Investing in a gym franchise can be a great decision for new business owners. Health and fitness franchises as a whole are mainstays, but gyms specifically have a strong advantage. With a naturally high customer lifetime value and 67% of American gym users keeping their memberships every year, fitness has a proven track record—one that’s even adapted to COVID, according to Bloomberg.
When looking at gym franchises, then, the question is not “are gym franchises profitable?” But “how can I get started before profits jump even higher?” A good starting point is learning about the best and biggest gym franchises for sale. And if you want to learn about the best gym franchise to own, FranchiseOpportunities.com is one of the best resources. Read on to learn some basics about gym franchises, and what goes into turning a profit as a franchisee.
What Is the Biggest Gym Franchise in the World?
Since the “biggest gym franchise” can mean multiple different things, here are some franchises that fit the “biggest” bill for different reasons:
- Anytime Fitness (Most Locations) | 4,000+ locations, and the first to be on all seven continents
- LA Fitness (Highest Net Worth) | Over $2 billion after recently acquiring multiple smaller chains
- Planet Fitness (Most Popular) | Comprised 26% of all gym memberships in 2022, according to Statista
While these three franchises are definitely successful, they’re not the only ones you should consider working with. “Smaller” franchises like CycleBar, for example, are still wildly popular. Not to mention, profitability comes from more than working with a big brand name. As you comb through fitness franchise directories for your ideal opportunity, be mindful of factors such as location and investment costs.
How Much Does a Gym Franchise Owner Make?
The answer to this question varies wildly for each circumstance. On average, gym franchise owners make somewhere between $50,000 and $75,000 annually, according to Exercise.com. But keep in mind that this is an average; 7% of franchise owners make over $250,000, whereas ZipRecruiter reports some make as low as $14,000.
Why is there such a wide range of payout? For starters, many things go into determining your income as a franchise owner. Some of the variables include:
- Location of your franchise (especially by state)
- Nearby competition for your business
- Brand equity of your franchisor
- How much you pay in fees to the franchisor
- Your personal skills and drive as a business owner
As you dig into each franchise you want to partner with, be sure to get a true understanding of what it’s like to work with them, and what sort of competitive environment you’ll be setting up shop in. If location is important to you, compare franchises state to state and see what sounds best. Look at each franchise disclosure document (FDD) meticulously, and do your research on each brand’s business trends. Also, talk to other franchisees who work for each company you’re interested in and hear about their experience. All of this information will help you make decisions you can be confident in.
How Much Would It Cost to Franchise a Gym?
NerdWallet reported that it can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $300,000 to start a gym franchise location. Of course, this is a huge range, but it encompasses everything from large gym chains to smaller, more specialized gyms—all of which have varying investment requirements. Just because a gym franchise is big doesn’t mean it’s on the expensive end; some Anytime Fitness franchise opportunities only take $40,000 to get going!
At FranchiseOpportunities.com, you’re able to sort franchises by their startup costs, making it easier to find good options that fit your budget. If your budget is set in stone, our directory can help you.
Top Fitness Franchises To Consider
Here are some franchises to start your search, along with their upfront investment requirements:
- Anytime Fitness ($40,000)
- BODYBAR Pilates ($150,000)
- CycleBar® Premium Indoor Cycling ($100,000)
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park+ ($500,000)
To Find the Best Gym Franchises, Check Out FranchiseOpportunities.com
In your journey to becoming a gym owner, let FranchiseOpportunities.com do the heavy lifting. Our website has an extensive list of all the best franchises to own in the health and wellness industry, plus a whole collection of financial resources and tools to make franchising easier for you. Additionally, our directories make it far easier to sort by state, industry, and even level of investment, so you truly know all your options.
Find your ideal fit in the fitness industry. Start browsing our franchise directories today, and find the best fitness franchise opportunity for you!