Workout Anytime is a 24/7 premium, low-cost fitness franchise specializing in compact, community-focused gyms. It operates with a high-volume, low-price model and wellness amenities like tanning and hydration stations, usually in 5,000 to 10,000 square foot spaces aimed at suburban markets.

1. What Is the Brand Overview for Workout Anytime?

About the Brand

Workout Anytime was founded in Georgia in 2004 by Steven Strickland and began franchising in 2005. Today, the brand operates nearly 200 locations.

Mission: Workout Anytime’s mission is to provide a friendly, convenient and 24/7, high-quality, yet affordable, fitness experience. Built on the values of "Attitude, Care and Excellence" (ACE), the company focuses on creating supportive, community-oriented gyms that make fitness accessible.

Vision: Workout Anytime’s company vision is to reshape the fitness community by providing a convenient and life-changing experience through a high-value, low-cost model with a growth plan predicated upon opening 50 additional locations within the next two years.

Unique Selling Points (USPs)

  • 24/7 Access: Members can use the gym any time of day or night to fit workouts into their life and schedule.
  • Reciprocity Policy: Members in good standing can use any Workout Anytime club throughout the system.
  • Affordable Memberships: The brand emphasizes low-cost pricing, making fitness more accessible.
  • Wide Range of Equipment and Training: Includes cardio and strength equipment, free weights, group training and certified personal coaching for varied fitness goals.
  • Premium Amenities: Members have access to HydroMassage, CryoLounge, infrared saunas, massage chairs, red-light therapy, tanning and TheraGun recovery tools.
  • Safety and Sanitization: System mandates high-tier cleanliness standards, including the use of continuous air and surface sanitizing technology (AirPHX).
  • Customization: Clubs offer integrated personal training and small group fitness instruction specifically designed to be custom-tailored to individual needs.

2. What Are the Franchise Opportunity Details?

Why Franchise With Workout Anytime?

  • Protected Site Selection Area: Franchisor grants a right of first refusal for sites within a designated site-selection area.
  • Real Estate Infrastructure: Owners benefit from pre-negotiated real estate terms and a network of approved leasing agents.
  • Scalable Passive Ownership Opportunity: The model does not require the owner to be on-site daily. It’s designed for direct daily supervision by a certified manager, allowing for semi-absentee ownership.
  • Flexible Facility Footprint: Club layouts can fit 7,000 to 15,000 square feet, allowing adaptability across various commercial environments.
  • Proprietary Tools: Over 2,850 pages of operational manuals, video training and ongoing educational pathways.
  • Centralized Technology Package: A comprehensive IT bundle that includes dedicated club webpages, a branded mobile app for member engagement and a specific internal intranet for operational reports and communication.
  • Pre-Opening Sales System: A structured presale program designed to secure at least 500 memberships before the facility opens.
  • Global Vendor and Rebate Network: Franchisees utilize a centralized purchasing system with negotiated favorable pricing and terms from major equipment suppliers.

Available Territories

Workout Anytime is in the midst of expansion across most of the United States with targeted expansion efforts taking place in Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Illinois, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Prospective franchisees are invited to visit the Workout Anytime franchise development website for more information on available territories.

Investment Overview

Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Workout Anytime franchise ranges from $1,091,700 to $1,411,900 for a Model 1 (Core), $1,386,200 to $1,795,400 for a Model 2 (Plus) and $1,931,200 to $2,305,400 for a Model 3 (XL). The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:

Type of Expenditure

Model 1

Model 2

Model 3

Min

Max

Min

Max

Min

Max

Initial Franchise Fee

$35,000

$35,000

$35,000

$35,000

$35,000

$35,000

Training Expenses

$1,200

$2,400

$1,200

$2,400

$1,200

$2,400

Rent & Security Deposit

$16,000

$24,000

$24,000

$32,000

$32,000

$40,000

Real Estate Improvements

$524,000

$657,000

$676,000

$909,000

$1,110,000

$1,313,000

Architect Fees

$9,000

$18,000

$9,000

$18,000

$9,000

$18,000

Furnture/Office Equipment & Supplies

$9,000

$18,000

$9,000

$18,000

$9,000

$18,000

Initial Equipment Package

$393,500

$450,000

$513,000

$566,000

$606,000

$660,000

Low Voltage AV & Door Access

$20,000

$40,500

$35,000

$48,000

$45,000

$52,000

Signage

$20,000

$40,000

$20,000

$40,000

$20,000

$40,000

Advertising  + Start Strong

$16,000

$24,000

$16,000

$24,000

$16,000

$24,000

Deposits & Permits

$2,000

$5,000

$2,000

$5,000

$2,000

$5,000

Insurance

$6,000

$18,000

$6,000

$18,000

$6,000

$18,000

Additional Funds

$40,000

$80,000

$40,000

$80,000

$40,000

$80,000

Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee for a Workout Anytime franchise is $35,000, which is due in full upon the signing of the franchise agreement.

Qualifying military veterans may be eligible for a 50% discount on the initial franchisee fee.

Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, Workout Anytime franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:

Type of FeeAmount
Monthly Royalty Fee6% of gross revenue/month
Brand Development Fee2% of gross revenue/month
Local Advertising

Months 1-12: $4,000/month per month

Months 13+: Greater of $2,000 or 5% of gross revenue/month

Technology Package$595 - $795/month
Software Bundle Fee$325 - $525/month

ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the 181 reporting franchises operating for the entirety of FY 2025 reported the following annual gross sales:

Quartile

Average

Median

High

Low

Top 1/4 (45)

$868,297

$857,287

$1,299,012

$655,692

Mid 1/2 (91)

$462,167

$448,160

$650,889

$344,957

Bottom 1/4 (45)

$275,824

$448,160

$344,756

$135,597

Total (181)

$516,823

$448,160

$1,299,015

$135,597

3. What Franchisee Support Does Workout Anytime Provide?

Pre-Opening Support

The franchisor provides site selection guidelines and potential on-site evaluations to help secure high-visibility locations. Franchisees must use approved leasing agents and the franchisor assists with ordering essential fitness equipment and furnishings through its vetted supplier network. Additionally, the franchisor offers a pre-opening sales playbook designed to help owners secure at least 500 memberships before opening day. Owners also receive a comprehensive confidential operations manual to guide every detail of development and setup.

Training Programs

Mandatory training is provided for the franchisee and their designated manager, starting with a 14-hour online program, which is followed by a training academy at the corporate headquarters in Georgia (including 77 hours of classroom instruction and 46 hours of on-the-job training). The curriculum covers critical areas such as sales techniques, customer service, club management systems and specialized personal training (PT) instruction. Ongoing education is also available through refresher courses, webinars and an annual convention.

Operational Support

Once operational, franchisees receive continuous guidance from a dedicated support team that periodically visits the club to review performance and ensure compliance with brand standards. The franchisor assists with ongoing marketing plans, providing samples of advertising materials at no charge, and recommending optimal media placement to drive membership growth. Owners also benefit from a centralized purchasing system that leverages negotiated favorable pricing with major equipment and supplies vendors. Furthermore, the franchisor conducts general market research and provides guidance on pricing services and products.

Technology and Tools

Franchisees are equipped with a proprietary "technology package" that includes a branded mobile app for member engagement, a dedicated club webpage linked to the corporate site and an internal intranet for streamlined communication. The franchisor provides specialized sales and operations software to manage memberships, along with a 24-hour door access system to facilitate round-the-clock facility entry. Access to the Bridge LMS platform offers ongoing digital training resources for staff, while mandated tools like 3D body scanning and automated marketing platforms are integrated to support member retention and revenue growth.

4. What Are the Franchisee Requirements for Workout Anytime?

Eligibility Criteria

  • Liquid Assets: $400,000

Prior fitness or franchising experience is helpful but not required. Solid business-management or sales know-how plus adequate capitalization are the main prerequisites.

Operational Commitments

Franchisees must commit to ensuring the facility is open 24 hours every day and remains staffed. While personal daily supervision by the owner is not mandatory, the club must be directly managed by a certified manager who has successfully completed the franchisor's training program. Key operational duties include adhering to a comprehensive playbook of uniform standards for cleanliness, equipment maintenance and customer service. Franchisees are also required to install specific technology, such as the AirPHX air and surface sanitizing system, to meet the brand's elevated hygiene protocols. Financially, owners must meet minimum performance standards, which include selling at least 500 memberships by the time the club opens and maintaining a minimum of $40,000 in monthly gross revenue starting in the 12th month of operation. Franchisees are also responsible for local marketing efforts with a mandated minimum monthly spend.

Funding Assistance

The franchisor does not offer any direct or indirect financing. Additionally, the franchisor does not guarantee a franchisee's note, lease or any other obligations.

5. Are There Franchisee Success Stories?

“I was a member at Workout Anytime and I was always interested in the business model. The next thing I knew I was meeting with the founders and opening my first club. Training was amazing. We learned a lot. It gave us the foundation for success. That playbook was written and written well. We followed it. And that’s why we were able to build three successful clubs.”

Bill Cezak, Multi-Unit Franchise Owner — Georgia

6. What Is the Market Potential for Fitness?

The American fitness and gym sector has rebounded since 2020, with industry revenues expected to eclipse $45 billion this year (on the strength of nearly 80 million American gym memberships). Budget-friendly gyms and boutique studios are driving growth alongside a greater general desire for fitness and wellness and innovation of tech like smartphone apps. 

Overall, the fitness and gym sector presents promising opportunities for growth and investment, driven by increasing demand for quality, convenience, wellness and innovation.

Competitor Analysis

Workout Anytime stands out in an increasingly crowded American fitness realm by focusing on quality, wellness, convenience and the innovation of emerging technology. Focusing on guests personalized services in a franchised setting helps deliver a somewhat recession-resistant model.

In terms of competition, Workout Anytime faces several notable players in the fitness and gym sector, including Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness, Fitness Premier, LA Fitness, Snap Fitness, Crunch Fitness and more. However, Workout Anytime’s customizable array of services and particular focus on quality and the customer set the chain apart in a crowded marketplace.

7. What Is the Application Process for Workout Anytime Franchisees?

  1. Intro Call: Initial conversation follows completion of the Workout Anytime online form.
  2. Confidential Profile: Submit financial background and qualifications.
  3. Review the FDD: Review Franchise Disclosure Document, assess franchise opportunity.
  4. Speak with Franchise Owners: Talk to current franchisees to hear their firsthand experiences.
  5. Discovery Day: Visit corporate, meet the team, review daily operations.
  6. Franchise Agreement: Upon approval, sign the agreement, secure territory.
  7. Site and Club Planning: Get support with real estate, build‑out, pre‑opening steps.
  8. Open Club: Launch Workout Anytime location with comprehensive training and support.

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All content in this article is information of a general nature and does not address the detailed circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in the article constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information in the email constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. You alone assume the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content in this article before making any decisions based on such information or other content.

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Jim Ryan

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Jim Ryan

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