Anytime Fitness has been a pioneer of the 24/7/365 gym model, with members able to access their gyms any time they want. With an emphasis on the equipment that people actually use, particularly for strength and cardio training, but without the flashier facilities such as pools, the company has developed into an impressively widespread brand with over 4,000 locations. Though it emphasizes access to fundamental facilities, letting customers set their own schedule and routine, Anytime Fitness centers also provide support, training, and exercise classes for those who need an extra push or guidance.
The cost to set up a standard Anytime Fitness gym is estimated at between $68,191 and $693,917 (Item 7, FDD 2021). This includes franchise and development fees, real estate, and costs to prepare the facilities, as well as opening costs and expenses for the first few months.
The cost is slightly lower for an Anytime Fitness Express. This is a smaller gym in a setting with a lower population density, usually fewer than 7,000 people within four miles of the gym.
The initial franchise fee to start an Anytime Fitness franchise is $42,500, or $25,000 for an Anytime Fitness Express. There are discounts for veterans and for taking over existing franchises, which apply to both models of gym. The company encourages multi-site developments through area development agreements, in which the franchisee pays a lower fee per gym in return for committing to set up multiple locations (Item 5, FDD 2021).
Unlike many franchises of its scale, Anytime Fitness charges flat monthly fees once outlets are set up, rather than taking a percentage of earnings. There is a monthly fee of $699 per center, reduced for Express centers and franchisees running ten or more gyms. There’s also a general advertising fee of $600 per month, again lowered for Express centers (Item 6, FDD 2021).
The average total revenue for an Anytime Fitness center was $268,939 in 2020 (Item 19, FDD 2021). This figure is much lower than the gym’s normal revenue, as centers saw a huge falling in revenue in April and May and it remained deflated throughout the year, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down gyms and increased costs as well as reduced attendance when they reopened. How far earnings recover will depend upon the pandemic’s long-term economic impact.
Not all of this revenue turns into profits, especially on a franchise like Anytime Fitness, which has significant costs for rent and maintaining appropriate equipment. To estimate the earnings you could make from an Anytime Fitness center, you need to calculate ongoing costs and deduct these from sales. Comparison with similar franchises can also help in understanding a gym’s value. Franchise Chatter’s in-depth reviews and franchise comparison tools can help with this, providing more detailed information.
The path to running an Anytime Fitness center starts with an online inquiry through the company’s website. They’ll then provide a franchise application form, which you complete.
The company’s recruitment team reviews your application. If they think that you might meet their standards, then they’ll get in touch to have a conversation about you and about what’s involved in running an Anytime Fitness. If both parties agree to go on, they’ll then send you a franchise disclosure document to review, and arrange a meeting to continue your application.
Following an in-depth meeting and a visit to one of the company’s clubs, you’ll be given additional information to review while both sides complete their due diligence. Anytime Fitness will assess your skills, experience, and financial situation, and if they think that you’re a good fit, they’ll offer you the opportunity to sign a franchise agreement.
Once the agreement is signed, it’s time to set up your Anytime Fitness center. The company provides all the support you need to select a suitable site and build your club. They’re relying on your success to fuel their success, and if they think you’re a good fit, then they’ll support you to make it happen.
With its 24/7/365 access model, convenient locations, and a focus on exercise fundamentals, Anytime Fitness is a good fit for anyone who wants to run a mass market fitness center. As the company is currently expanding and supportive of multi-site ownership, it’s a good choice for someone ambitious to build up their own chain of businesses, rather than to settle for a single outlet.
If you’d prefer to run a more varied and luxurious gym, or don’t have an interest in the work of running multiple locations, then there may be better options for you. If you subscribe to Franchise Chatter, then you can use our comparison tools and in depth reviews to learn more about Anytime Fitness, how it compares with its competitors, and what your options are, before deciding whether or not this is the franchise for you.
