Top 10 Health and Fitness Franchises To Watch in 2020

The latest market data from the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) shows that the U.S. health club industry serves approximately 71.5 million consumers, and about one-in-five Americans belong to at least one U.S. health club or studio. As consumers of all ages continue to make their health and wellness a top priority, the fitness industry has seen steady growth every year since 2008, reaching a staggering $87.2 billion mark in 2018, according to the IHRSA. 

This year, there have been a few trends driving the fitness industry. According to Sarah Luna, president of Pure Barre, evolving technologies and group fitness classes are among the common themes that continue to pop up in the health and fitness space. “It is important that we keep up with these trends and continue to progress by delivering what consumers want,” Luna said. 

Creating a sense of community within the workout space is another common theme in the industry, according to Luna, but as for advice she has for prospective franchisees in the health and fitness space is concerned, Luna suggested making sure you build a predictable business. “This is important, as it puts members at ease when they see that consistent and quality services are being offered,” she said. 

1851 Franchise spent some time taking a deeper dive into the health and fitness industry to see what trends are driving its impressive growth of late. Here are 10 health and fitness franchises that have proven consumers are continuing to prioritize their health. 

Orangetheory Fitness

Locations: 1,600-plus

Investment range: $563,529 to $999,121

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.orangetheoryfitness.com/franchising

Only have an hour? Since its founding in 2010, Orangetheory Fitness pairs total-body workouts with the science of the Orange Zone, meaning participants are in the 84% to 91% range of max heart rate, to ensure all guests maximize their 60 minutes at the gym. The fitness franchise offers group and personal training workouts based on high intensity interval training (HIIT), a technique that blends cardiovascular and strength training. With more than 1,600 locations, Orangetheory coaches are taught workouts based on EPOC, or excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, which boosts metabolism for continued caloric burn long after the workout is over. The neon orange-lit gym continues to rapidly grow, with new locations opening up frequently.

What you can learn from this brand: Last year, the brand was ranked No. 1 on Franchise Times’ Fast & Serious list of smartest-growing brands. Orangetheory Fitness was able to achieve this recognition after experiencing 7,000% percent growth from 2014 to 2018. 

REGYMEN Fitness**

Locations: 11

Investment range: $425,000 to $870,500

Franchise opportunity website: https://regymenfitnessfranchise.com/

REGYMEN Fitness is a multi-platform fitness studio concept that takes the form of three classes: Burn, Box and Build. REGYMEN Fitness is still in its infancy, as the brand was founded in 2017 by fitness industry veteran Edward ‘EK’ Navan, who has since opened 11 locations with four locations scheduled to open by early 2020. The high-intensity gym is open daily, offering up to 10 workouts per day that are an hour or less and can burn up to 1,000 calories per session. REGYMEN Fitnessreached further expansion this fall and opened its first Alabama location, in Huntsville.  

What you can learn from this brand: Consumers crave variety in their workouts, and REGYMEN Fitness delivers a non-traditional approach to exercise, delivering that ask to each member. This serves as a key differentiator for the brand because it addresses an entire range of needs in each of its classes with an overall goal of increasing motivation, shattering plateaus, decreasing risk of injury and more. 

Workout Anytime

Locations: 100-plus 

Investment range: $351,300 to $836,500

Franchise opportunity website: https://workoutanytimefranchise.com/

Working the day shift? Or the night shift? No matter what time your shift is, Workout Anytime is the gym for just that––working out at literally any time that works for you. The 24-hour, seven-day-a-week fitness concept was designed to provide members with first-class facilities at the lowest cost possible, while also delivering a profitable and affordable business model for franchisees. Customers are able to get a membership for as low as $10 a month at participating locations. Workout Anytime has more than 175 locations across the country, all built with customer convenience in mind.

What you can learn from this brand: You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a gym membership to care about your fitness goals. Workout Anytime recognizes this, which is why they provide membership at such a low fee. The brand is also known for taking care of its franchisees, as evidenced through its 20th year in business special that reduces its initial franchise fee of $35,000 down to $20,000 through the end of the year.

Burn Boot Camp

Locations: 220-plus

Investment range: $148,830 to $353,150

Franchise opportunity website: https://franchise.burnbootcamp.com/

Burn Boot Camp was created to empower women to maximize the quality of their lives. From what began in 2012 as a boot camp in the parking lot of a gymnastics studio to the now 220-plus locations across 37 states, Burn Boot Camp offers guests, both men and women, 45-minute workouts that burn up to 700 calories per camp. The brand also offers unlimited one-on-one training sessions, complimentary child watch services and an inspiring community called “Burn Nation” with whom other members can share their experiences with. Burn Boot Camp has nearly tripled in growth this year alone, with almost 40,000 new members joining its ranks. 

What you can learn from this brand: “Burn Nation” encourages members to not only own their own health, but also own a Burn Boot Camp location of their own. An astounding 75% of Burn Boot Camp’s franchisees are also members of the ever-expanding fitness-focused franchise, creating a point of differentiation for the brand as it encourages female empowerment in health and female-run businesses. 

