Gold's Gym vs Planet Beach
Gold's Gym vs Planet Beach: Gold's Gym costs $1.5M to $3.6M to open; Planet Beach costs $177K to $351K. Gold's Gym has 173 units, Planet Beach has 249. SBA loan history: Gold's Gym = 242 loans (11.2% default); Planet Beach = 318 loans (46.9% 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.
Gold's Gym vs Planet Beach: 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
Planet Beach requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($177K vs $1.5M for Gold's Gym), a 734% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $20K for Gold's Gym versus $70K for Planet Beach, Gold's Gym has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Gold's Gym and 6% for Planet Beach, giving Gold's Gym the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Planet Beach operates 249 units to Gold's Gym's 173. Gold's Gym has been operating 61 years (founded 1965) versus 34 for Planet Beach (founded 1992), a 27-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Planet Beach has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 318 7(a) approvals compared with 242 for Gold's Gym.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 11.2% for Gold's Gym and 46.9% for Planet Beach, Gold's Gym has the cleaner SBA loss record by 35.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 49 (Fair) for Gold's Gym and 31 (Fair) for Planet Beach, giving Gold's Gym the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 49/100 | 31/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 242 | 318 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 11.2% | 46.9% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $1.5M to $3.6M | $177K to $351K |
Franchise Fee | $20K | $70K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $1.0M | $80K |
Net Worth Required | $1.0M | $300K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 173 | 249 |
Franchised Units | 173 | 249 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1965 | 1992 |
Franchising Since | 2021 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 5 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | SANTA MARIA, CA | N/A |
Category | Fitness | Fitness |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Gold's Gym or Planet Beach?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Gold's Gym: $1.5M starting · Planet Beach: $177K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Planet Beach
Gold's Gym: 242 SBA loans · Planet Beach: 318 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Gold's Gym
Gold's Gym: 11.2% · Planet Beach: 46.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Gold's Gym: 173 units · Planet Beach: 249 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Gold's Gym
Gold's Gym: 5% · Planet Beach: 6%
More lender financing options
Gold's Gym
Gold's Gym: 123 unique lenders · Planet Beach: 57 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
Gold's Gym vs Planet Beach: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Gold's Gym and Planet Beach is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $177K to $3.6M.
Gold's Gym has 242 SBA loans on record and Planet Beach has 318. 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.
Gold's Gym vs Planet Beach, 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