The Exercise Coach Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Personal fitness training franchise utilizing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and advanced technology for efficient and effective workouts.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

211

27%

Franchise fee

$49,500

Investment

$260,000 - $390,000

Revenue (AUV)

$279,000

2.9%

Based in Lake Zurich, Illinois, The Exercise Coach is a personal fitness boutique franchise featuring innovative Exerbotic proprietary technology. Founded in 2000 by Gerianne and Brian Cygan, the franchise began offering opportunities in 2010. The brand specializes in personalized, efficient 20-minute workouts twice per week, primarily targeting clients over 50 who want effective strength training without the complexity of traditional gyms.

Want to know what The Exercise Coach franchise owners actually earn? See the full income analysis, break-even timeline, and owner salary breakdown at SharpSheets → The Exercise Coach Franchise Owner Income.

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Initial investment

The initial investment required for a The Exercise Coach franchise is $260,000 - $390,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$49,500
Initial Training Fee	$5,000
MUO Training Fee (applies to area developers)	$0 to $2,500
Initial Training Expenses	$1,500 to $10,000
Legal Fee Reimbursement (lease review services)	$0 to $3,500
Lease Deposit & Rent (3 Months)	$8,000 to $24,000
Utilities Deposits	$100 to $1,000
Construction	$0 to $65,000
Interior & Exterior Signage	$2,300 to $8,000
Decorating, Cleaning Station, Furniture, Fans & Furnishings	$4,200 to $6,315
Equipment Package	$107,645 to $155,690
Technology Systems	$2,850 to $6,850
First Aid Equipment	$1,350 to $2,100
Opening Inventory	$2,550 to $4,250
Uniforms	$600 to $1,000
Grand Opening Marketing Commitment	$29,195 to $43,275
Business Licenses	$250 to $750
Professional Fees	$4,000 to $5,240
Insurance	$800 to $1,500
Pre-opening Payroll	$10,000 to $20,000
Additional Funds (3 months)	$30,000 to $45,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment	$259,840 to $389,970

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$49,500
Initial Training Fee	$5,000
MUO Training Fee (applies to area developers)	$0 to $2,500
Initial Training Expenses	$1,500 to $10,000
Legal Fee Reimbursement (lease review services)	$0 to $3,500
Lease Deposit & Rent (3 Months)	$8,000 to $24,000
Utilities Deposits	$100 to $1,000
Construction	$0 to $65,000
Interior & Exterior Signage	$2,300 to $8,000
Decorating, Cleaning Station, Furniture, Fans & Furnishings	$4,200 to $6,315
Equipment Package	$107,645 to $155,690
Technology Systems	$2,850 to $6,850
First Aid Equipment	$1,350 to $2,100
Opening Inventory	$2,550 to $4,250
Uniforms	$600 to $1,000
Grand Opening Marketing Commitment	$29,195 to $43,275
Business Licenses	$250 to $750
Professional Fees	$4,000 to $5,240
Insurance	$800 to $1,500
Pre-opening Payroll	$10,000 to $20,000
Additional Funds (3 months)	$30,000 to $45,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment	$259,840 to $389,970

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is The Exercise Coach's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Sign up for free to view the document.

Number of units

The Exercise Coach had 215 total units in 2025, of which 211 were franchised-owned and 4 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

The Exercise Coach

key competitors in the

Personal Training

sector.

Franchise

211

New

27%

6.00%

$260,000

$390,000

$279,000

n.a.

Special Strong

$50K - $100K

New

186%

7%-8%

$90,000

$129,000

$156,000

25.4%

Orange Shoe Personal Fitness

$50K - $100K

New

6.00%

$99,000

$325,000

n.a.

The MAX Challenge

$50K - $100K

New

-17%

7.00%

$63,000

$349,000

n.a.

Shoot 360

Over $500K

New

74%

12.00%

$659,000

$2,143,000

n.a.

GYMGUYZ

$50K - $100K

116

New

20%

7.00%

$92,000

$174,000

$131,000

39.2%

Journey 333

$200K - $500K

New

25%

5.50%

$213,000

$446,000

$362,000

n.a.

Training

The Exercise Coach provides a comprehensive initial training program to equip franchisees and their teams for the successful launch and operation of their studio. This program consists of:

53 to 77 hours of classroom instruction and 20 hours of hands-on training.
Topics covered include an introduction to Exercise Coach® Personal Training Studios, leadership skills, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, exercise theory, sales and marketing strategies, exercise implementation, equipment operation, customer service, and general business practices.
Training is conducted in Lake Zurich, IL, and remotely.
The initial training fee is $2,500 for up to three individuals, payable at the time the franchise agreement is signed and is non-refundable.

Multi-unit Operator Training Program

For franchisees managing multiple units, there is a dedicated Multi-unit Operator Training Program that:

Commences after the signing of the second and subsequent franchise agreements and extends through the first six months of operation for each new location.
Emphasizes multi-unit management, team development, and includes a minimum of 5 hours of classroom training via Zoom and 20 hours of on-the-job training.

‍Territory Protection

The Exercise Coach franchise offers territory protection to its franchisees, ensuring that each franchisee has a designated area to operate without direct competition from other franchisees within the same brand.

This protected territory is defined by specific geographic boundaries, which are outlined in the franchise agreement. This policy helps to safeguard the franchisee’s investment and promotes a stable operating environment, allowing them to focus on growing their business within their exclusive market area.