1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-rondeau-planet-fitness?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness-2720589" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Rondeau</a>’s journey with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetfitness.com/franchising/become-a-franchisee?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness-2720589" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Planet Fitness</a> goes way back. In 1993, he began working as a front desk associate at the very first Planet Fitness location in Dover, New Hampshire. In 2003, he was named Chief Operating Officer and later became Chief Executive Officer in 2013.At its inception, Planet Fitness was not the heavily inclusive “Judgment Free Zone®” it is today. Rather, the gyms catered to bodybuilders with Olympic weight-lifting tools, 100-plus-pound dumbbells and weight-gain supplements for sale.<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ7Tu152zEU"><div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><iframe src="//cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?app=1&amp;api_key=fd3b6b3731f34f55ba1fe3&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhZ7Tu152zEU" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div></figure>When the concept was in its earliest stages, there were two locations in rural New Hampshire, fighting to gain traction with the relatively small percentage of the population who were avid gym-goers interested in a bodybuilding-style gym. To expand its horizons and bring in more revenue, Planet Fitness began evolving.“We started off just by saying, ‘Let’s do the unthinkable,’” Rondeau told Kelly Card for a&nbsp;<a href="https://abcfitness.com/fitnessbusiness/podcast-episode-chris-rondeau-bringing-fitness-to-millions/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness-2720589" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fitness Industry Innovation Podcast</a> episode. “Honestly, it was a little bit out of desperation. We weren’t making any money; we had nothing to lose. So we dropped our price to 10 bucks a month, and overnight we just saw droves of people coming through our doors that had never come in before.”To this day, the $10 per month model is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the concept, and Rondeau says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/08/09/planet-fitness-ceo-says-company-isnt-raising-its-10-a-month-membership-fee.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness-2720589" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">that will not change</a> — even with inflation.He added that, regardless of which club you’re in, a treadmill on the five mile-per-hour setting will run five miles per hour. By cultivating a more welcoming environment that catered to the needs of a variety of people, the concept could draw on a larger audience.“In ‘98 was when we implemented the colors you see today. The Judgment Free Zone® was born, and the Lunk Alarm was put on the wall,” he said. “That was our third store that we opened in Concord, New Hampshire. That’s when we blatantly went out to the world and said that we were judgment-free, and that club, on day one, opened up with 2,200 members. Back in those days, that was almost unheard of.”Now, the brand has more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/planetfitness/329333?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness-2720589" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">2,300</a> locations system-wide, with a global membership of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetfitness.com/franchising/become-a-franchisee?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness-2720589" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">over 16 million</a>.In a 2018&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetfitness.com/newsroom/news/how-planet-fitness-founder-chris-rondeau-created-fastest-growing-gym-chain-us?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness-2720589" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">article</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/d/da-de/david-millward/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness-2720589" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Millward</a> wrote, “Its target market is not the body beautiful, but the ordinary person who wants to get fitter and is put off going to the gym by hard-core devotees. It is a formula which has been spectacularly successful.”Planet Fitness did the unthinkable again in 2000. The concept was not only brightly colored, judgment-free and just $10 per month, but it also got rid of daycare and group fitness offerings in exchange for loads of cardio equipment. Rondeau says this moved the staffing model from about 40 employees down to 12–15. The first location that embraced this model opened with about 2,000 members.“The margins are better, and the customers were happier,” he explained. “What had happened is we created a model that we couldn’t disappoint the customer anymore… Our customers were happy because we have five things we do, and we do them right 100% of the day.”As the concept continues to grow, it has seen such success because of its specific model.&nbsp;“It’s really focusing on who your customer is and not trying to be everything to everybody,” Rondeau said.Buy-in throughout the franchise network — a deep commitment to the mission of doing something different — keeps everyone engaged and working synergistically to deliver the unique, welcoming experience Planet Fitness is so well recognized for."If I can gain their [franchisees’] respect and they have my passion, then they'll do right for our members," Rondeau told Marilyn Much for an Investor’s Business Daily&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investors.com/news/management/leaders-and-success/ceo-chris-rondeau-builds-muscle-at-planet-fitness/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness-2720589#:~:text=Chris%20Rondeau%3A%20Keys&amp;text=your%20mind%20to.-,%22The%20key%20to%20success%20in%20business%20is%20not%20to%20be,of%20going%20against%20the%20grain.%22" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">article</a>. “I always tell my staff we're in a unique business with two sets of customers — our franchisees and our members. If we can make our franchisees a happy customer, then that will trickle down to our members. I have a very collaborative and open relationship with franchisees. We have about 200 different franchisee groups. I look at that as an asset. Our franchisees bring me ideas and thoughts on how to fine-tune the business, and we work collaboratively.”

Chris Rondeau | Top Franchise Leaders | 1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise

After joining the franchise as a front desk associate in 1993, Rondeau has risen through the ranks and now serves as CEO of the fitness franchise.

Top Franchise Leaders: Chris Rondeau, CEO of Planet Fitness

top-franchise-leaders-chris-rondeau-ceo-of-planet-fitness

Griswold

Griswold Franchisee Beth Copeland Featured in Entrepreneur Magazine

griswold-franchisee-beth-copeland-featured-in-entrepreneur-magazine

Fresh Coat

Photo of two Fresh Coat franchise owners wearing branded polos

How Fresh Coat Franchisees Scale Through Commercial and Multi-Family Projects

scale-painting-franchise-commercial-projects

Beansquad

Franchise Financial Health Check: BeanSquad’s Diagnostic Approach to Bookkeeping

franchise-financial-health-check-beansquads-diagnostic-approach-to-bookkeeping

Paris Baguette

Photo of cross section of Paris Baguette croissant

Is the Paris Baguette Franchise Worth the Investment? Understanding the Franchise Fee and ROI

paris-baguette-franchise-cost-roi

Photo of Paris Baguette croissants and cup of hot coffee

Paris Baguette Ranked No. 112 in 2025 Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurants Report, Climbing Over 20 Spots From Prior Year

paris-baguette-technomic-top-500-ranking-2025

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 Development Website Builder

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

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Keurig Dr Pepper Splits in $18 Billion JDE Peet’s Deal, Creating Global Coffee Giant

keurig-dr-pepper-splits-in-18-billion-jde-peets-deal-creating-global-coffee-giant

What It Really Feels Like To Franchise Your Business

what-it-really-feels-like-to-franchise-your-business

Hot Dish Advertising - Franchise Marketing - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

Hot Dish Advertising: A Proven Leader in Franchise Marketing

hot-dish-advertising-franchise-marketing

Caroline Riley - Aroma Joe's - Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Caroline Riley — Chief Marketing Officer, Aroma Joe’s

aroma-joes-marketing-leader-caroline-riley

Kate Doyle-Kwon - VP Franchise Marketing - Xponential -  Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kate Doyle-Kwon — Vice President of Communications and Franchise Marketing, Xponential

xponential-marketing-leader-kate-doyle-kwon

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

Young Entrepreneur Parth Patel Is Bringing Paris Baguette to the Cleveland Area

young-entrepreneur-parth-patel-is-bringing-paris-baguette-to-the-cleveland-area

Cleaning Franchises Offer Stability and Scalability in a Changing Economic Landscape

cleaning-franchises-offer-stability-and-scalability-in-a-changing-economic-landscape

Top Franchise Leaders: Chris Rondeau, CEO of Planet Fitness

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS