Ellipse Fitness vs Planet Fitness Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Ellipse Fitness vs Planet Fitness including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Ellipse Fitness Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
Investment $80,000 - $120,000$968,100 - $4,113,000
Franchise Fee $29,000$20,000
Royalty Fee 5%7% of Gross Membership Fees
Advertising Fee -9%
Year Founded 20021992
Year Franchised 20062003
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Ellipse Fitness Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
Ellipse Fitness Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/-No/No
Start-up Costs -/-No/No
Equipment -/-No/Yes
Inventory -/-No/No
Receivables -/-No/No
Payroll -/-No/No

Training & Support
 
Ellipse Fitness Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
Training -* Available at headquarters: 2 weeks * At franchisee's location: as needed
Support -* Newsletter * Meetings * Toll-free phone line * Grand opening * Internet * Security/safety procedures * Field operations/evaluations * Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing -* Co-op advertising * Ad slicks * Regional advertising
Operations -* 40% of all franchisees own more than one unit * Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (70% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
 
Ellipse Fitness Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

About Ellipse Fitness

With combined annual revenue of $15 billion dollars, the fitness industry is hot! We would like to introduce to you, Ellipse Fitness, a different kind of fitness franchise. We're not a 30 minute circuit, not your typical gym. Ellipse provides members a unique "classes only" concept and a state-of-the-art nutrition program, both results driven! Unlike competitor fitness concepts, Ellipse provides both fitness and weight loss, and does them well. With unpublished, unannounced and ever changing classes, exercise programs for all fitness levels, and personalized weight loss, Ellipse has created an amazing niche in the industry. We offer our core program of 7 class times a day. We also offer an AMP'D program of super high-intensity classes. When you join our team you will quickly see that the same passion, dedication, honesty and enthusiasm that we began Ellipse with, has been poured into supporting our franchisees. We are experienced, trained, fitness certified, and ready to bring you the benefits of being part of an established team and a recognized brand. History The first Ellipse Fitness was founded in 2002 because the company saw a need for a facility that specialized in personal attention and goals, rather than weights and equipment. In 2004 Ellipse opened a second location to test the franchise systems. In September 2006 the company began selling franchises, and in January 2007 the first franchise location opened in WI. Ellipse now has several locations in the Midwest and is prepared to go national. Our current franchisees will attest to the fact that this system works! The weight loss and fitness industry has never been in a better position to change the world!

About Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness got its start in 1992 when Michael Grondahl acquired a struggling gym. He reduced membership prices to compete against better-known brands and focused on serving occasional or first-time gym users. Every Planet Fitness location holds a pizza night for members once a month, as well as a bagel morning, and Tootsie Rolls are available at all times.
Planet Fitness strives to promote health in a respectful atmosphere. For over a decade, Planet Fitness has gone to great lengths to provide its members with a friendly space to work out. We call it the Judgment Free Zone. We discourage weight dropping and obnoxious grunting so you can focus on your own workout and not the person next to you.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a single Planet Fitness facility ranges from $968,100 to $3,072,000 if you finance your equipment.
This includes $48,000 to $297,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.
If you choose to purchase your equipment, the total investment necessary to begin operation of a single Planet Fitness facility ranges from $1,500,000 to $4,113,000.
This includes $295,000 to $912,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.
These estimated initial investment ranges also apply to each location that you develop under the Area Development Agreement (plus the Area Development Fee you pay at the time you sign the Area Development Agreement). If you sign an Area Development Agreement, you must develop one or more Planet Fitness facilities, and you will pay an Area Development Fee of $10,000 per planned location (paid in full when you sign the Area Development Agreement) in addition to the then-current initial franchise fee due for each location at the time the Franchise Agreement for that location is signed.

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