Finding the right fitness franchise can be a daunting task. But with so many different franchises offering different programs, membership fees, equipment, locations, and customer service, it doesn’t have to be.
What are the best fitness franchises in the US?
The best franchises in the US offer popular fitness programs, affordable membership fees, the best equipment and facilities, convenient locations, and provide superior customer service. Five of the top 10 fitness franchises include 1. Anytime Fitness, 2. Snap Fitness, 3. Planet Fitness, 4. Orangetheory Fitness, 5. 9Round.
Read on to find out which franchise is best for you, and can help you start your fitness franchise journey.
Defining what criteria is “best” for fitness franchises
Fitness franchises are increasingly popular as more people are looking for convenient, affordable ways to stay fit. And for the right owner, fitness franchises can be a great investment.
But with so many different franchises out there, it can be hard to choose which one is right for you.
To make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 criteria for measuring a fitness franchise and then we list the top franchises with the:
- Most popular fitness programs,
- The most affordable membership fees,
- Best equipment and facilities,
- Most locations in the US, and
- The best customer service.
Use this resource as a starting point to begin your due diligence. And check out our other great resources that can help you make a great decision.
Franchises with the Most Popular Fitness Programs
Planet Fitness is a leader when it comes to the most popular fitness programs.
They have a wide variety of classes, ranging from strength and conditioning classes to yoga and Pilates. The classes are designed for all fitness levels and are always challenging and fun.
Plus, Planet Fitness has locations all across the US, making it easy to find a class near you.
If you are looking to start your own gym or fitness franchise, it would be well worth your time to study the Planet Fitness schedule of fitness programs:
For example, they offer a 30-minute circuit, giving the member a full-body workout. This workout will provide cardiovascular training, anaerobic fitness, and resistance training. Plus it’s in a group environment which will provide a motivational team feeling.
Here’s what Planet Fitness says about their 30-Minute circuit:
The PF 30-Minute Express Circuit combines 10 strength machines and 10 cardio-step stations. You can start anywhere in the circuit but you must go in sequence. The circuit operates on a green light/red light system. When the light turns green, you begin exercising for 60 seconds. Once this time has elapsed, the light turns red for 30 seconds (your cue to stop exercising and move to the next station). At the end of 30 minutes, you will have completed the circuit and received a full-body workout.
For more information about this popular fitness program, you can visit their site here.
Franchises with the Most Affordable Membership Fees
Planet Fitness is also a leader when it comes to affordable membership fees.
With membership fees starting at just $10 a month, they offer excellent value for money.
Plus, they have a wide range of classes and facilities, making them a great choice for anyone on a budget.
While their rates are just $10 a month, be sure to review the start-up fee, annual fee, and any fees for canceling. Even with these fees, the rates should probably beat most other clean, well-organized, high-tech gym facilities in the business.
For more information about the financial health of a variety of fitness franchise networks, go here:
What is the most profitable fitness franchise? (Top 7)
If you are interested in owning a franchise and would like to start your review learning about lower cost franchise networks, go here:
What is the Cheapest Gym Franchise to Own? (Jazzercise plus 4 more)
Franchises with the Best Equipment and Facilities
If you’re looking for the best equipment and facilities, then Anytime Fitness is a winner.
Their locations are equipped with top-of-the-line equipment and enough amenities to get the job done, making it easy to get a great workout.
Plus, they offer a wide range of classes and personal training sessions, so you can get the most out of your membership.
While they are not a big box gym environment with over 10,000 square feet, usually about 2,000 square feet to keep their costs and management costs down, this limits their floor space to the essential, most important pieces of equipment necessary for their members to get a great workout.
Anytime Fitness makes this a reality and does a nice job.
For an excellent article about the most common costs to start your fitness franchise, go here:
How much does it cost to start a fitness business? (15 common costs)
Franchises with the Most Locations in the US
If you’re looking for the most locations in the US, then Anytime Fitness is the clear winner.
With over 2300 locations in the US, Anytime Fitness makes it easy to find a gym near you.
Plus, their gyms are equipped with top-of-the-line equipment and amenities, making it easy to get a great workout, 24 hours a day.
With all these gyms, for members, you can easily travel and still find a location for your workout.
As an owner, this makes it very easy to network with other like-minded owners who you can brainstorm new solutions with.
For more information about Anytime Fitness and its vast network of locations, go here:
Who is the Largest Fitness Franchise in the World? (Anytime Fitness)
Franchises with the Best Customer Service
Orangetheory Fitness is a leader when it comes to customer service.
They have a team of knowledgeable and friendly staff who are always willing to help and answer any questions you may have.
In fact, they have a nice customer service page on their main website with FAQs and constant methods.
While they seem to compete on a Product Leadership Customer Value Proposition, indicative of their 1-size-fits-all Orangetheory fitness training circuit (get your heart rate into the “Orange theory” number of beats per minute for 12 minutes per workout), their staff is trained to do a nice job with customer service in each location.
If you want to review their customer service protocol, you can do that here.
If you are interested in learning more about the owner of an Orangetheory franchise, go here for an interesting article:
How Much Do Orange Theory Franchise Owners Make?
The top 10 fitness franchises that fit these criteria include
1. Anytime Fitness
2. Snap Fitness
3. Planet Fitness
4. Orangetheory Fitness
5. 9Round
6. CrossFit
7. UFC Gym
8. The Bar Method
9. Jazzercise
10. Crunch Fitness
No matter what your fitness goals are, whether owning the best fitness franchise or simply getting a great workout, there’s a franchise out there that can help you achieve them.
For more information about fitness franchises go here: