Owning your own gym is a great milestone for many entrepreneurial and health-conscious business people.
The decision to start your own gym or buy into an existing franchise network is a big one. Part of this decision is the strength of the franchise network, starting simply with some of your own research, such as, “What gym has the most franchises?”
Jazzercise is the biggest gym and fitness franchise business, with 8,900 locations. Anytime Fitness is more of a typical gym format with about 2,435 locations in the United States and about 4,000 locations worldwide.
For many fitness enthusiasts and personal trainers, having the ability to achieve your fitness goals while making money at the same time is a dream come true. Investing in the most popular fitness franchises might increase your chances of success.
Here are the top gyms with most franchises.
1. Jazzercise Inc.
The near-legendary franchise tops this list with over 8,900 locations across the country. This is primarily due to incredibly low upfront prices and initial franchise fees. Jazzercise is one of the most pocket-friendly franchises, especially in the health and fitness niche. On top of being cheap, the gym enjoys a loyal customer base.
Jazzercise previously offered classic exercises, including dance-cardio fusion and high-intensity classes popular in the 80s. They have since modernized their exercise routines to include:
- Strength training
- Pilates
- Kickboxing
- Hip hop
- Yoga
The gym claims customers can burn as much as 800 calories per hour during classes.
2. Anytime Fitness
Since its debut two years after the start of the millennium, Anytime Fitness has grown and expanded to 4,000 locations across seven continents. They owe their popularity to a unique business model which allows them to be open anytime, every day for the whole year. Members can access the gym facilities from most locations across the globe.
The gym prides itself on prioritizing employee wellness and offering support to members. Standard gym fare is the mainstay of Anytime Fitness. However, members can also get various classes and services like personal training, Zumba, cardio, and spin.
3. Planet Fitness
If you are looking for a gym franchise, Planet Fitness should be somewhere near the top of your priority list. Planet Fitness ranks third in this list, with over 2,000 locations and 15 million members across 50 states. The startup fees cost anywhere between $700,000 and $3.8 million.
Your lack of experience doesn’t matter. This traditional gym boasts of a significant global presence and is a consistently high performer. They train new franchisees when joining and provide continuous support until the business stands on its feet. Furthermore, the franchise provides a judgment-free zone where members can work out and meet their fitness goals.
4. Orangetheory Fitness
Orangetheory Fitness dates back to 2010, when it started franchising. The number of locations inside the country totals up to over 1,200. They also offer quality services in over 100 franchise units outside our borders, which benefits international members.
The fitness training takes place inside classes bearing its official color, orange. The training sessions are split into one-hour segments, and a trainer leads each group. Each energetic session is geared towards strength and cardiovascular training. Typical equipment in Orangetheory Fitness gym includes:
- Treadmills
- Rowing machines
- Free weights
5. Snap Fitness
Snap Fitness boasts millions of members globally. You will find their franchises in more than 1,000 locations spread over 20 countries. This inclusive gym franchise aims to offer maximum returns on investment while lowering the investment cost. Like Anytime Fitness, Snap Fitness also has an inclusive gym environment based on a 24/7 access model.
To invest in Snap Fitness, you need to pay anything between $145,258 and $479,996. Other requirements include a $250,000+ net worth and $125,000 in liquid assets. The franchise aims to be a global leader in the fitness industry. Therefore, they have invested in value-added services and quality equipment to give members the best results.
6. Gold’s Gym
Gold’s Gym dates back to 1965 when Merchant Marine veteran founded it. Since then, the gym proceeded to cement its name in the fitness industry and the larger American society. Some of the legendary and most famous names in the country, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, were nurtured in this gym.
Today, Gold’s Gym has at least 700 franchises spread over 29 states. Furthermore, they have an international presence in 29 countries with 3 million strong devotees. The downside is that this company is the most expensive on this list requiring over $5 million in upfront investment.
7. Burn Boot Camp
Burn Boot Camp is a relatively new entry into the fitness scene, having been around for approximately five years. Although new, Burn Boot Camp is one of the fastest-growing brands in the gym world. Their presence is felt in 38 states where they have established 240 franchises.
8. UFC Gym
The famous UFC Gym comes last on this list. You must have heard of them because they have millions of fans, especially in the sports world. Despite the fame, their gym facilities are accessible to people of all ages without considering their fitness level. In conclusion, UFC Gym offers lots of opportunities in case you want to establish a gym franchise.