Franchise Gym owenrs

February 05, 2026

by a searcher in Francis, UT 84036, USA

Curious if anyone on here own franchise gyms. Looking at purcahsing a few and would appricate and suggestions/guidance.

0 Likes

9 Replies

90 Views

Replies

Reply by a lender
from Cornell University in Los Angeles, CA, USA

Hi ^redacted‌ - nice to meet you. Good question and Sean's right about CAPEX being a key risk. From the SBA side, here's what matters most. Make sure the franchise is on the SBA Franchise Directory. Most major gym brands are, but always confirm first. Lenders will focus on trailing cash flow, membership trends, and whether the business can service debt after rent, royalties, and equipment costs. If memberships are declining, that's a red flag regardless of top-line revenue. Check whether equipment is owned or leased. Inheriting old equipment that needs replacing in year two, can hurt the cash flow. We have a lot experience financing various gyms via the SBA. In fact, we have done franchise startup funding for gyms as well. If you ever need help reviewing a deal, I am happy to help. We work with all the major SBA lenders. The bank pay us after your loan closes, so this is a 100% free service for you. You can email me directly at redacted or schedule a meeting with me: https://cal.com/francodeguzman/30min. Look forward to chatting!

Reply by a searcher
from University of Michigan in Raleigh, NC, USA

Thanks for the tag, Luke. I owned a franchise gym for three years. The pros are what most people will say when they are trying to sell you a franchise. They have a proven process that works and they have already figured out all the vendors, technology, etc. They make it really easy to operate. The cons are what most people say about a franchise as well. You're at the mercy of the franchisor for many things and have to follow what they say, whether you like it or not. If it's a boutique type gym and they decide to change the model, layout, equipment, etc. you have to follow that and lay out the cash even if the current model is fruitful for you. I equate the boutique style gym franchises similar to the different dessert franchises that pop up...many of them become fads and fall by the wayside. What's popular today might not be popular 3 years from now. Hope this helps!

+7 more replies.

Join the discussion