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What Sadie Lincoln Wants Every Woman to Know About Fitness (And Starting Your Own Studio)
In August 2008, as the global financial crisis began to redefine the economic landscape, Sadie Lincoln was busy redefining the fitness industry. While the world felt increasingly uncertain, Sadie leaned into her intuition and opened the first barre3 studio in Portland, Oregon.
“I knew in my bones I was onto something,” Sadie shared in a recent episode of the Entreprenista podcast. “I wanted to create something different and revolutionary. I didn’t want an exercise program that was about following a guru. We [the instructors] are the guides, the client is the hero. She will learn how to modify based on her invisible truths and sensations in her body… versus copying what everyone else is doing in the room.”
Today, that vision has grown into a movement of 200+ studios across the U.S., Canada, the Philippines, and, most recently, Chile. Ranked by Entrepreneur as the #1 barre franchise and in the top 10% of all franchises nationwide, barre3 is proving that success is built on staying true to yourself—and to the women you serve.
Sadie reflects on how her original vision has been validated by research. “When I opened in August of 2008, no one was talking about modifications—a lot of the data and science has caught up to my intuition,” she explains. “I built the company about being fit on the inside versus how we appear on the outside, and now the science and data are supporting this.”
“100% Owned and Operated by Women” was Sadie Lincoln’s Vision
From day one, Sadie’s vision for franchising was about empowering women to aspire to barre3 studio ownership. The company has grown to over 200 locations entirely on cash flow, with no outside private equity or funding.
“What I love about franchising as a growth strategy is that your financial partners are running the business,” Sadie explains. “My vision was 100% women-owned and operated — I love the idea of empowering other women with business knowledge so they could open their own studio, in their own community, and build their own unique story. That’s why I chose franchising as my growth path.”
By providing the framework, playbooks, brand power, and a team of experts, barre3’s business model allows local studio owners to focus on what’s important: “Pouring into their team and clients and building that local connection,” says Sadie.
Leadership is the “Humbling Act of Letting Go”
Sadie is candid about what it takes to thrive as a barre3 franchisee: having the business acumen and self-awareness to lead a team. Sadie’s “must-haves” for a successful studio owner?
“A successful barre3 studio owner is self-aware, curious, and a leader of leaders. They’re always learning how to serve their studio best—and that evolves. Our top performers aren’t teaching classes. They’re talent magnets, developing the next generation of amazing instructors and shining a light on them so they can serve clients in a greater way.”
For those ready to explore barre3 studio ownership, Sadie emphasizes leaning into the Support Center’s existing expertise rather than reinventing the wheel.
“We look for someone who wants to be a franchisee and lean into all we offer: Franchise Business Coaches, regional leaders, brand templates, playbooks. We have so much wisdom to lean into,” Sadie notes.
“You franchise to leverage systems, processes, and the brand so that you can focus on relationships in your community.”
Finding the Right Brand Leader
To support her vision of a strong franchise system, last year Sadie launched a rigorous nationwide search for a President to usher barre3 into its next chapter. After reviewing applications from across the country, she found the right leader close to home: Emerald Lopez, based in Portland, Oregon. Since stepping into the role in July 2025, Emerald has transformed the organization’s trajectory at what Sadie describes as a “breathtaking” pace.
“Emerald arrived with a definitive playbook on how to accelerate growth globally while fiercely preserving our brand DNA,” Sadie says. “She possesses a deep respect for my founder’s journey, and has the confidence to push me—a balance I truly needed. In just seven months, she has accomplished more than we achieved in the previous five years. By balancing my gut instinct with her precision-driven, analytical approach, we’ve found a powerful synergy. It’s been an incredible ride.”
The Future of barre3 Studio Ownership
Sadie built barre3 because she knew what it felt like to be lonely—and she wanted to build something that made other women feel less so. At the center of it all is a deceptively simple idea: being “fit on the inside.”
“We know women are walking in with an entire back story that no one except for her knows,” she says. “We are intuitively holding space for her that way, and I think that is equally as important as what we can see clearly in our P&Ls.”
For the leader ready to join our expanding network of entrepreneurs, Sadie’s message is simple: “There is so much power in surrounding yourself with successful women… My whole reason for being is to find more people like that.”
