ShapeXpress vs Planet Fitness Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
ShapeXpress Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
Investment $89,500 - $152,000$968,100 - $4,113,000
Franchise Fee $20,000$20,000
Royalty Fee Varies7% of Gross Membership Fees
Advertising Fee -9%
Year Founded 20021992
Year Franchised 20032003
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee $2.5K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
ShapeXpress Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Sales skills, previous employee supervision skills
    		• -

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

    Training & Support
     
    ShapeXpress Franchise
    Planet Fitness Franchise
    Training Ongoing* 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* 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* Co-op advertising * Ad slicks * Regional advertising
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (35% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		* 40% of all franchisees own more than one unit * Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (70% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    ShapeXpress Franchise
    Planet Fitness Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    Company Overviews

    About ShapeXpress

    NO LONGER FRANCHISING

    Proven results for members AND franchisees! Join our success in the $14.8 billion fitness industry! ShapeXpress for Women is setting the standard for women's only fitness franchise opportunities. "Amazing support from the corporate office." That's what our franchisees are saying about ShapeXpress. Support in every area of starting and operating your club: finding a location, negotiating a lease, decor & build-out, financing, marketing, membership sales, daily operations, billing, member tracking, hiring and more. Each franchisee is assigned a Franchise Support Executive to personally assist with setting goals and addressing concerns. Weekly conference calls keep our franchisees in communication with our corporate office and each other. Among U.S. franchises, 65% consist of fewer than 100 stores and 49% have under 50 locations. Compare this to ShapeXpress, which in its first 3 years of offering, has sold over 300 franchises!

    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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