
Crunch Fitness is a well-known franchise chain of fitness studios that started in New York City.
Founded by Doug Levine in 1989 in NYC’s Greenwich Village, it began as a small fitness studio located in a modest basement.
Crunch Fitness operates under two distinct brands: Crunch Fitness and Crunch Signature.
Crunch Fitness offers the standard format, featuring group classes, advanced HIIT sessions, and typical gym facilities. Crunch Signature Clubs, however, are primarily high-end, full-service establishments with monthly memberships, mostly located in major cities. These clubs provide a wide array of services, classes, and amenities.
Currently, there are only 28 exclusive Crunch Signature gyms worldwide. Crunch Fitness entered the franchise market in 2010. Today, it has grown to over 400 gyms across the US, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica, and Australia, with an impressive 92% of these gyms being franchisee-owned.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Crunch Fitness offers 3 types of franchises:
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Crunch Signature health club franchise.
For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
Crunch Fitness offers 3 types of franchises:
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Crunch Signature health club franchise.
For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
General Training Overview
Crunch Fitness offers a comprehensive training program called Crunch University. This program utilizes a multi-dimensional approach, including classroom sessions, virtual meetings, online learning, in-gym training, and certifications.
Franchise Introduction
The introductory phase is conducted through a virtual meeting, focusing on familiarizing franchisees with the Intranet & Crunch Connected platforms.
Certification Training
Crunch Fitness provides several certification programs, including:
Crunch Fitness ensures that each franchisee benefits from territory protection. According to the Franchise Agreement, franchisees are assigned a protected territory that typically includes a population of approximately 75,000 people at the time of agreement signing.
This protection helps to minimize competition among franchisees and supports the success of each individual location.
The protected territory allows franchisees to build their business with the confidence that their market area will not be encroached upon by another Crunch Fitness franchise. This strategic advantage not only fosters a stronger local presence but also encourages franchisees to invest in their community and customer base, knowing they have a secure market area.
Below are some of
Crunch Fitness
key competitors in the
Gyms
sector.

415
$35,000
$804,000
$6,716,000
n.a.
$2,506,000
$xxx,xxx
98.4%
n.a.
21.6%
n.a.

Vanguard Key Clubs is a B2B franchise offering automated key-management kiosks and locker systems, serving auto dealers, fleets, and property managers, and known for secure 24/7 key access, audit trails, and efficiencies that reduce lost keys and speed vehicle retrieval.
?
?

Training Mate is a boutique fitness franchise offering high-energy group HIIT workouts, serving adults seeking effective, time-efficient training, and known for Australian-inspired coaching, friendly community vibes, structured programming, and sessions that combine cardio and strength in a supportive studio environment.
?
?

RiseUp Fitness is a boutique-fitness franchise offering high-intensity interval training, strength circuits and personal coaching, serving busy adults seeking results, and known for efficient 30-minute workouts, premium studio experience and social culture.
?
?

Pure Fitness is a gym franchise that focuses on functional training and high-performance fitness programs for individuals looking to improve their strength and endurance.
?
?

Los Campeones is a gym that offers a hardcore, old-school training environment with a focus on strength training, bodybuilding, and fitness, catering to serious athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
?
?
Choosing a franchise goes beyond reviewing fees and financials — it requires an honest assessment of your goals, skills, and risk tolerance. This article outlines the key questions prospective owners should ask before committing. It helps clarify whether the opportunity aligns with your lifestyle, long-term plans, and operational preferences.
Speaking with current and former franchisees is one of the most reliable ways to understand how a franchise really operates. This guide explains how to conduct validation calls, what questions to ask, and how to identify patterns in feedback. It provides a practical framework for uncovering real performance expectations and support quality.
Not all franchise opportunities offer the same potential. This article breaks down how to evaluate a brand’s industry, financial health, support systems, and competitive positioning. It helps prospective buyers compare options and identify franchises with strong long-term viability.
A clear, well-structured business plan is essential for securing financing and preparing for the realities of franchise ownership. This article explains how to build a plan that covers market analysis, operations, staffing, and local marketing. It also outlines how to create realistic pro forma financials, including revenue projections, startup costs, and break-even analysis. Readers gain a practical framework they can use when applying for loans or planning their first years of operations.