Planet Fitness vs Soldierfit Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Planet Fitness Franchise
Soldierfit Franchise
Investment $968,100 - $4,113,000$144,950 - $305,495
Franchise Fee $20,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 7% of Gross Membership Fees7%
Advertising Fee 9%-
Year Founded 19922007
Year Franchised 20032015
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Planet Fitness Franchise
Soldierfit Franchise
Experience -

Prior experience in the fitness industry may be helpful, but is not a requirement. The ideal candidate will have an interest in fitness and the desire to help people in their communities to get fit. We also prefer franchise owners who will be directly involved in the full-time operations and growth of their Soldierfit franchises. In turn, we'll provide the support franchisees need to run their businesses. We do, of course, also expect that franchisees have the right amount of capital to invest in the business.

Financing Options
 
Planet Fitness Franchise
Soldierfit 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
Soldierfit Franchise
Training * Available at headquarters: 2 weeks * At franchisee's location: as needed

We provide comprehensive training in critical areas, including business management, sales and member retention, fitness training programs, equipment purchasing and usage, hiring and retaining staff, marketing and promotional activities, and much more.
Support * Newsletter * Meetings * Toll-free phone line * Grand opening * Internet * Security/safety procedures * Field operations/evaluations * Purchasing cooperatives

Our highly skilled and experienced corporate team is fully committed to helping you build and boost your business. And we will be available to you via phone, text, or email to answer your questions, troubleshoot, or discuss your business' progress and future. And of course we will conduct periodic visits to provide ongoing advice and counsel to help you continue to grow your business the Soldierfit way.
Marketing * Co-op advertising * Ad slicks * Regional advertising

You'll get our expert guidance with advertising, promotions, social media and more. Our corporate website helps drive business to your local franchise 24/7. Plus, you'll benefit from combined franchisee dollars in our system-wide marketing fund.
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
Soldierfit 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.

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About Soldierfit

Why a Soldierfit Franchise Be in business for yourself, not by yourself. The military says it best with their slogan, "one fight one team". At Soldierfit, our strength is your strength. And from the day you sign your franchise agreement our in-house support team is there with you every step of the way Market-Tested, Streamlined Business Model We are a multi-unit operation with established standards, procedures, programs, and policies already in place so you can focus on building your client base and revenue right from the start. Confidential Operations Manual We will provide and train you on our proprietary guide detailing daily operating procedures and important business functions. The manual will be a vital tool for your daily and ongoing operations and will help ensure you have the information and tools needed to uphold the Soldierfit standards. Site Selection and Buildout We will be there right from the start with site selection and lease negotiating assistance. Our dedicated project management team will help you with the planning and execution of your facility build out from start to finish from fixture specifications to set up assistance. We know what it takes to build a Soldierfit location and make it work and we want to help you do the same. Grand Opening Support We provide you with a grand opening checklist as well as pre-opening marketing strategies so that your location can explode onto the scene. Not only that but given those tools you have the potential to have members and revenues before you even open the doors. We will also be on site with you on your big day! Vendor Discounts You'll have access to our approved vendors and will benefit from our pre-established group purchasing discounts.