Planet Fitness vs Fitness Evolution Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Planet Fitness Franchise
Fitness Evolution Franchise
Investment $968,100 - $4,113,000N/A
Franchise Fee $20,000N/A
Royalty Fee 7% of Gross Membership Fees-
Advertising Fee 9%-
Year Founded 1992-
Year Franchised 2003-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Planet Fitness Franchise
Fitness Evolution Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
Planet Fitness Franchise
Fitness Evolution 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
 
Planet Fitness Franchise
Fitness Evolution 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
 
Planet Fitness Franchise
Fitness Evolution Franchise
US Expansion Yes-
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

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.

"Entrepreneur

#7 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#8 in Franchise 500 for 2021.






About Fitness Evolution

Fitness Evolution prides itself on being a low-cost and no long-term-contract gym that offers our members state-of-the-art facilities. We love to provide our members with a high quality gym experience while keeping your membership fee as low as possible.

At Fitness Evolution, we have built a meaningful community so that all of our members can feel comfortable at all times. Our staff and highly educated trainers are always willing to provide a helping hand so that you can achieve your fitness goals. As soon as you step foot in our gym, we want you to feel like it’s a home away from home.

 

We have two locations in Maryland. One location is in Silver Spring, Maryland, serving Montgomery County, MD and the second is located on Laurel, Maryland, serving upper Prince George’s County, MD and Howard County, MD.

Currently, we have Fitness Evolution locations in the following states: California, Maryland, Minnesota, Virginia, and Washington. Every Fitness Evolution location features state-of-the-art facilities in addition to fantastic services and amenities. At Fitness Evolution, our goal is to provide you with the resources you need to achieve your fitness goals while ensuring you’re comfortable and having fun!

A new brand designed for sustainability and enduring success. The way fitness was delivered and sold 10 years ago, 5 years ago or even last year is being made obsolete each day by technology, consumer needs and competition. We embrace this change as fuel for growth! In each of our markets we develop exactly what that market needs and build in the flexibility to change and adapt each location as opportunity presents itself. We are a team of lifelong fitness business operators that have constructed, owned, developed, managed, and operated facilities nationwide. All members of the executive team either sold their legacy gyms to national brands or left their executive positions with a singular focus; fix how fitness is delivered nationwide. Our facilities are geared around delivering the best facility for the least money to the most members in a market.Fitness evolution will appeal to many existing independent gyms that have seen their market position erode. These owners have had enough with the scramble of a "make it work" approach and are ready to "make it dominate". In the markets we run our model, the consumers' view of what fitness can be and how affordable fitness should be is permanently changed. Fitness evolution has exciting colors, industry leading entertainment and luxurious interiors. All of this is offered at a value price point that has the effect of what we call a market "reset". Our Motto: "We will make it easier and more profitable to do business with us, than without us" Our members experience incredible facilities and a game changing value, as do our franchisees. The attitude of service, respect, and value that we offer our members is reflected in our franchise offering. Growth and volume come from value and respect. Our stores are built and thrive from this simple concept as will our franchise offering. We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and leveraged decades of experience to create our product. We will make it all available to you!!