Crunch Fitness
High-value, low-price gym franchise offering three models: Crunch Fitness, Crunch Select, and Crunch Signature, with no judgment fitness philosophy.
Crunch Fitness is the fastest-growing gym franchise in this comparison group — from 328 units in 2022 to 423 in 2024, adding 95 locations in two years. The Item 19 data shows a genuinely wide performance range: top-third clubs average $4.3M while the bottom-third averages $1.5M, with a middle-third average of $2.5M. The $928K-$3.74M investment is substantial, but the 7% fee burden is among the most favorable for a full-service gym, and the concept's success at the value end of the fitness market gives it structural resilience.
Initial Investment Breakdown
| Category | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $35,000 |
| Training Expenses | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Real Property (purchased or leased) | — | — |
| Lease Deposits | $5,000 | $50,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $650,000 | $2,100,000 |
| Fitness Equipment, Fixtures, Other Fixed Assets | $150,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Site Selection Travel Expenses | $500 | $3,000 |
| Security Deposits, Utility Deposits, Business Licenses, Bonding and Pre-paid Expenses | $3,000 | $45,000 |
| Professional Fees | $5,000 | $35,000 |
| Signs | $7,500 | $45,000 |
| Office Equipment, Computer System, Furniture, Graphics Package and Supplies | $25,000 | $35,000 |
| Initial Advertising | $15,000 | $45,000 |
| Insurance | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| Construction Extension Fee | $0 | $20,000 |
| Additional Funds - 3 Months of Operations | $25,000 | $300,000 |
| Total | $928,000 | $3,743,000 |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Reporting period: fiscal_year_2024
Unit Growth
| Year | Total Units | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 328 | — | — |
| 2023 | 367 | — | — |
| 2024 | 423 | — | — |
Other Ongoing Fees
| Fee | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Online Enrollment Processing | $5 | per enrollment |
| Additional Training or Assistance | $500 | per day |
| Re-Inspection Fee | $1,000 | as incurred |
Quick Facts
FDD Analysis
What You'll Pay
Crunch's investment range of $928K to $3.74M reflects the wide variety of buildout scenarios: a conversion of an existing gym space can approach the low end, while a ground-up build in a high-cost market hits the top. The franchise fee is $25,000. The 5% royalty and 2% ad fund create a 7% combined fee burden — lower than Planet Fitness's effective rate structure and below boutique fitness brands like Orangetheory (7% royalty alone) and F45.
Crunch operates in the value-to-mid tier of fitness ($10-$30/month membership pricing), which means revenue is driven by volume — high member counts at low per-member price. A typical Crunch club needs 2,000-4,000 active members to operate profitably, which requires both strong grand opening marketing and sustained retention programs. The mandatory grand opening marketing commitment is built into the investment range but represents a significant early cash outlay.
For comparison: the bottom-third of Crunch clubs averaging $1.48M in revenue pays $103,600 in royalties and ad fund — a manageable 7% of gross. The top-third averaging $4.3M pays $301,000 in fees, but is generating substantially higher operating income from the same fixed cost base.
What You Could Earn
Crunch's Item 19 covers 303 franchise locations (of 422 domestic open locations) and breaks results into thirds. The upper third (101 clubs) averaged $4,307,728 with a median of $4,209,655 — suggesting tight distribution in the high-performing tier, with no massive outliers skewing the average. The middle third averaged $2,506,012 (median $2,451,690). The bottom third averaged $1,481,919 (median $1,516,085).
The middle-third median of $2.45M is the most realistic target for a new Crunch franchisee in a competitive suburban market. At that revenue level and a 7% fee burden, you're paying $171,500 in royalties and ad fund annually. A well-operated gym at $2.5M in gross revenue can generate $400K-$600K in EBITDA depending on rent and staffing costs — but rent is the make-or-break variable. A gym paying $25K/month in rent ($300K annually) has a very different profit picture than one paying $15K/month.
The 119 clubs (28%) excluded from Item 19 were open less than a full year — a significant exclusion that may be hiding early-stage performance data.
Growth & Stability
Crunch has grown from 328 units (315 franchised) in 2022 to 423 units (415 franchised) in 2024 — consistent annual growth of approximately 47 units per year. This growth rate makes Crunch one of the strongest-growing gym franchises by unit count, outpacing Anytime Fitness (declining), Snap Fitness (flat), and matching or exceeding Gold's Gym expansion. The expansion is concentrated in suburban markets where value-oriented fitness has strong consumer demand.
The 8 company-owned locations suggest the franchisor has skin in the game and understands the unit economics from direct operation.
Watch Out For
The $928K low-end investment is achievable only through a conversion of an existing gym space — if you're opening in a vanilla shell, expect to be significantly above $1M before opening day. Ground-up Crunch builds in competitive markets often run $2M-$2.5M in real buildout costs, which compresses the return on investment timeline materially.
Value-tier gyms compete heavily on price and location convenience. If a Planet Fitness opens within 3 miles, your member acquisition cost increases and retention becomes more difficult. Planet Fitness at $10/month (most memberships) vs. Crunch at $9.99-$28.99/month makes price differentiation difficult without service differentiation. The high-investment tier ($3.74M) is appropriate only for premium urban markets with dense membership potential.
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A franchise consultant can verify the Item 19 numbers with real franchisee contacts, flag territory conflicts, and walk you through the FDD before you sign. Their fee is paid by the franchisor — your consultation is free.
Source: FDD filed in MN, 2025. Extracted 2026-04-02.
These figures are sourced from Crunch Fitness' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document filed in Minnesota. They represent franchisor-reported data, not guarantees of future results. The 303 locations in Item 19 exclude new locations open less than one year. Revenue varies significantly by market, location quality, and membership pricing strategy. Consult with a franchise attorney and accountant before making any investment decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Crunch Fitness a franchise?
- Yes, Crunch Fitness is a franchise founded in 1989 and has been franchising since 2010 with 423 locations. Prospective owners purchase the right to operate under the Crunch Fitness brand and system by signing a franchise agreement and paying a franchise fee. The full terms are disclosed in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
- How much does it cost to open a Crunch Fitness franchise?
- The total initial investment for a Crunch Fitness franchise ranges from $928K to $3.7M, according to the 2025 FDD. This includes the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and initial working capital.
- How much do Crunch Fitness franchise owners make?
- According to the 2025 FDD Item 19, the average annual gross revenue for a Crunch Fitness franchise is $2.5M (based on 303 units). Note that gross revenue is not profit — operating costs, royalties, rent, and labor must be subtracted. The estimated payback period is 4.7 years.
- How many Crunch Fitness franchise locations are there?
- As of the 2025 FDD, Crunch Fitness has 423 total units (+13% growth rate).