Profile Sanford

Locations: 100-plus

Investment range: $445,000 to $699,500

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.profileplan.com/franchise/

Profile Sanford, has created one of the most innovative healthcare systems in the country, making weight loss simple, effective and sustainable. Driven by its mission to change lives, the weight management and lifestyle coaching brand offers services to numerous age groups and has developed proprietary diet and health plans for mothers, teens, athletes and people with special medical or dietary needs. A $300 year-long membership fee includes a customized weight-loss plan, one-on-one lifestyle coaching (either in person or by phone), genetic testing and discounts on company products. Profile Sanford now has over 100 locations nationwide, with plans to double that number of the end of the year. The brand recently opened a new 2,100-square-foot facility in Brookfield, Wisconsin. 

What you can learn from this brand: Profile Sanford prides itself on its commitment to personalized health solutions, given that “weight loss is not a one-size-fits-all journey,” which helps the company set itself apart from the competition. Another way it does so is through its use of technology to connect to its customers, a newer concept in the health and fitness industry. Profile Sanford uses Smart Body Scale, a tech-enabled scale that enables customers and coaches to communicate in real-time progress via a smartphone app.

GYMGUYZ

Locations: 234

Investment range: $56,072 to $122,483

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.gymguyz.com/franchise-opportunities/#~h5m9d02

If making it to the gym is the hard part for you, than GYMGUYZ has the answer. GYMGUYZ delivers in-home personal trainers for customized one-on-one or group workouts in the privacy of one’s own home. Since its founding in 2008, the mobile fitness franchise has grown to over 234 locations, offering a plethora of services such as cardio fitness, group training, strength training, senior fitness, pre- and post-natal services, and much more. 

What you can learn from this brand: As the home-fitness franchise continues its upward trajectory, GYMGUYS put plans in motion to expand internationally. In fact, earlier this year, the brand hired Ed Ruane, a seasoned fitness industry expert as its new Chief Growth Officer to lead the charge. 

Anytime Fitness

Locations: 2,466

Investment range: $76,720 to $521,437

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.anytimefitness.com/franchise/

With approximately 4,000 global locations and over 2,400 in the U.S. alone, Anytime Fitness was ranked the world’s fastest-growing fitness club for the seventh consecutive year, per data from the IHRSA. The 24/7 fitness club offers a free, personalized ‘Get Started Plan’ to new members that allows them to distinguish the program they need to achieve their goals. All members can enjoy group exercise classes led by a certified trainer, as well as personalized, one-on-one training sessions. 

What you can learn from this brand: Anytime Fitness is known for its supportive community culture and recently announced a new brand partnership with the Special Olympics. Through this partnership, Anytime Fitness gym owners and staff members support the organization by training Special Olympics athletes, sponsoring events, fundraising inside the gyms and in the community, and cheering on the athletes at local events. The partnership positions the brand ahead of others in the industry due to its ability to build brand buzz and show consumers “what’s in your heart”—something that significantly resonates with consumers, thus enabling them to establish a better relationship with the brand. 

Crunch 

Locations: 300-plus

Investment range: $225,500 to $2,320,500

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.crunch.com/franchise

Founded in 1989 in New York City and now boasting over 300 locations, Crunch was built on the motto of ‘No Judgments’—as one of its fundamental values, the gym is committed to being a safe zone for everyone, regardless of shape, size, age, race, gender or fitness level. With a range of memberships starting at $9.95 per month, the Crunch community is accessible and complete with group classes, personal training and more. 

What you can learn from this brand: The company prides itself on being a diverse community, all with one goal in mind—living a healthier lifestyle through fitness and entertainment. A brand vision that’s committed to celebrating diversity, especially in a time where a lot of people feel more disconnected than ever, which helps the company stay relevant and mission-forward despite the national circumstances.

Pure Barre

Locations: 500-plus

Investment range: $198,650 to $446,250

Franchise opportunity website: https://franchise.purebarre.com/

Since its founding in 2001, Pure Barre has grown to more than 500 locations across the United States, serving over 550,000 clients in the process. The fitness boutique focuses on small movements and techniques that come in a range of class offerings that target strength, cardio and flexibility for people of all fitness levels. Along with its studio classes, Pure Barre offers Pure Barre On Demand, a digital workout service for clients who want full-body workouts anywhere, anytime, for just $29.99 a month. 

What you can learn from this brand: Pure Barre encourages first-timers to join a “basics” class where they can learn the foundations of barre in a judgment-free setting fostering a sense of community that sticks. This also sets an industry standard, as a lot of people who choose not to go to the gym do so because they are embarrassed about not being able to do the workout. Pure Barre’s focus on creating a sense of community allows those who are new to the exercise method to learn and develop their skills, all the while creating a healthier lifestyle for themselves. 

9Round 

Locations: 800-plus

Investment range: $99,675 to $145,075 

Franchise opportunity website: https://www.9round.com/fitness-franchises

9Round, a kickboxing-themed exercise concept, incorporates functional, interval, cardiovascular and circuit training regimens into its program. Founded by a world champion kickboxer who holds a black belt in Shotokan Karate, the first 9Round location opened in Greenville, South Carolina in 2008. Earlier this year, 9Round celebrated a milestone opening with its 800th studio in Apopka, Florida, the 36th new 9Round location to open thus far in 2019 ahead of a projected 1,000 locations open worldwide by the end of 2020. 

What you can learn from this brand: 9Round is known for its notoriously hard workouts, all completed in just 30 minutes. This is a huge draw for consumers, as a lot of people lead extremely busy lives. Because of all the day-to-day duties of consumers, joining a gym that curates a “butt-kicking” workout that can be completed in a short amount of time makes a huge difference in a society dominated by a demand for convenience.