Express Train vs Planet Fitness Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Express Train Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
Investment $73,700 - $130,000$968,100 - $4,113,000
Franchise Fee $37,900$20,000
Royalty Fee 5%7% of Gross Membership Fees
Advertising Fee 3%9%
Year Founded 20051992
Year Franchised 20052003
Term Of Agreement 5 Years10 years
Term Of Agreement 5 Years10 years
Renewal Fee $5000-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Express Train Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
Express Train 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
 
Express Train Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
Training * Available at headquarters: 3 days

* At franchisee's location: 3 days

* Available at headquarters: 2 weeks * At franchisee's location: as needed
Support National Marketing Campaign

On Going Training

Support Visits

Marketing Support Person

Training & Certification

Support Person

Human Resources Support & Hiring Support

Annual Franchisee Conference

* 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
 
Express Train Franchise
Planet Fitness Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

About Express Train

Express Train Fitness for Men was born out of a need to provide men with an alternative to the large "Social Gyms" that have become the norm in today's fitness industry. This gives them a place where they can feel comfortable and receive the guidance and support needed to achieve the goals they set for themselves with regard to health and fitness. Express Train Fitness for Men provides an atmosphere in which we promote good physical fitness habits along with nutritional guidance without the hard-sell environment of the other gyms. Our memberships provide for all the instruction and guidance at no extra charge to the client. Our main goals are to help our members reach and maintain their visions of health and fitness. OUR GOALS ARE OUR MEMBERS GOALS

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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