Growth Club
1851 Growth Club
Top Fitness Franchises Over 50 Units in 2019
1851 Franchise lists leading fitness franchises with 50-plus units.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity affected 93.3 million adults in the U.S. in 2015 - 2016, according to the CDC. The CDC also notes that the estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. in 2008 was $147 billion.
A gym membership is chump change in comparison.
It’s hard to imagine such high obesity levels when looking at the exponential growth some fitness franchises are experiencing, but many of the websites for these fitness centers also cite the CDC in their efforts to entice new customers.
Indeed, now seems like a better time than ever to work towards a more buff physique. There are just SO many different ways to be fit and healthy. Restaurants all but get crucified if they don’t offer vegetarian AND vegan AND gluten-free options, for one. (Oh, and organic. Let’s not forget organic.)
Then there are workout options. A variety of weights and a couple of treadmills aren’t going to cut it. Gym-goers still want those things, but variety is the name of the game. Today’s fitness centers better give their customers yoga and pilates and more - or let them take their fitness goals elsewhere.
Here are 10 fitness franchises that are crushing it.
Unit Count: 2,300+
Investment range: $131,002 - $722,796
In 2016, Entrepreneur magazine named Anytime Fitness as the number one top global franchise for the second year in a row. This franchise operates on a 24/7 basis, so no need to worry about hours of operation. Anytime Fitness members get a personalized - and free - Get Started Plan when they join. This particular gym brand doesn’t want you to see them as a stuffy gym where judgmental eyes track your every bicep curl. Visit the company’s website and you’ll see that the community theme is strong. Their equipment offerings include rowing machines and kettlebells. Their classes range from yoga to Zumba, and the services they offer include tanning and personal training. Oh, and the Anytime Fitness Blog is a surprisingly fun and lighthearted read.
Unit Count: 70+
Investment range: $637,000 - $2.1 million
Blink Fitness is operated by Equinox Fitness. Think of it as Equinox’s more lighthearted - and less expensive - cousin. Indeed, mood is a major focus for this gym brand. Each location is designed with mood in mind and has a brightly-colored scheme going on. That coloring extends to its memberships, which are green, blue and gray. Each color membership has its own levels of privilege within the gym. Earlier this year, NBA star Draymond Green became a franchisee. And in 2017, the brand got a ton of media attention for doing something quite revolutionary: featuring real gym members of all shapes and sizes in its advertising campaign.
Unit Count: 700+
Investment range: $2,218,250 - $5,000,500
Started in 1965 in Venice Beach, California, Gold’s Gym has come a long way. Technology seems to be a major theme with this particular chain. Today, participating locations offer a 3D body scan to new members, as well as the Gold’s Gym Challenge, a 12-week “body transformation contest,” according to their website. In October 2017, the franchise launched a personal training app, which CIO Adam Zeitsiff touted as being “the intersection of fitness, music and technology.” And in May 2018, Gold’s Gym announced a partnership with fitness apparel brand Gymshark to create a limited-edition performance wear collection. For more information about franchising with Gold’s Gym, check out their fairly active franchise blog.
Unit count: 200+ vans
Investment range: $56,650 - $119,752.80
This company, a public relations client of the 1851 Franchise parent company, No Limit Agency*, doesn’t want to hear excuses. They provide in-home personal training. In other words, they come to you, and they offer everything from one-on-one training to corporate fitness. Don’t even try to find your nearest location. All you have to do is look for your zip code to see if they service your area, request the service if they do, and one of their distinctive red vans will show up at your door. On that note, post and pre-natal exercise, senior fitness, and pre-teen and teen fitness training are all part of their long list of services. Again, no excuses. As for franchisees, they can expect support galore, from weekly franchise calls to monthly webinars and more.
Unit count: 8,000+
Investment range: $9,000 - $38,000
Don’t let the name fool you. Providing the right music is crucial to this particular franchise’s mission, as is mixing up the dance routines to incorporate cardio, hip hop, kickboxing, and more. They’re so good, in fact, that they boast a 7-year customer average. That is, customers stick with Jazzercise for an average of seven years. This particular franchise claims to have raised more than $28 million for charitable causes, mostly for local communities, and also do a community outreach program for children called Kids Get Fit.
Investment range: $563,529 - $999,121
If you only have one hour to exercise, then this gym might be your match made in fitness heaven. Orangetheory Fitness boasts about their one-hour workout, which they claim leads to 36 hours of feeling good, looking better, and burning more calories than the average person’s body naturally would. They claim people can burn anywhere between 500 and 1,000 calories in between the actual workout and the so-called “afterburn.” Sounds intense, but this brand is open to working with people of all fitness levels. The brand franchises internationally, including the U.S. and Canada. Orangetheory franchises are available in every U.S. state and over 13 countries.
Unit count: 1,500+
Investment range: $969,600 - $4,242,500
Founded in 1992 in New Hampshire, Planet Fitness has trademarked itself as “The Judgement Free Zone.” The gym chain hasn’t gotten the best press lately, between a transgender-related lawsuit and an employee who was beaten outside of a Rochester, New York location. Drama aside, the fitness brand is doing quite well financially. The company touts $1.9 billion in system-wide sales. In 2017, Planet Fitness expanded to Panama. More than 95 percent of its stores are owned and operated by individuals. A recent report by The Motley Fool called Planet Fitness a “cash machine” and highlighted the company’s marketing strategy.
Unit count: 450+
Investment range: $178,300 - $370,000
Who says workouts have to be all about weights and exercise machines? People who want a different kind of workout can go to establishments such as Pure Barre, which offers ballet-inspired workouts. The brand was founded in 2001 by dancer and choreographer Carrie Rezabek and franchised in 2009. In 2016, it expanded into Canada. Pure Barre doesn’t want people to think of it as a workout. To them, it’s a lifestyle. (Fair enough. Have you seen professional ballerinas up close? They literally have the perfect bodies.) And it’s not just for the ladies. On their website, Pure Barre points out the following: “Our services are available to all members of the public regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.” Gentlemen, dare to be different!
Unit count: 2,000+
Investment range: $149,771 - $462,800
This 24/7 fitness brand started in 2003 and has been experiencing phenomenal growth in a relatively short period of time. For one, the brand is big on global expansion, and had quite a bit of it last year. In 2017, it made its way to Hong Kong and Taiwan and signed master franchise agreements with United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Ireland. It has almost 200 clubs in Australia. It is also slated for some domestic fun. In quirkier gym news, Snap Fitness announced in August 2017 a two-year partnership with country music star Tim McGraw to open several fitness clubs - TRU MAV Signature Clubs. They will be based on the singer’s music and workout style. We’re positive Faith Hill approves.
Unit count: 150+
Investment range: $351,300 - $836,500
Another 24/7 operation! (And a client of 1851 Franchise.) Memberships start at $10 per month at participating locations, and the most expensive membership is a Friends & Family membership for $39. Indeed, this particular fitness brand doesn’t exactly want to sell that whole fancy gym concept. Instead, they’d rather keep membership fees low by NOT offering swimming pools or aerobics classes or childcare - things like that. (They do, however, offer tanning beds during staffed hours.) The franchise offers a discount on its franchise fee to military veterans. And once a gym member is in, they can work out at any Workout Anytime location in the country.
*Brands marked with an asterisk are clients of 1851 Franchise or No Limit Agency.
*This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. For more information on paid partnerships please click here.