Ready to open your own barre3 studio? INQUIRE NOW
In August 2008, as the global financial crisis began to redefine the economic landscape, Sadie Lincoln was busy redefining the fitness industry. While the world felt increasingly uncertain, Sadie leaned into her intuition and opened the first barre3 studio in Portland, Oregon.
“I knew in my bones I was onto something,” Sadie shared in a recent episode of the Entreprenista podcast. “I wanted to create something different and revolutionary. I didn’t want an exercise program that was about following a guru. We [the instructors] are the guides, the client is the hero. She will learn how to modify based on her invisible truths and sensations in her body… versus copying what everyone else is doing in the room.”
Today, that vision has grown into a movement of 200+ studios across the U.S., Canada, the Philippines, and, most recently, Chile. Ranked by Entrepreneur as the #1 barre franchise and in the top 10% of all franchises nationwide, barre3 is proving that success is built on staying true to yourself—and to the women you serve.
Sadie reflects on how her original vision has been validated by research. “When I opened in August of 2008, no one was talking about modifications—a lot of the data and science has caught up to my intuition,” she explains. “I built the company about being fit on the inside versus how we appear on the outside, and now the science and data are supporting this.”
“100% Owned and Operated by Women” was Sadie Lincoln’s Vision
From day one, Sadie’s vision for franchising was about empowering women to aspire to barre3 studio ownership. The company has grown to over 200 locations entirely on cash flow, with no outside private equity or funding.
“What I love about franchising as a growth strategy is that your financial partners are running the business,” Sadie explains. “My vision was 100% women-owned and operated — I love the idea of empowering other women with business knowledge so they could open their own studio, in their own community, and build their own unique story. That’s why I chose franchising as my growth path.”
By providing the framework, playbooks, brand power, and a team of experts, barre3’s business model allows local studio owners to focus on what’s important: “Pouring into their team and clients and building that local connection,” says Sadie.
Leadership is the “Humbling Act of Letting Go”
Sadie is candid about what it takes to thrive as a barre3 franchisee: having the business acumen and self-awareness to lead a team. Sadie’s “must-haves” for a successful studio owner?
“A successful barre3 studio owner is self-aware, curious, and a leader of leaders. They’re always learning how to serve their studio best—and that evolves. Our top performers aren’t teaching classes. They’re talent magnets, developing the next generation of amazing instructors and shining a light on them so they can serve clients in a greater way.”
For those ready to explore barre3 studio ownership, Sadie emphasizes leaning into the Support Center’s existing expertise rather than reinventing the wheel.
“We look for someone who wants to be a franchisee and lean into all we offer: Franchise Business Coaches, regional leaders, brand templates, playbooks. We have so much wisdom to lean into,” Sadie notes.
“You franchise to leverage systems, processes, and the brand so that you can focus on relationships in your community.”
Finding the Right Brand Leader
To support her vision of a strong franchise system, last year Sadie launched a rigorous nationwide search for a President to usher barre3 into its next chapter. After reviewing applications from across the country, she found the right leader close to home: Emerald Lopez, based in Portland, Oregon. Since stepping into the role in July 2025, Emerald has transformed the organization’s trajectory at what Sadie describes as a “breathtaking” pace.
“Emerald arrived with a definitive playbook on how to accelerate growth globally while fiercely preserving our brand DNA,” Sadie says. “She possesses a deep respect for my founder’s journey, and has the confidence to push me—a balance I truly needed. In just seven months, she has accomplished more than we achieved in the previous five years. By balancing my gut instinct with her precision-driven, analytical approach, we’ve found a powerful synergy. It’s been an incredible ride.”
The Future of barre3 Studio Ownership
Sadie built barre3 because she knew what it felt like to be lonely—and she wanted to build something that made other women feel less so. At the center of it all is a deceptively simple idea: being “fit on the inside.”
“We know women are walking in with an entire back story that no one except for her knows,” she says. “We are intuitively holding space for her that way, and I think that is equally as important as what we can see clearly in our P&Ls.”
For the leader ready to join our expanding network of entrepreneurs, Sadie’s message is simple: “There is so much power in surrounding yourself with successful women… My whole reason for being is to find more people like that.”
Ready to open your own barre3 studio? INQUIRE NOW
