Anytime Fitness vs Gold's Gym
Anytime Fitness vs Gold's Gym: Anytime Fitness costs $459K to $908K to open; Gold's Gym costs $1.5M to $3.6M. Anytime Fitness has 914 units, Gold's Gym has 173. SBA loan history: Anytime Fitness = 1,274 loans (7.4% default); Gold's Gym = 242 loans (11.2% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Anytime Fitness vs Gold's Gym: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Anytime Fitness requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($459K vs $1.5M for Gold's Gym), a 69% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $43K for Anytime Fitness versus $20K for Gold's Gym, Gold's Gym has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Anytime Fitness operates 914 units to Gold's Gym's 173, roughly 5× the system size. Gold's Gym has been operating 61 years (founded 1965) versus 24 for Anytime Fitness (founded 2002), a 37-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Anytime Fitness has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 1,274 7(a) approvals compared with 242 for Gold's Gym. Anytime Fitness's peak SBA year was 2019 (106 loans); Gold's Gym's peak was 1997 (18 loans). Anytime Fitness's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Anytime Fitness has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 121. Gold's Gym leads in CA, with 33. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Anytime Fitness deals is $405K vs $762K for Gold's Gym, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.4% for Anytime Fitness and 11.2% for Gold's Gym, Anytime Fitness has the cleaner SBA loss record by 3.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 67 (Strong) for Anytime Fitness and 49 (Fair) for Gold's Gym, giving Anytime Fitness the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 67/100 | 49/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 1,274 | 242 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.4% | 11.2% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $459K to $908K | $1.5M to $3.6M |
Franchise Fee | $43K | $20K |
Royalty Rate | 699% | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $100K | $1.0M |
Net Worth Required | $350K | $1.0M |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 914 | 173 |
Franchised Units | 914 | 173 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2002 | 1965 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 2021 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 5 yrs |
Headquarters | Woodbury, MN | SANTA MARIA, CA |
Category | Fitness | Fitness |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Anytime Fitness or Gold's Gym?
Lower upfront capital required
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness: $459K starting · Gold's Gym: $1.5M starting
More SBA lender confidence
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness: 1,274 SBA loans · Gold's Gym: 242 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness: 7.4% · Gold's Gym: 11.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness: 914 units · Gold's Gym: 173 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Gold's Gym
Anytime Fitness: 699% · Gold's Gym: 5%
More lender financing options
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness: 304 unique lenders · Gold's Gym: 123 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Anytime Fitness vs Gold's Gym: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Anytime Fitness and Gold's Gym is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $459K to $3.6M.
Anytime Fitness has 1,274 SBA loans on record and Gold's Gym has 242. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Anytime Fitness vs Gold's Gym, Frequently Asked Questions
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman