Franchise brand comparison
Planet Fitness vs Anytime Fitness
Compared on figures each brand discloses in its own Franchise Disclosure Document — 2025 for Planet Fitness, 2026 for Anytime Fitness. Investment, fees, and Item 19 gross sales, with the sample size behind every average.
Short answer
The two large-format gym franchises, and they are not the same size of decision. Planet Fitness asks for a midpoint of about $3,373,250 against Anytime Fitness's $722,406 — roughly 4.7x the capital. Its disclosed revenue is correspondingly larger, about $1,873,895 in EFT membership dues against $446,814 in total revenue, but read that carefully: Planet Fitness discloses membership dues only, while Anytime Fitness discloses total revenue including coaching and pay-per-visit, so the gap is somewhat narrower than it appears. On capital efficiency Anytime leads, 0.62x against 0.56x, and both are near the bottom of our comparison. The fee structures also differ in kind. Anytime charges flat monthly fees of about $20,904 a year regardless of sales; Planet Fitness charges 7% of membership fees plus a 2% brand fund, roughly $169,000 a year at its disclosed average. Practically, Planet Fitness is a multi-unit developer's asset class and area development is the norm, while Anytime Fitness works as a single unit in a secondary market.
Side by side
| Measure | Planet Fitness | Anytime Fitness |
|---|---|---|
| Concept category | Fitness & movement | Fitness & movement |
| FDD year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Total investment (Item 7) | $1,525,000–$5,221,500midpoint $3,373,250 | $539,329–$905,482midpoint $722,406 |
| Initial franchise fee | $20,000 | $42,500 |
| Royalty | 7% of membership fees | $842/mo flat |
| Brand fund | 2% of membership fees (max 3%) | $900/mo flat |
| Local advertising | None disclosed separately | None disclosed separately |
| Average gross sales (Item 19) | $1,873,8952,197 units — franchised clubs open all of CY2024; EFT membership revenue only, reported in thirds, not quartiles | $446,8141,683 units — franchised centers open the entire 12 months ended 2/28/2026; no median or quartiles disclosed |
| Median gross sales | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Top quartile | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Bottom quartile | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Revenue ÷ investment | 0.56x | 0.62x |
| Quartile spread | — | — |
Bolded figures mark the stronger side of a row where both brands disclose a comparable number — lower investment, higher revenue, higher return on capital, narrower quartile spread. A brand that discloses nothing is never marked as losing a row: an undisclosed figure is an unknown, not a poor result.
What the numbers mean
Investment is Item 7, the franchisor's own estimate of everything needed to open. Planet Fitness discloses a total initial investment of $1,525,000 to $5,221,500 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $3,373,250, with an initial franchise fee of $20,000. Anytime Fitness discloses a total initial investment of $539,329 to $905,482 in its 2026 FDD, a midpoint of $722,406, with an initial franchise fee of $42,500.
Revenue is Item 19, and the unit count matters as much as the figure. Planet Fitness reports average gross sales of $1,873,895 across 2,197 units (franchised clubs open all of CY2024; EFT membership revenue only, reported in thirds, not quartiles). Anytime Fitness reports average gross sales of $446,814 across 1,683 units (franchised centers open the entire 12 months ended 2/28/2026; no median or quartiles disclosed).
Return on capital divides disclosed average sales by the midpoint investment. Planet Fitness returns 0.56x and Anytime Fitness returns 0.62x. This measures capital efficiency, not profit — it says how much annual revenue each dollar of build-out buys, and says nothing about the margin either concept actually runs.
Full review
Planet Fitness
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2025 FDD.
Full review
Anytime Fitness
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2026 FDD.
Frequently asked
- Planet Fitness vs Anytime Fitness: which is the better franchise?
- The two large-format gym franchises, and they are not the same size of decision. Planet Fitness asks for a midpoint of about $3,373,250 against Anytime Fitness's $722,406 — roughly 4.7x the capital. Its disclosed revenue is correspondingly larger, about $1,873,895 in EFT membership dues against $446,814 in total revenue, but read that carefully: Planet Fitness discloses membership dues only, while Anytime Fitness discloses total revenue including coaching and pay-per-visit, so the gap is somewhat narrower than it appears. On capital efficiency Anytime leads, 0.62x against 0.56x, and both are near the bottom of our comparison. The fee structures also differ in kind. Anytime charges flat monthly fees of about $20,904 a year regardless of sales; Planet Fitness charges 7% of membership fees plus a 2% brand fund, roughly $169,000 a year at its disclosed average. Practically, Planet Fitness is a multi-unit developer's asset class and area development is the norm, while Anytime Fitness works as a single unit in a secondary market.
- How much does a Planet Fitness franchise cost compared to Anytime Fitness?
- Planet Fitness discloses a total initial investment of $1,525,000 to $5,221,500 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $3,373,250, with an initial franchise fee of $20,000. Anytime Fitness discloses a total initial investment of $539,329 to $905,482 in its 2026 FDD, a midpoint of $722,406, with an initial franchise fee of $42,500.
- Does Planet Fitness or Anytime Fitness generate more revenue?
- Planet Fitness reports average gross sales of $1,873,895 across 2,197 units (franchised clubs open all of CY2024; EFT membership revenue only, reported in thirds, not quartiles). Anytime Fitness reports average gross sales of $446,814 across 1,683 units (franchised centers open the entire 12 months ended 2/28/2026; no median or quartiles disclosed). These are gross sales, not profit, and the number of units behind each average decides how much it tells you.
- What are the ongoing fees for Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness?
- Planet Fitness charges a royalty of 7% of membership fees and a brand fund contribution of 2% of membership fees (max 3%). Anytime Fitness charges a royalty of $842/mo flat and a brand fund contribution of $900/mo flat.
Other comparisons
Before you rely on any of this
FDDs are filed annually and figures move. Request the current document from each franchisor and read Items 5, 6, 7 and 19 yourself — this is a summary to orient you, not a substitute for the disclosure or for your own advisors. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or compensated by either brand; see our disclosure policy.
Compare every brand at once in the sortable cost comparison table, or run these figures against your own assumptions in the ROI & payback calculator.