Powerhouse Gyms vs The Exercise Coach
Powerhouse Gyms vs The Exercise Coach: Powerhouse Gyms costs $48K to $788K to open; The Exercise Coach costs $150K to $250K. Powerhouse Gyms has 34 units, The Exercise Coach has 73. SBA loan history: Powerhouse Gyms = 33 loans (15.2% default); The Exercise Coach = 101 loans (4.0% 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.
Powerhouse Gyms vs The Exercise Coach: 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
Powerhouse Gyms requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($48K vs $150K for The Exercise Coach), a 68% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $26K for Powerhouse Gyms versus $25K for The Exercise Coach, The Exercise Coach has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, The Exercise Coach operates 73 units to Powerhouse Gyms's 34, roughly 2× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
The Exercise Coach has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 101 7(a) approvals compared with 33 for Powerhouse Gyms. Powerhouse Gyms's peak SBA year was 1995 (7 loans); The Exercise Coach's peak was 2023 (22 loans). The Exercise Coach's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Powerhouse Gyms has the most SBA funded units in MI, with 16. The Exercise Coach leads in CA, with 13. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Powerhouse Gyms deals is $341K vs $181K for The Exercise Coach, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 15.2% for Powerhouse Gyms and 4.0% for The Exercise Coach, The Exercise Coach has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 27 (Fair) for Powerhouse Gyms and 65 (Strong) for The Exercise Coach, giving The Exercise Coach the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 27/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 33 | 101 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 15.2% | 4.0% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $48K to $788K | $150K to $250K |
Franchise Fee | $26K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 34 | 73 |
Franchised Units | 34 | 73 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 2000 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | St Clair Shores, MI | CA |
Category | Sports | Sports |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Powerhouse Gyms or The Exercise Coach?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Powerhouse Gyms: $48K starting · The Exercise Coach: $150K starting
More SBA lender confidence
The Exercise Coach
Powerhouse Gyms: 33 SBA loans · The Exercise Coach: 101 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
The Exercise Coach
Powerhouse Gyms: 15.2% · The Exercise Coach: 4.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Powerhouse Gyms: 34 units · The Exercise Coach: 73 units
More lender financing options
The Exercise Coach
Powerhouse Gyms: 23 unique lenders · The Exercise Coach: 35 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
Powerhouse Gyms vs The Exercise Coach: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Powerhouse Gyms and The Exercise Coach is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $48K to $788K.
Powerhouse Gyms has 33 SBA loans on record and The Exercise Coach has 101. 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.
Powerhouse Gyms vs The Exercise Coach, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Powerhouse Gyms or The Exercise Coach?
How much does a Powerhouse Gyms franchise cost compared to The Exercise Coach?
Can I finance Powerhouse Gyms or The Exercise Coach with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Powerhouse Gyms or The Exercise Coach?
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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