Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Best fitness and gym franchises to buy in 2027
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO Syndicate
Direct Answer
The best fitness and gym franchises to buy in 2027 split into three clear models, and the right pick depends on your capital and how hands-on you want to be. High-volume value gyms like Planet Fitness need the most money but run semi-absentee on recurring membership revenue.
Boutique studios like Orangetheory Fitness and Club Pilates cost less to open and rely on premium per-session pricing. 24-hour access models like Anytime Fitness and Snap Fitness sit in the middle with small staffs and large footprints. Below are real Item 7 investment ranges and royalty structures pulled from recent Franchise Disclosure Documents so you can size the decision honestly.
How fitness franchise economics actually work
A gym is a recurring-revenue business. You are not selling a single workout; you are selling a membership that auto-bills monthly and ideally renews for years. That changes the math: your first 12-18 months are about filling a presale and ramping members toward a break-even count, after which incremental members are highly profitable because rent and core staff are already paid.
The two biggest line items are real estate (rent on 1,200 to 15,000+ square feet depending on model) and build-out (turning raw retail space into a gym). That is why Item 7 ranges in this category are wide. A small boutique studio and a full big-box club are completely different real-estate commitments.
Boutique studios: lower entry, premium pricing
Boutique concepts are the fastest-growing slice of franchised fitness because they open in smaller footprints and charge premium per-class or per-membership rates.
- Club Pilates — Item 7 estimated initial investment commonly falls in the roughly $200,000 to $500,000 range (FDD, 2024). Royalty is typically around 7% of gross sales plus a separate brand and marketing fund contribution. Reformer Pilates has broad demographic appeal and strong member retention.
- StretchLab — assisted-stretching concept, Item 7 generally in the $170,000 to $450,000 band (FDD, 2024), royalty around 7%. Small footprint and a wellness angle that skews older and more affluent.
- Orangetheory Fitness — heart-rate-based group training. Item 7 ranges widely, often $700,000 to $1,800,000+ (FDD, 2024) because studios are larger and equipment-heavy. Royalty commonly around 8%. Strong brand recognition but a bigger commitment than most boutiques.
Always confirm the current figures and any Item 19 financial performance representation in the specific franchisor's latest FDD before you rely on them.
24-hour access: the semi-absentee workhorse
- Anytime Fitness — one of the largest gym franchises globally. Item 7 commonly runs about $400,000 to $1,000,000+ (FDD, 2024) depending on whether you build new or take over existing space. Older agreements often used a flat monthly royalty rather than a pure percentage, with newer agreements moving toward percentage models, so verify which applies. Keypad access and small staff make it a popular semi-absentee pick.
- Snap Fitness — similar keycard-access model, generally lower Item 7 than a big-box club, often in the $250,000 to $800,000 range (FDD, 2024).
Big-box value: most capital, most scale
- Planet Fitness — the value-gym category leader. This is an area-development play. Most franchisees commit to building multiple clubs, and per-club Item 7 commonly lands in the $1,000,000 to $5,000,000+ range (FDD, 2024) including equipment and a large lease build-out. Royalty is typically in the mid-single-digit percentage range plus a national advertising contribution. Membership prices are low, so the model wins on volume and high member counts per club.
Costs beyond Item 7 you must plan for
The Item 7 table is the published estimate of total initial investment, but treat these as the pressure points:
- Pre-opening payroll and presale marketing — you often hire and run a sales push before day one. Budget several months of runway.
- Equipment refresh — cardio and strength equipment wears out, and some franchisors mandate refresh cycles.
- Marketing fund — most brands charge a brand fund or national ad contribution (often 1% to 3% of sales) on top of the base royalty.
- Working capital — the FDD Item 7 usually includes an additional-funds line for the first three to six months. Do not underfund it.
Who each model fits
- Owner-operator with under roughly $400K liquid plus financing: start with one boutique studio and learn the membership engine.
- Semi-absentee professional keeping a day job: a single 24-hour location or a boutique with a strong studio manager.
- Empire builder with serious capital and SBA or partner financing: a Planet Fitness area development or a multi-unit boutique pool.
How to verify the numbers before you sign
Request the franchisor's current FDD and read Item 7 (investment), Item 6 (recurring fees), and Item 19 (any earnings claims) line by line. Then call current franchisees. The FDD Item 20 lists them, including recent terminations and transfers.
Ask them what their member count was at break-even and how long it took to get there. The published ranges above are directional. The franchisee call is where you learn the truth.
FAQ
How much money do I need to open a fitness franchise in 2027? Boutique studios commonly require roughly $170,000 to $500,000 in total initial investment, 24-hour access gyms about $250,000 to $1,000,000+, and big-box value clubs $1,000,000 to $5,000,000+ per location (FDD figures, 2024). Confirm each brand's current Item 7.
Which gym franchise is best for semi-absentee ownership? Keypad-access models such as Anytime Fitness and Snap Fitness, and many boutique studios, are designed to run with a small staff and a studio manager, which suits semi-absentee owners.
What royalty do gym franchises charge? Most charge a percentage of gross sales (commonly around 7% to 8% for boutiques) or, in some older agreements, a flat monthly fee, plus a separate brand or marketing fund of roughly 1% to 3%.
How long until a gym franchise breaks even? It depends on hitting a target member count. Many owners plan for 12 to 18 months of ramp, which is why working-capital reserves in Item 7 matter so much.
Can I finance a gym franchise with an SBA loan? Yes. Established fitness brands are common SBA borrowers, though lenders weigh your liquidity, credit, and the build-out cost. Confirm the brand appears on the SBA franchise eligibility records.
Are boutique studios more profitable than big-box gyms? Neither is universally better. Boutiques win on premium per-member pricing and lower build-out; big-box value gyms win on member volume. Profitability hinges on local rent, member count, and retention.
Sources
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Franchise Rule and FDD requirements (Items 6, 7, 19, 20)
- Club Pilates Franchise Disclosure Document, 2024
- StretchLab Franchise Disclosure Document, 2024
- Orangetheory Fitness Franchise Disclosure Document, 2024
- Anytime Fitness Franchise Disclosure Document, 2024
- Planet Fitness Franchise Disclosure Document, 2024
- U.S. Small Business Administration, franchise loan eligibility guidance
- International Franchise Association, franchising industry overview