F45 Training vs Pure Barre
F45 Training vs Pure Barre: F45 Training costs $349K to $786K to open; Pure Barre costs $30K to $466K. F45 Training has 753 units, Pure Barre has 155. SBA loan history: F45 Training = 270 loans (5.6% default); Pure Barre = 196 loans (1.5% 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.
F45 Training vs Pure Barre: 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
Pure Barre requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($30K vs $349K for F45 Training), a 1064% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $60K for F45 Training versus $25K for Pure Barre, Pure Barre has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for F45 Training and 7% for Pure Barre, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, F45 Training operates 753 units to Pure Barre's 155, roughly 5× the system size. Pure Barre has been operating 25 years (founded 2001) versus 13 for F45 Training (founded 2013), a 12-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
F45 Training has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 270 7(a) approvals compared with 196 for Pure Barre. F45 Training's peak SBA year was 2020 (63 loans); Pure Barre's peak was 2018 (23 loans). F45 Training's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded F45 Training deals is $281K vs $228K for Pure Barre, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 5.6% for F45 Training and 1.5% for Pure Barre, Pure Barre has the cleaner SBA loss record by 4.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 58 (Moderate) for F45 Training and 69 (Strong) for Pure Barre, giving Pure Barre the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 58/100 | 69/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 270 | 196 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 5.6% | 1.5% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $349K to $786K | $30K to $466K |
Franchise Fee | $60K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $100K | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 753 | 155 |
Franchised Units | 751 | 155 |
Company Owned | 2 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2013 | 2001 |
Franchising Since | 2015 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 11 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Austin, TX | Conroe, TX |
Category | Fitness | Fitness |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, F45 Training or Pure Barre?
Lower upfront capital required
Pure Barre
F45 Training: $349K starting · Pure Barre: $30K starting
More SBA lender confidence
F45 Training
F45 Training: 270 SBA loans · Pure Barre: 196 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Pure Barre
F45 Training: 5.6% · Pure Barre: 1.5%
Larger system & brand presence
F45 Training
F45 Training: 753 units · Pure Barre: 155 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
F45 Training: 7% · Pure Barre: 7%
More lender financing options
Pure Barre
F45 Training: 95 unique lenders · Pure Barre: 96 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
F45 Training vs Pure Barre: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing F45 Training and Pure Barre is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $30K to $786K.
F45 Training has 270 SBA loans on record and Pure Barre has 196. 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.
F45 Training vs Pure Barre, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, F45 Training or Pure Barre?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, F45 Training or Pure Barre?
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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
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