Mapping the Top Gym Chains Across America!

While sipping my coffee on the balcony recently, I learned that a new gym would be opened near my house.

A few days later, this question came to my mind: Which gym chains have the most locations in America?

When I turned to Google to satisfy my curiosity, I noticed none of the sites had updated data.

Some sites had data from several years ago. Some had unsourced and unconvincing reports.

So, I decided to check out the most popular gym chains in America using information I found only on their official websites.

Here you go!

Mapping the Best Gym Chains Across America!

Largest Gym Chains In The United States

1) Planet Fitness

Michael and Marc Grondahl established Planet Fitness in 1992 in Dover, New Hampshire. Initially, it was just one gym named “Planet Fitness.”

The founders took over a struggling Gold’s Gym franchise, but they eventually closed it down. They then opened a new gym called Coastal Fitness and brought in a third partner, Chris Rondeau.

Planet Fitness’s mission was to offer an affordable and judgment-free fitness experience for people of all backgrounds. They became famous for creating a “Judgement Free Zone®.”

Today, Planet Fitness operates approximately 2,039 fitness centers worldwide, with locations in the United States, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico, and Australia.

• 2016, it was added to the Franchise Times’ “Fast and Serious” list of top franchises.
• In the same year, Forbes magazine ranked Planet Fitness as the fourth-best franchise.
• 2017, Entrepreneur magazine placed Planet Fitness in the top 50 of its Franchise 500 list.
• Back in 1993, Chris Rondeau, a student at UNH (University of New Hampshire), became the company’s CEO.
• Planet Fitness has experimented with various pricing models, ranging from $99 per year to $35 per month, but they eventually settled on offering gym memberships for just $10 per month.

How many locations does Planet Fitness have in the U.S.?

There are 2,420 Planet Fitness centers located across the United States.

2) Anytime Fitness

In 2002, Chuck Runyon, Dave Mortensen, and Jeff Klinger created Anytime Fitness. They opened their first location in Cambridge, Minnesota.

These founders had a clear vision. They wanted to offer a clean and high-quality workout experience in a gym open 24 hours a day, making it super convenient. They saw a problem in their community because there were no gyms that were both affordable and welcoming and available around the clock.

Anytime Fitness has been the fastest-growing gym franchise globally for 11 years. They open about 300 new gyms each year and provide services to 4 million members at 4,500 gyms across five continents. Remarkably, they are the first franchise to have a presence on all seven continents.

Anytime Fitness’s headquarters are located in Hastings, Minnesota, and they are part of Self Esteem Brands, LLC.

How many locations does Anytime Fitness have in the U.S.?

Anytime Fitness has 2,338 locations in the United States.

3) Orangetheory Fitness

Orangetheory Fitness was established in March 2010 by Ellen Latham, an exercise expert, along with Jerome Kern and David Long. The company is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.

Ellen Latham started teaching one-on-one Pilates classes back in 1996. In 2007, she launched a studio in the United States called the Orange Effect, which blended science and Fitness. Then, in 2010, she renamed the studio Orangetheory Fitness.

Orangetheory Fitness is a workout program grounded in science, tracked with technology, and guided by coaches. These workouts are designed to produce positive changes from the inside out. The name “Orangetheory” comes from the concept that participants should aim to spend at least 12 minutes in the orange heart rate zone, where their heart beats at 84-91% of its maximum capacity.

Orangetheory Fitness has nearly 1 million members and more than 1,000 studios worldwide. In 2019, the company made over $1 billion in revenue.

How many locations does Orangetheory Fitness have in the U.S.?

Orangetheory Fitness operates 1,448 centers across the United States.

4) F45 Training

F45 Training started in 2012, founded by Rob Deutsch, a former banker from Sydney. The very first studio opened in Paddington, Sydney.

The “F” in F45 stands for functional training, and the “45” means that each workout takes 45 minutes. The company planned to modernize the traditional gym model with a 45-minute, high-intensity group workout.

• 2014–2015: They began offering franchise opportunities.
• 2015: Their first studio opened in the United States.
• 2016: F45 became the fastest-growing fitness franchise, surpassing Orangetheory, and became the second-largest gym operator in Australia, ahead of Anytime Fitness.
• 2017: They sold 750 studios.
• 2018: Over 1,300 franchises were sold in total.

In 2019, Mark Wahlberg invested $100 million in F45, valuing the company at approximately $450 million. He now owns about 1.73% of the company.

How many locations does F45 Training have in the U.S.?

There are 826 F45 Training facilities in the United States.

5) Pure Barre

Carrie Rezabek Dorr, a choreographer and fitness expert, started Pure Barre in 2001 in Birmingham, Michigan. She developed a fitness program blended dance, ballet techniques, and group workouts. Her journey began with a small studio in Michigan.

Today, Pure Barre is the biggest chain of fitness centers focusing on barre exercises in North America. They have more than 600 studios and over 550,000 clients.

Pure Barre offers a workout that engages the whole body, concentrating on low-impact but high-intensity movements. The goal is to boost strength, agility, and flexibility.

At first, Dorr didn’t plan to let others open their Pure Barre studios. However, people started expressing interest in doing so. In 2018, Xponential Fitness took over Pure Barre.

How many locations does Pure Barre have in the U.S.?

Pure Barre, renowned for its effective barre workouts, boasts 662 locations throughout the United States, catering to individuals seeking a unique approach to fitness and wellness.

6) LA Fitness

LA Fitness started in 1984 in Los Angeles, California, thanks to Chinyol Yi, Louis Welch, and Paul Norris. In the mid-1990s, they grew by taking over struggling fitness clubs and building new ones. By the end of the 1990s, there were 38 LA Fitness centers.

The main goal of LA Fitness is to help people lead healthy lives by creating a network of health clubs all across the country. They provide members with various amenities and friendly service at an easy price on the wallet.

LA Fitness’s success comes from a few key things:

1. Consistent management at all their locations.
2. Keeping their facilities clean.
3. Fixing equipment quickly when it breaks.
4. Offering group fitness classes as part of their basic memberships.

In 2020, LA Fitness introduced the Esporta Fitness brand to compete with affordable gyms that attract many customers, like Planet Fitness.

How many locations does LA Fitness have in the U.S.?

LA Fitness, renowned for its comprehensive fitness solutions, operates 594 premier locations across the United States, serving individuals passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

7) Snap Fitness

Snap Fitness began in 2003 when Peter Taunton founded it. Before that, he managed several large, all-inclusive fitness centers called America’s Fitness Centers in Minnesota. His original idea was to create three simple clubs with treadmills and weights, no extra stuff like swimming pools or racquetball courts. He noticed that many members were paying for things they didn’t use, so he saw an opportunity with smaller, more focused health clubs and named it Snap Fitness.

Snap Fitness is a privately owned American health and fitness club franchise in Chanhassen, Minnesota. It has expanded to over 1,300 locations in 47 states and internationally, including Canada, India, the U.K., and Mexico. Recently, the company made deals to open clubs in Egypt, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Snap Fitness’s main focus is to offer members quick, convenient, and affordable workouts in clean, comfortable places close to their homes. They’ve sold approximately 2,000 locations worldwide, adding around 15-20 new clubs every month.

How many locations does Snap Fitness have in the U.S.?

Snap Fitness, distinguished by its commitment to providing accessible fitness services, maintains 541 establishments throughout the United States.

8) Curves

Curves International, Inc., also known as Curves for Women, was established in 1992 by Gary and Diane Heavin.

The first Curves gym opened in Harlingen, Texas, with a unique approach that combined strength training and cardiovascular exercises in quick 30-minute sessions.

They employed hydraulic resistance for a safe and effective workout experience.

In 1995, the Heavins started offering franchise opportunities for Curves, and they made their headquarters in Waco, Texas. Curves has become the largest fitness center franchise globally, boasting over one million members. By 2001, 95% of Curves franchises were making a profit.

Curves has more than 4,000 franchisees worldwide and a membership of over 2.4 million women.

How many locations does Curves have in the U.S.?

Curves, globally recognized for its 30-minute fitness circuit, boasts 443 locations across the United States, offering a unique and efficient workout experience to those seeking fitness and wellness solutions.

9) Crunch Fitness

In 1989 Doug Levine started Crunch Fitness in a small basement gym in New York City’s Greenwich Village. He used to work as a stockbroker before creating this gym, and his aim was to make a friendly place for people to get in shape. Crunch Fitness was built around the idea of group workouts.

Crunch Fitness has over 300 locations in the United States, Australia, and Canada, with over 500,000 members in the U.S. alone. 

In 2009, Rowley and Mark Mastrov took over Crunch Fitness, and in 2010, they started allowing others to open their gyms using the Crunch brand. Ben Midgley is the CEO and co-founder of Crunch Franchise.

Crunch Fitness believes in making exercise enjoyable by combining Fitness with entertainment. They follow the “No Judgments” philosophy and aim to create a fitness community that welcomes everyone.

How many locations does Crunch Fitness have in the U.S.?

Crunch Fitness, distinguished for its array of fitness services, maintains 442 establishments across the United States, providing various workout options to individuals pursuing health and wellness.

10) 24 Hour Fitness

1983, Mark Mastrov founded 24 Hour Fitness in San Leandro, California. It started as one club called 24 Hour Nautilus.

Over time, the company became the world’s largest privately owned chain of health clubs. It operated 346 clubs in 15 U.S. states and 10 countries, providing jobs for 16,000 people and serving 3 million members.

In 2004, 24 Hour Fitness sponsored the 2004–2008 United States Olympic teams. In 2005, Mastrov sold the company to Forstmann Little & Co for a whopping $1.6 billion. Then, in 2014, it changed ownership again, this time to AEA investors and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 24 Hour Fitness faced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy. As a result, they had to close around 130 gyms because they couldn’t manage their debt payments.

How many locations does 24 Hour Fitness have in the U.S.?

24 Hour Fitness maintains 280 locations throughout the United States, presenting a spectrum of fitness services to those pursuing health and wellness.

11) Gold’s Gym

In August 1965, Joe Gold opened the first Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California. This gym became the “Mecca of bodybuilding” and was a favorite spot for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dave Draper. Its notoriety soared when the iconic documentary “Pumping Iron” was filmed there, bringing bodybuilding into the mainstream in America.

• 1970: Joe Gold sold the gym for $50,000.
• 1977: The gym changed ownership again, and “Pumping Iron” was released.
• 1979: A new group of investors acquired Gold’s.
• 1980: The first Gold’s franchise opened in San Francisco.
• In 2020, Gold’s Gym was acquired by The RSG Group.

The brand holds a special place in the fitness world with a strong and widespread reputation, as 96% of people recognize the brand.

How many locations does Gold’s Gym have in the U.S.?

Gold’s Gym has a presence in 224 locations across the United States.

12) Blink Fitness

Blink Fitness is a health and fitness franchise established in 2011 by executives from Equinox. Their main goal is to inspire customers by showing them how exercise can make them feel better. Blink Fitness began offering franchise opportunities in 2015.

• The founders of Blink Fitness are Stephen Ross and Tom Shumaker. Stephen Ross is a billionaire and the chairman and founder of Related Companies.
• Blink Fitness has its headquarters in the Greater New York Area, covering the East Coast and Northeastern U.S.
• Equinox Holdings Inc. owns and runs Blink Fitness and other fitness brands like Equinox Fitness, PURE Yoga, and SoulCycle.

How many locations does Blink Fitness have in the U.S.?

Blink Fitness currently boasts a network of 104 locations across the United States.

13) Equinox Fitness Club

Equinox Fitness Club was created 1991 by three siblings: Lavinia, Daniel, and Vito Errico. Their first Equinox gym opened on September 23, 1991, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The Errico family launched the company, believing that staying fit can empower a fulfilling life.

Initially, Equinox began as a single, high-end fitness center that was great for working out and socializing. Over time, the company expanded to include more than two dozen locations and has grown to encompass over 100 clubs worldwide.

• In 2000, Spevak led a management buyout of Equinox with the involvement of two private equity firms, North Castle Partners and J.W.
• 2006, The Related Companies acquired Equinox from North Castle Partners and JW Childs Associates.
• Equinox has continually invested in upgrading its strength and cardio equipment, renovating its facilities, introducing new signature classes, and enhancing the training and education of its trainers and instructors.

Equinox’s headquarters are situated in Albany, NY.

How many locations does Equinox Fitness Club have in the U.S.?

Equinox Fitness Club boasts in the United States, with precisely 100 locations nationwide.

14) YouFit

YouFit is a nationwide network of fitness clubs established in 2008 by Rick Berks. The very first YouFit gym opened in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Berks’ vision was to create an affordable fitness model, much like Planet Fitness, but without the franchise system. He aimed to give members the resources they needed for success, including features like a juice bar and personal training.

Today, YouFit has expanded to include over 75 gyms nationwide. In February 2021, YouFit underwent financial restructuring, and a group of investors, with Birch Grove Capital as the majority shareholders, took over ownership.

How many locations does YouFit have in the U.S.?

YouFit currently operates 80 locations throughout the United States. 

The Most Successful Gyms in America (Infographic)

Summary

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