Club Pilates vs Gold's Gym
Club Pilates vs Gold's Gym: Club Pilates costs $385K to $839K to open; Gold's Gym costs $1.5M to $3.6M. Club Pilates has 237 units, Gold's Gym has 173. SBA loan history: Club Pilates = 281 loans (0.0% 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.
Club Pilates 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
Club Pilates requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($385K vs $1.5M for Gold's Gym), a 74% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $65K for Club Pilates versus $20K for Gold's Gym, Gold's Gym has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Club Pilates and 5% for Gold's Gym, giving Gold's Gym the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Club Pilates operates 237 units to Gold's Gym's 173. Gold's Gym has been operating 61 years (founded 1965) versus 19 for Club Pilates (founded 2007), a 42-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Club Pilates has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 281 7(a) approvals compared with 242 for Gold's Gym. Club Pilates's peak SBA year was 2019 (65 loans); Gold's Gym's peak was 1997 (18 loans). Club Pilates's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in CA. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Club Pilates deals is $273K vs $762K for Gold's Gym, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Club Pilates and 11.2% for Gold's Gym, Club Pilates has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 61 (Moderate) for Club Pilates and 49 (Fair) for Gold's Gym, giving Club Pilates the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 61/100 | 49/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 281 | 242 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 11.2% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $385K to $839K | $1.5M to $3.6M |
Franchise Fee | $65K | $20K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $100K | $1.0M |
Net Worth Required | $500K | $1.0M |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 237 | 173 |
Franchised Units | 237 | 173 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2007 | 1965 |
Franchising Since | 2012 | 2021 |
Years Franchising | 14 yrs | 5 yrs |
Headquarters | BAKERSFIELD, CA | SANTA MARIA, CA |
Category | Fitness | Fitness |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Club Pilates or Gold's Gym?
Lower upfront capital required
Club Pilates
Club Pilates: $385K starting · Gold's Gym: $1.5M starting
More SBA lender confidence
Club Pilates
Club Pilates: 281 SBA loans · Gold's Gym: 242 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Club Pilates
Club Pilates: 0.0% · Gold's Gym: 11.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Club Pilates
Club Pilates: 237 units · Gold's Gym: 173 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Gold's Gym
Club Pilates: 7% · Gold's Gym: 5%
More lender financing options
Gold's Gym
Club Pilates: 55 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
Club Pilates vs Gold's Gym: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Club Pilates 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 $385K to $3.6M.
Club Pilates has 281 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.
Club Pilates 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