Top 5 Low-Cost Fitness Franchises

Although the effects of COVID-19 were particularly unforgiving on the fitness industry, as the world slowly starts to return to normal, certain fitness brands are positioned to come back stronger than ever. According to Bloomberg, 75% of surveyed fitness consumers believe they will return to pre-pandemic workout routines, putting them back in gyms across the country. As consumers of all ages continue to make their health and wellness a top priority, the fitness industry has seen steady growth, reaching a massive $36.6 billion.

While franchising with a fitness concept has the potential for strong returns, that doesn’t mean it necessarily requires a massive investment. Especially as the fitness industry has been forced to react around changing consumer habits since the onset of COVID-19, including where people work out, how they exercise and what they wear, there are several emerging brands that offer a low-cost alternative to the typical (and expensive) big-box fitness club. 

Here are a few low-cost fitness franchises that are well-positioned for the new normal in 2022 and beyond.

Jazzercise Inc.

Startup Costs: $2,505 to $3,700

Unit Count: 8,500

No list of low-cost fitness franchises would be complete without this industry juggernaut. Jazzercise came to prominence in the early 80’s with its high-intensity, cardio classes offering a mix of dance-fusion. Although the franchise boasts one of the biggest loyal customer bases across the globe, Jazzercise requires a super-low upfront investment fee. This is largely due to the fact that franchisees can find affordable space at a school, church or community center that will welcome their Jazzercise business.

fitWAVE

Startup Costs: $75,000 to $180,000

Unit Count: 3

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fitWAVE is a group-workout concept oriented around 16-week cycles that focus on mobility, core, balance and strength through a series of 60-minute workouts. Designed by athlete and fitness industry veteran Josh Chrestman, the program puts members through phases, or “waves,” that allow them to reach their peak potential. fitWAVE offers a flexible footprint that can fit almost any retail space with a scalable concept that goes from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. And unlike most fitness concepts, which rely on large, densely populated urban markets, fitWAVE was designed to succeed in towns as small as just 15,000, which keeps its initial investment costs way down.

REGYMEN Fitness

Startup Costs: $299,500 to $770,500

Unit Count: 22

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REGYMEN Fitness was founded in 2017 by fitness industry experts that wanted to create a space in which customers could enjoy a variety of workouts based on modern exercise science that provides proven benefits. The concept took off, and in 2018, the boutique fitness brand began offering franchise opportunities. The fitness brand has a lower barrier of entry thanks to a membership-based model that provides franchisees with recurring revenue. Franchisees are not burdened with the cost of goods or high staffing requirements and can enter their markets quickly.

9Round

Startup Costs: $37,500 to $256,000

Unit Count: 700+

9Round fitness franchises offer 30-minute workouts designed around the art of kickboxing, incorporating circuit training, cardio, strength, interval and functional training in a half-an-hour-long training session. The brand was founded in 2007 and started their franchising journey in early 2009. Since then they have grown to boast more than 600 active locations in the U.S. The initial investment stays low because franchisees can operate in a studio as small as 1,500 to 1,800 square feet and often thrive in retail shopping centers.

F45 Training

Startup Costs: $56,000 to $150,000

Unit Count: 500

F45 Training is a low cost fitness franchise that offers high intensity, 45-minute workouts that are designed to help with everyday functional body movement, hence the “F.” Each studio displays several screens that explain the various workout drills in detail. This brand was founded in 2010 and started franchising in 2015. For the low initial franchise investment, F45 Training provides all the equipment, apparatus, technology and other materials necessary to operate a studio.