrel | 90 × 60 cm | 60 cm per side | approx. 2 m² |
Rule of thumb: An 80 m² studio with 4 Reformers + Half-Cadillac + Chair + Barrel needs at least 50 m² of equipment area, plus reception/changing room/toilet/mini-office.
Further room factors
- Ceiling at least 2.80 m for Cadillac exercises (trapeze, push-through bar)
- Floor non-slip, but slick enough for carriage wheels (oak parquet is ideal, linoleum works, carpet is a no-go)
- Acoustics important — Pilates is often taught with background music at moderate volume; hard walls create unpleasant echoes. Acoustic panels or curtains are retrofittable.
- Ventilation — Pilates creates less sweat than yoga or cardio, but 6–8 people in a room need ventilation
- Daylight is a selling point — studios with large windows are more attractive in marketing images
5. Investment calculation — what it really costs
We will calculate based on a concrete example — boutique small studio, 100 m², startup in a mid-sized Austrian town:
| Position | Low | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment investment (Reformer × 4 + Half-Cadillac + Chair + Barrels + small) | €14,000 | €22,000 |
| Flooring + acoustics + lighting | €5,000 | €12,000 |
| Reception/changing room furniture | €3,000 | €8,000 |
| IT/booking system (1 year) | €600 | €2,000 |
| Opening marketing | €3,000 | €10,000 |
| First 3 months rent (lead time) | €6,000 | €12,000 |
| Trainer personnel (3-month reserve) | €8,000 | €15,000 |
| TOTAL (Opening budget) | ~€40,000 | ~€80,000 |
Additional ongoing fixed costs: rent (€1,500–€4,000/month), trainer fees (50–80% of class revenue depending on model), consumption (electricity, maintenance), booking system (€50–€200/month), marketing.
When does it break even?
Very rough ROI indication for a boutique studio:
- Class price: €25–€35 per hour
- Full class with 6 people: €150–€210 per hour
- Private session: €80–€130 per hour
- Utilization from month 6 typically at 60–70% capacity
- Monthly revenue of boutique studio (target state after 12 months): €12,000–€20,000
- Pure equipment costs (€14,000–€22,000) refinance themselves purely through class hours in 6–12 months of full utilization
→ Realistic: A well-managed boutique studio reaches the break-even point after 12–18 months. Faster numbers are possible, but they require marketing effort and a bit of luck with the location.
6. Material and color decisions for studios
An often underestimated question: What does your studio look like when you photograph it?
Wooden Reformers in a studio
Wooden Reformers look warmer, more classic, and higher-end in interior photos. They fit into studios with wooden floors, natural materials, and muted wall colors. Marketing images of boutique studios are frequently images of wooden Reformers.Aluminum Reformers in a studio
Aluminum Reformers look more modern, technical, and athletic. They fit into studios with bright, minimalist interiors or concepts with a fitness connection. In marketing images, they look less like a boutique.Color line for your studio
The Virtù Line offers 28 colors. Studios often use this to implement a uniform color concept: all Reformers in the same color family, matched to wall, floor, and furniture colors. The result is a consistent visual identity — your studio looks different from every other one.
Examples from our consulting practice:
- Muted sage tone (color code 39 "Salvia") for a studio with wood and plant accents
- Caramel/café tone (color code 20 "Caffè") for a boutique concept with warm natural materials
- Deep navy blue (color code 46 "Laguna") for a modern premium studio in a large city
The color choice is a brand decision, not a cosmetic one.
7. Delivery time, assembly, opening timing
If you have an opening date, plan backwards:
| Step | Time requirement | Starts before |
|---|
