1851

As the country and world enter yet another week of the coronavirus pandemic, many people are wondering: When will I be able to go to the gym again?&nbsp;That exact date remains to be seen, but some fitness brands are already coming up with contingency plans to best serve customers when that happy day does arrive. While gyms across the country have been forced to close their doors, fitness businesses and fitness instructors have also gotten creative. A <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/01/business/fitness-studios-coronavirus/index.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-fitness-industry-is-preparing-to-reopen-2713041" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">recent CNN Business report, which noted that the fitness industry was worth $94 billion in 2018</a>, reported that individual fitness instructors are currently maximizing their side hustles in order to keep income flowing in and that some fitness companies are offering free online classes.&nbsp;Fitness franchises are also finding creative ways to stay top-of-mind for customers and continue offering their services online. They’re also using this slower time to prepare for what they hope will be successful, profitable reopenings post-COVID-19.&nbsp;Personal training franchise GYMGUYZ, which lets customers exercise in the comfort of their own home, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/coronavirus-and-franchising-arif-abdulla-of-nurse-next-door-and-aaron-behrens-of-gymguyz-2712696#most-recent">has adapted to the current climate by going completely digital and offering virtual personal training sessions</a>. The brand is also lending exercise equipment to customers.&nbsp;“What COVID-19 has allowed us to do is to go back to our roots and be the scrappy, proactive company that does what it takes to get through hard times,” GYMGUYZ founder and CEO Josh York said. “We quickly shifted our core business model to provide support to our franchise owners and a resource for people that need to exercise even when social distancing.”&nbsp;While there are many economic challenges at the moment, York is not too concerned, as he founded his company during the Great Recession. The brand has certainly adapted to the changing landscape, and he believes other brands in the fitness space will get creative in order to maintain their revenue streams.&nbsp;“People are getting a taste of our service and will keep coming back for more because they know what it’s like to have had a convenient, customized and creative workout wherever they please,” York said. “We feel confident that we will be stronger as a brand and as a franchise system on the other side of this.”The leadership team for fitness brand Workout Anytime, whose gyms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is preparing for reopening in a variety of ways. For one, the brand has outlined a new approach to club sanitation and has provided guidance on how to maintain gyms while they’re closed. They also are offering tips to franchisees on how to train staff members before reopenings.“When it became clear that COVID-19 was going to impact our clubs for an extended period of time, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/workoutanytime/how-workout-anytime-franchisees-are-navigating-the-covid-19-crisis-2712862#franchisee">we did everything in our power to set our franchisees up for success</a>,” Workout Anytime COO Mark de Gorter said. “In addition to ensuring that our owners are able to engage members through our virtual workouts and technology enhancements, we made it our top priority to be an available resource for our Franchise Partners, regardless of what they need help with. At the end of the day, we’re only as successful as our ownership group, and we’re now preparing to help them reopen their clubs when it’s safe for everyone to return.”The brand has also used this time to consider past customer requests and see if those can be made a reality when gyms reopen.&nbsp;“When we reopen, we’re viewing it as a grand reopening, if you will,” Oklahoma-based Workout Anytime franchisee Rana Pawan said. “It’s all about celebrating our members, because they’re a part of our gym family. That’s why we’re looking at making enhancements that have been on our members’ lists, like getting vending machines with protein bars and energy drinks.”Like so many of its peers, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/regymenfitness/how-regymen-fitness-is-supporting-franchisees-and-members-during-the-coronavirus-crisis-2712707#franchisor">boutique fitness franchise REGYMEN Fitness is currently offering virtual workouts</a>. The brand has also partnered with two of its vendors to rent out exercise equipment to customers to make sure they can still have the best possible workouts. REGYMEN Fitness is also enhancing its technology and preparing for post-coronavirus trends.&nbsp;“We’re not sure how long our gyms will have to be closed, so we aren’t slowing down when it comes to the resources that we’re creating,” REGYMEN Fitness Director of Sales and Marketing Tatum Crews said, adding “One of the most important factors we are focusing on at this time is preparing our company and franchisees for the opportunity that follows once the world is turning again. We believe that once we are able to open again, the way we operate on a daily basis will be changed, and as a brand, it is our responsibility to be prepared for when we are able to embrace our communities again!”By getting creative in making sure customers continue to get their workouts while also using this slower time to install new features, fitness brands such as these prove there is hope for some degree of normalcy post-coronavirus.

How the Fitness Industry is Preparing to Reopen

1851 Franchise

Fitness brands are getting creative in order to stay top-of-mind with their customers while also planning ahead. 

how-the-fitness-industry-is-preparing-to-reopen

United Water Restoration Group

United Water Restoration Group: Maximizing Revenue with Emergency Services 

United Water Restoration Group: Maximizing Revenue with Emergency Services — Be There When Your Community Needs You

united-water-restoration-group-maximizing-revenue-with-emergency-services-be-there-when-your-community-needs-you

Right at Home

Right at Home 2025 Caregiver of the Year Award

Right at Home Honors Caregivers Worldwide:  Celebrating the 2025 Caregiver of the Year Awards

right-at-home-honors-caregivers-worldwide-celebrating-the-2025-caregiver-of-the-year-awards

Minuteman Press International

Minuteman Press Franchise Owner & President’s Club Member Matt Bloom, Norwich, CT.

Minuteman Press Franchise Review: From Venture Capitalism to Printing

minuteman-press-franchisee-continues-tradition-of-success-in-norwich-ct

Paris Baguette

Photo of array of Paris Baguette pastries

Paris Baguette Redefines Morning Routines With Fresh Breakfast and Premium Coffee Strategy

paris-baguette-breakfast-strategy-growth

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue’s Home Maintenance Plans: Peace of Mind for Homeowners

trublues-home-maintenance-plans-peace-of-mind-for-homeowners

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Subway Pushes Global Growth Despite U.S. Closures 

subway-pushes-global-growth-despite-us-closures

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Lumin Lash Franchise Deep Dive - Costs, Fees, Profit and Data - 1851 Franchise

Lumin Lash Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

lumin-lash-franchise-deep-dive

Photo of Happinest Brands vans and teams standing together

Happinest Brands Closes Strong Q1 With Strategic Growth, System-Wide Enhancements

happinest-brands-q1-2025-growth

HTeaO Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-hteaos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

How the Fitness Industry is Preparing to Reopen

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS