1851

The fitness industry has never been more popular among consumers, both domestically and internationally. As more people make health and exercise a part of their daily routines, the demand for affordable and convenient gyms continues to rise. And while there are no shortage of franchise brands competing to be the leader in the fitness industry, a few have managed to emerge as the ones to beat.

One of those brands is Anytime Fitness. Since launching its franchise opportunity back in 2002, the brand has solidified its position at the forefront of the booming segment. And its momentum isn&rsquo;t expected to slow down anytime soon&mdash;by the end of this month alone, the brand will have more than 3,500 franchise units and 36 company owned gyms in all 50 states and in 30 different countries on five different continents.

That level of global success is rare in the franchising industry. But Anytime Fitness isn&rsquo;t resting on its laurels&mdash;the brand has plans to make 2017 its best year yet. And Anytime Fitness&rsquo; CEO, Chuck Runyon, says making that goal a reality comes down to investing in the people who make up its franchise system.

&ldquo;Our business ultimately comes down to people. And investing in them starts here at the corporate office&mdash;it&rsquo;s up to us to double down and increase our investments to ensure that our employees are growing both personally and professionally. That means offering more things like workshops and educational sessions,&rdquo; said Runyon. &ldquo;By investing in our employees and franchisees, our consumers then reap the benefits. Ultimately, we help people achieve their fitness goals when our staff members and clubs are equipped with the tools and education that they need. We&rsquo;ve found that being lifelong learners helps everything fall into place.&rdquo;

In addition to focusing on educational programs, Anytime Fitness plans to make 2017 its most successful year to date by continuing to place an emphasis on global growth. Lately, the brand has noticed that the door is wide open to expand outside of the U.S., and interest in its franchise opportunity is on the rise.

&ldquo;2016 was the first year where we opened and sold more clubs outside of the U.S. than we did prior. That&rsquo;s a trend that we expect to continue throughout this year,&rdquo; said Runyon. &ldquo;However, that doesn&rsquo;t mean we&rsquo;re not expanding across the country. We expect to continue opening 100 or so clubs a year in the U.S. But internationally, that number will be closer to 300. We&rsquo;re really optimistic&mdash;the attractiveness of better health and entrepreneurship points to growth in the years to come. At the end of the day, fitness is a global language.&rdquo;

Runyon believes that the potential surrounding Anytime Fitness heading into 2017 isn&rsquo;t limited to that one brand. In fact, he&rsquo;s confident that this will be a successful year for the franchising industry as a whole.

&ldquo;Between the Brexit and the economic environment in the U.S. following the presidential election, there&rsquo;s going to be an uptick in franchising. People are getting more and more frustrated with things that are outside of their control, especially when it comes to their careers. That means they&rsquo;ll want to venture out on their own and pursue business ownership,&rdquo; said Runyon. &ldquo;Franchising offers entrepreneurs a unique solution to that problem&mdash;people get to control their own destinies while having the backing of an established brand.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Ongoing Education and Global Expansion Opportunities Will Fuel Anytime Fitness’ Growth in 2017

1851 Franchise

CEO Chuck Runyon explains how the brand plans to make this year its best yet.


This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

ongoing-education-and-global-expansion-opportunities-will-fuel-anytime-fitness-growth-in-2017

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette’s Recipe for Expansion: Leadership, Community and A Vision for 1,000 Cafés by 2030

paris-baguettes-recipe-for-expansion-leadership-community-and-a-vision-for-1000-cafes-by-2030

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Franchisee Spotlight with Billy and Anita Clark and Seniors Helping Seniors

Heart and Purpose: Couple Launch Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Northern Arizona

heart-and-purpose-couple-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-in-northern-arizona

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

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

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

franchise-financial-reporting-analytics-and-business-intelligence-qvinci-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

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

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

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

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

Ongoing Education and Global Expansion Opportunities Will Fuel Anytime Fitness’ Growth in 2017

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS