Anytime Fitness vs Planet Fitness Franchise: Cost, ROI, and Which Model Wins in 2026

Why This Comparison Matters

Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness are two of the most-searched fitness franchises in America — and they represent almost opposite operational models. A buyer weighing both is really weighing two different business profiles, not two flavors of the same business. The capital required, the real estate required, the staffing model, the member economics, and the day-to-day operational style all diverge meaningfully.

This guide breaks down how the two franchises actually compare on the dimensions that affect a franchise buyer’s decision in 2026.

The Side-by-Side Snapshot

Metric	Anytime Fitness	Planet Fitness
Concept	24/7 access, small-footprint gym	Big-box, high-volume, low-price gym
Typical square footage	4,000–6,000 sq ft	18,000–25,000 sq ft
Total initial investment	$100,000–$520,000	$1,000,000–$5,200,000
Franchise fee	~$42,500	~$20,000
Royalty	Flat monthly fee (~$700/mo)	~7% of gross dues
Advertising fund	Flat marketing fee	~2% of gross dues
Typical member dues	$30–$50/month	$10–$25/month
Typical members per club	800–1,200	5,000–8,000+
U.S. unit count	5,000+	2,500+
Operational model	Owner-operator or semi-absentee	Owner-operator with full staff

(Numbers are typical industry ranges based on recent FDDs; verify Item 7, Item 6, and Item 19 for current numbers for any specific year.)

Investment Range and Real Estate

The single biggest difference between the two: real estate footprint and capital requirement.

Anytime Fitness

A typical Anytime Fitness club requires 4,000–6,000 sq ft. Annual lease cost depends heavily on submarket (suburban strip mall vs. urban storefront) but typically ranges $40,000–$120,000 NNN. Build-out costs are modest by fitness standards — equipment package, locker rooms, and basic finish work. Total investment ranges $100,000 at the low end (a small territory with favorable real estate) to $520,000+ for premium territories with extended equipment packages.

Planet Fitness

A Planet Fitness club requires 18,000–25,000 sq ft of contiguous retail space. That alone limits where you can open — many submarkets simply don’t have buildings of that size available at acceptable rates. Annual lease cost typically runs $250,000–$700,000 NNN. Build-out is substantial: extensive cardio and strength equipment packages, large locker rooms, sometimes tanning, sometimes hydromassage, signage, and a Black Card lounge. Total investment ranges $1.0M at the low end (smaller club, simpler build-out) to $5.2M+ for premium markets and larger clubs.

For a franchise buyer with $300K available, Anytime Fitness is potentially within reach (with SBA financing); Planet Fitness is typically not. For a buyer with $1.5M available and access to additional debt capacity, Planet Fitness becomes feasible.

Royalty Structure and Ongoing Fees

The fee structures look different in form and similar in economic effect at typical revenue levels.

Anytime Fitness

Anytime Fitness has historically used a flat monthly royalty fee — recent FDDs disclose roughly $699 per month, though buyers should consult the current FDD Item 6 for exact numbers. There’s also a flat monthly marketing/branding fee. The flat-fee structure means royalty cost stays the same regardless of revenue — favorable to high-revenue clubs, less favorable to low-revenue clubs.

Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness charges a 7% royalty on gross member dues plus a 2% advertising fund contribution. Higher revenue clubs pay more in absolute terms. Planet Fitness’s higher member volumes mean total royalty contribution per club is meaningful — at 6,000 members paying an average $15/month, gross dues are $90K/month, of which 9% ($8,100/month) goes to royalty and ad fund.

For a typical Anytime Fitness club generating $40,000–$60,000/month in dues, royalties + marketing add up to roughly $1,000–$1,200/month. For a typical Planet Fitness club generating $80,000–$120,000/month in dues, royalties + ad fund add up to roughly $7,000–$11,000/month.

Member Volume and Pricing

The two brands target very different consumer segments.

Anytime Fitness positions toward a higher-paying member who values 24/7 access, key-card entry to any club nationwide, and a more boutique gym experience. Average membership pricing runs $30–$50/month depending on submarket. Typical membership counts run 800–1,200 per club. The economic model: moderate volume × moderate dues = consistent monthly revenue.

Planet Fitness positions explicitly as the value alternative: $10–$15/month standard membership, $25/month “Black Card” upgrade with tanning/massage chair access. The economic model: very high volume × low dues = very large absolute revenue. Successful Planet Fitness clubs run 5,000–8,000+ members.

The question for a franchise buyer is which model fits your real estate access. If you have a 5,000 sq ft strip-mall space in a strong suburb, Anytime Fitness fits. If you have or can secure 22,000 sq ft of high-visibility retail in a high-density market, Planet Fitness fits.

Unit Economics and Item 19 Disclosures

Both brands publish Financial Performance Representations (Item 19) in their FDDs. Read these carefully — see our Item 19 deep-dive — and ideally talk to existing franchisees in your specific geography. Industry-typical patterns:

Anytime Fitness Unit Economics

A mature Anytime Fitness club in a strong submarket typically generates $400K–$800K/year in revenue, with EBITDA margins of 20–35% depending on rent, staffing model, and member volume. Time-to-break-even is often 12–24 months for a well-located club.

Planet Fitness Unit Economics

A mature Planet Fitness club typically generates $1.5M–$3M+/year in revenue, with EBITDA margins of 25–40% depending on submarket and Black Card upsell rate. Time-to-break-even is often 18–36 months given the higher build-out cost and ramp time to mature membership.

The absolute dollar EBITDA at a successful Planet Fitness is meaningfully higher; the percentage-of-investment ROI depends on multiple factors and varies by club.

Operational Style

Anytime Fitness

Mostly owner-operator or semi-absentee. Many franchisees run their club with 1–2 part-time front-desk staff and 1–2 trainers. The 24/7 model relies heavily on key-card automation, which reduces staffing needs during overnight and early-morning hours.

Planet Fitness

Owner-operator with full staffing. Typical clubs employ 8–15 staff including managers, front desk, trainers, and cleaning. The big-box, high-volume model requires more hands-on management of staff scheduling, member experience, equipment maintenance, and facility cleanliness.

Multi-unit Planet Fitness operators are common — many of the most successful franchisees own 5+ clubs. Multi-unit Anytime Fitness operators exist but are less common.

Which Brand Fits Which Buyer?

Buyer Profile	Better Fit
First-time franchise buyer, $200K–$400K capital	Anytime Fitness
Experienced multi-unit operator, $1.5M+ capital	Planet Fitness
Buyer wanting semi-absentee operation	Anytime Fitness
Buyer with access to large-format retail space	Planet Fitness
Buyer focused on high-volume value pricing	Planet Fitness
Buyer in a small/secondary market	Anytime Fitness
Buyer in a metro market with available 20K+ sq ft retail	Planet Fitness
Buyer wanting boutique/community-club experience	Anytime Fitness

Cross-References to Other FDD Items

For both franchises, the items most worth scrutinizing:

• Item 7: Total investment line by line
• Item 19: Financial performance representations
• Item 6: Recurring fees including technology and equipment leases
• Item 17: Renewal, transfer, and post-term provisions
• Item 22: Actual franchise agreement clauses

Want a 12-section deep-dive on either franchise’s FDD? Get a $499 Pro Report for Anytime Fitness or Planet Fitness — or use our free side-by-side comparison tool to put the data next to each other.

Bottom Line

Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness aren’t really competitors for franchise buyers — they’re two different businesses for two different buyer profiles. The right comparison is between which model matches your capital, real estate access, operational appetite, and target market. Buyers who pick the wrong model spend two years fighting their own infrastructure; buyers who pick the right one spend two years compounding into mature unit economics.

The right next move is concrete: pull the Item 19 disclosures for both brands, talk to three existing franchisees in markets that resemble yours, and price out the equipment and build-out on a real piece of real estate before either pitch deck makes the decision for you.