Anytime Fitness Franchise Cost: An Above-Average SBA Risk

Anytime Fitness is the world's largest gym franchise by unit count, with 2,282 locations across the United States. The 24-hour access model and low-staffing requirements have made it a perennial favorite among first-time franchise buyers. But the 2024 FDD tells a more complicated story than the brand's marketing suggests.

The investment

Opening an Anytime Fitness costs $539,329 to $905,482 per its latest FDD. The franchise fee is $42,500. Selected Item 7 lines (leasehold improvements, the biggest swing factor, make up most of the rest):

• Equipment: $139,873 to $157,936
• Franchise fee: $42,500
• Working capital: $47,394 to $49,194

That range compares with $765K – $1.1M for Orangetheory, and the average Health & Fitness brand in our database tops out at $750K. For a small-format gym that typically occupies 4,000-6,000 square feet, the upper end of $905K is steep.

Revenue: below the category average

Anytime Fitness reports average gross sales of $446,814 per location. That is gross sales, not profit; the filing we hold gives no average net income.

That revenue figure sits 27% below the Health & Fitness category average of $614K. A membership-based business with low labor costs can run lean, but a modest top line leaves less room to recoup a $539K – $905K investment, especially at the high end of the range.

The system is shrinking

This is the number that should give every prospective buyer pause. In its latest filing Anytime Fitness opened 53 units and closed 72, a -1.2% net unit change. More locations are closing than opening.

For context, Planet Fitness grew 10.4% over the same period. When the largest gym franchise in the country is net-negative on unit growth, it signals either market saturation, franchisee distress, or both. The FDD does not break out closure reasons, but when a 2,282-unit system cannot grow, the implications for new franchisees are clear: you are buying into a mature system with limited upside geography.

SBA performance: concerning

Anytime Fitness has 1,108 SBA 7(a) loans on record with an 11.7% charge-off rate. That is modestly above the Health & Fitness category average of 12.3% and meaningfully worse than Planet Fitness (N/A) or Orangetheory (1.6%).

With 1,108 loans, this is not a small sample. It is one of the largest SBA loan datasets for any franchise brand. An 11.7% charge-off rate across that volume is a statistically significant warning sign. View the full SBA data on our SBA loan explorer.

Litigation and regulatory history

The 2024 FDD discloses litigation involving a Spanish franchisee breach-of-duty lawsuit currently on appeal, plus regulatory actions from Illinois and New York related to FDD disclosure and compliance. Regulatory actions from two state attorneys general are not routine. They suggest the franchisor has had material compliance gaps in how it presents information to prospective franchisees.

Radius-based territory: standard but limited

Anytime Fitness provides radius-based territory protection around each location. This is standard for the fitness category and puts it on par with Planet Fitness and Sport Clips. The 6-year initial term, however, is notably short. A shorter term means less time to recoup your investment before renewal negotiations, where the franchisor can change terms.

Who Anytime Fitness fits

The 24/7 model with minimal staffing requirements appeals to semi-absentee owners. If you can secure a second-generation gym space at the low end of the investment range ($539,329), the math improves considerably, because there is less capital to recoup.

But if your build-out pushes toward the $905,482 high end, the longer payback, declining unit count, and 11.7% SBA charge-off rate combine into a risk profile that is hard to justify, especially when Planet Fitness offers higher revenue, faster growth, and a N/A SBA charge-off rate albeit at a higher investment level.

The bottom line

Anytime Fitness is a recognizable brand with a proven membership model, but the data tells a story of a franchise system past its peak growth phase. Shrinking unit counts, below-average gross sales, and an 11.7% SBA charge-off rate across 1,108 loans are not metrics you can explain away with market timing or COVID effects. The system is contracting because the unit economics, for many franchisees, are not working.

Compare Anytime Fitness against other fitness options on our Anytime Fitness profile and the fitness franchise screener.

How Anytime Fitness compares to competitors

The fitness franchise landscape has shifted considerably since Anytime Fitness dominated the mid-2000s expansion wave. Planet Fitness now offers higher average gross sales ($1.9M vs. $447K), a N/A SBA charge-off rate, and 10.4% annual unit growth. The trade-off is a significantly higher investment ($1.5M – $5.2M range), and on revenue per dollar of the investment high end Anytime Fitness comes out ahead. Read the full breakdown in our Planet Fitness franchise guide.

Orangetheory Fitness targets a different segment (boutique group fitness) with a $765K – $1.1M investment and a 1.6% SBA charge-off rate across 455 loans. For buyers specifically drawn to the 24/7 unstaffed model, Snap Fitness (also owned by Lift Brands, Anytime Fitness's parent company) offers a similar concept at a lower investment point. The key question is whether the Anytime Fitness brand name justifies a $539K – $905K investment when the system is contracting.

Key risks to consider

Beyond the SBA data and unit decline, prospective Anytime Fitness buyers face several structural risks. First, the 6-year initial term is the window to recoup a $539K – $905K investment, and a short term leaves little room for a slow ramp. Renewal terms are at the franchisor's discretion, creating leverage asymmetry at the exact moment your investment breaks even.

Second, the commoditization of 24-hour gym access has eroded Anytime Fitness's original competitive advantage. When the brand launched, round-the-clock access was a differentiator. Today, Planet Fitness, Crunch, EOS Fitness, and dozens of regional players offer the same model. The brand must now compete on price, equipment quality, and location convenience rather than access hours. Third, member acquisition costs are rising across the fitness industry, with digital marketing costs climbing in most metro markets. For a gym averaging $447K in revenue, the margin pressure from rising acquisition costs is proportionally larger than for higher-revenue competitors. See our franchise red flags guide for what to watch for in any declining franchise system.

Related franchise research

Continue your research with our Planet Fitness franchise guide, Orangetheory franchise breakdown, and best non-food franchises ranking.