Is Mayweather Boxing + Fitness a Knock Out Franchise Opportunity?

In the world of franchising, pro athletes make not only great franchisees but also potentially great franchisors. Over the past few years, Floyd Mayweather, one of the most iconic athletes of all time, has entered the franchisor ring with his concept: Mayweather Boxing + Fitness. With over 50 locations open across the country, Mayweather Boxing + Fitness is actively seeking passionate entrepreneurs who want to grow with a top-rated brand and deliver a group fitness experience that blows away the competition. But the question remains: is it really a knockout franchise opportunity?

First, let's look at the numbers:

• Total Number of Units: 53
• New Units Opened This Year: 34
• Average Unit Revenue: $402,048 in 2021
• Total Investment: $399,200 - $737,500
• Net Worth Required: $500,000
• Cash Required: $150,000
• Min. Franchise Fee: $49,500
• Veteran's Fee: $39,600
• Royalty Fee: 7.0%
• Ad Fund Fee: 1.0%

When it comes to the strength of the industry, the $49 billion boutique fitness category has remained resilient despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, the industry is expected to rebound even stronger as people return to in-person activities.

 “I started this franchise to help people achieve their fitness goals and feel good about themselves,” Mayweather told FranchiseWire.

With a proprietary workout platform developed by the champ himself, Mayweather Boxing + Fitness offers an inclusive, high-intensity fitness experience that’s designed to help people become the best they can be. Mayweather Boxing + Fitness also allows owners to generate revenue in various ways, from high-quality merchandise to personal training and the traditional group class atmosphere.

Of course, name recognition also plays a role. Banking on the power of the Mayweather name, franchise owners can introduce a fun, boxing-centered concept that differentiates itself from other gyms in their local community. 

When it comes to franchisee support, the brand says they offer a “unique roadmap” to opening that enables franchisees to drive revenue on day one. Similarly, the business model has been created to reduce start-up costs with a value-engineered design for gyms so that they need only about 1,500 to 3,000 square feet, which is smaller than many boutique-gym competitors. 

The Mayweather Boxing + Fitness concept has also been building out its leadership team to ensure franchisees are receiving top-notch support from a leadership team with decades of experience. Recent additions include Christian Betancourt as head of marketing; Amanda Enos, as head of membership sales; and Fred Gustafson as head of franchise development. 

Still, as part of a relatively young franchise brand, Mayweather Boxing + Fitness owners will need to be prepared to adapt and overcome their own unique challenges.

“In some instances, we found ourselves switching to a new contract with a different vendor because they were not meeting the needs of the brand,” Kathy Davis, one of the first Mayweather Boxing + Fitness franchisees, told Entrepreneur. “We also had equipment that didn't look like newer franchisees' equipment due to changes here and there in the equipment package, which made our fairly new studio look different from the others. But the franchisor recognized this and provided ways for us to make the updates if we desired. There were also tweaks to class programming due to feedback directly from us franchisees and our customers on what was or wasn't working. The main point here is that nothing starts off perfect. Being at the front end of a franchise means you will endure trial and error, and you must be patient and nimble enough to endure. Overall, it's exciting to be a part of a journey like this.”

Mayweather Boxing + Fitness has only been franchising for a few years, but its recent growth is impressive. The company exceeded the milestone of 200 franchise units sold last year, and debuted 21 studios in 12 states, which reflects a 180% increase over its 2020 numbers. The brand also held its first-ever franchise convention — with Mayweather himself as a headliner.

So far, Mayweather Boxing + Fitness seems to be landing its punches, but time will tell whether or not it is destined to be a grand champion. 

For more information about Mayweather Boxing + Fitness, please visit Mayweather.fit/franchise-opportunities/.