Anytime Fitness Franchise Cost: Startup & Ongoing Costs

Anytime Fitness charges its franchisees differently from most food and retail brands. Instead of taking a percentage of every sale, it bills fixed dollar amounts each month for each center. That changes how the ongoing costs behave, so this page treats the startup budget and the monthly charges as two separate planning problems.

The numbers come from Item 7 of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the table in which a franchisor estimates what a new owner will spend before opening. Item 5 sets the initial fee and Item 6 lists recurring charges. They were last checked on Oct 13, 2026.

The 2026 estimate is $539,329 – $905,482. A gym needs a lot of floor space, so the build-out drives the spread. Leasehold improvements run $170,280 – $417,300, which is far larger than any other line. A space that already has restrooms, showers, and suitable flooring will sit near the low end. A raw shell sits near the high end.

Equipment and technology

Fitness equipment is the second-largest category at $139,873 – $157,936. That range is narrow because the franchisor specifies the equipment package. The technology equipment package adds $37,857 – $45,462, and furniture and fixtures add $15,200 – $18,330.

Rent, design, and opening costs

The table also includes a block of costs that come before the doors open:

• Three months of rent plus a security deposit are $33,500 – $58,700.
• Architect and design fees are $12,825 – $26,075.
• Interior and exterior signs are $14,250 – $36,900.
• Pre-sale and grand opening advertising is $11,000 – $23,000.
• Travel and training expenses are $1,500 – $2,425.

The final line is additional funds for three months of operation, at $47,394 – $49,194. A gym typically spends before it earns, because members join gradually, so this reserve matters more than it does for a business with a ready customer base on day one.

The initial franchise or development fee is $42,500. The same amount appears inside the Item 7 total, so do not add it again on top. Ask the franchisor whether the amount charged to a given owner matches the standard fee in the document.

The monthly charges are fixed dollar amounts per center rather than a percentage of revenue. The monthly fee, which acts as the royalty, is currently $842/mo. The general advertising and marketing fee is currently $900/mo, starting when the center opens. VetMyFranchise reports a base technology fee of $799/mo, and says that fee increases each year.

Flat fees help a busy gym and hurt a slow one. A center with strong membership pays the same dollars as one with a thin base, so the cost per member falls as the gym fills. The risk runs the other way for a struggling location, where fixed charges land on a small revenue base. Local marketing spending comes on top. The FDD sets a tiered local marketing requirement that depends on your market, so read that item closely.

Also ask whether the franchisor can change how the monthly fee is calculated, and whether the technology fee has a set escalation. Those clauses affect what the numbers look like in year five, not just year one.

Both sources below report the same total because they draw on the same 2026 document. Older articles often show a different range, because each new edition of the FDD updates the build-out and equipment lines. Gyms also vary by size. The Item 7 table assumes a particular footprint, and a larger center will spend more on equipment and rent.

Your own total depends on the space, the lease terms, and local construction prices. Convert an existing retail space and your cost may track the low end. Build in a new development and you may pay more for finishes and mechanical systems.

• What size and layout does the Item 7 table assume, and what happens to costs if the space is larger?
• Which equipment and technology suppliers are required?
• How are the fixed monthly fees adjusted over the term?
• What local marketing spend does the agreement require in your market tier?
• What does the FDD say about membership data, transfers, and the franchisor's rights over the fee structure?

Review the full document with a franchise attorney and an accountant before you commit to a lease or pay a deposit.