Powerhouse Gyms
The total investment to open a Powerhouse Gyms franchise ranges from $48,000 to $787,900. The initial franchise fee is $26,171.
What is the Powerhouse Gyms franchise?
Powerhouse Gyms began in St Clair Shores, Michigan, and has built a recognized name in the global fitness industry around serious training, well equipped facilities, member support, and personal results. The brand’s operating philosophy centers on helping individuals reach their personal best, a principle that has connected with members throughout its network. The Powerhouse Gyms franchise system currently includes 34 total units. Its history reflects an established operation that has grown with attention to facility quality and brand standards rather than rapid expansion. The concept combines a traditional gym experience with modern amenities and serves a broad group of fitness enthusiasts. Its long history in the fitness industry shows an ability to adjust to changing preferences, attract new members, and retain an existing member base through a results focused approach. A franchise gives a buyer an opportunity to enter a health and wellness sector with ongoing consumer demand through a brand with an established operating history.
Fitness and recreation are part of a large and expanding global economy supported by public interest in health, wellness, active lifestyles, physical improvement, and mental well being. The industry includes traditional gym memberships, specialized classes, personal training, and digital fitness platforms, allowing operators to serve different customer preferences. Although the source does not provide a specific aggregate figure for the global fitness market, demand is supported by interest in better health, chronic disease prevention, and personal achievement. The global pizza foodservice market is projected to grow from USD 144.08 billion in 2025 to USD 257.17 billion by 2031, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 10.10 percent. That market is used as a comparison for consumer demand for convenient services and lifestyle related offerings. The pizza industry is also described as resilient, with 93% of Americans eating pizza at least once a month. Fitness demand similarly includes a need for convenient, accessible, and high quality options and may remain active through economic fluctuations. This creates a stable market setting for a Powerhouse Gyms franchise, although competition requires a clear brand identity and a proven operating model. Powerhouse Gyms brings those attributes through its established name and fitness system.
A Powerhouse Gyms buyer needs to evaluate both the entry fee and the broader cost of opening and operating the business. The initial franchise fee is $26,171. This payment gives the franchisee the right to use the Powerhouse Gyms name, trademarks, and proprietary operating system. It is also intended to cover initial licensing, access to the franchisor’s intellectual property, and often part of the initial training expenses. The estimated total investment ranges from $48,000 to $787,900. The wide range reflects differences in the facility’s location, the size and condition of the real estate, required leasehold improvements, the type and amount of fitness equipment, and working capital needed during the pre opening and early operating periods. A smaller space that is already fitted for gym use could fall closer to the lower end, while a new, larger, state of the art facility built from the ground up could move toward the upper end. The investment may also include opening marketing and advertising, business licenses, permits, and initial inventory for retail products. The Loan Activity Score for Powerhouse Gyms is 27. This proprietary measure is used by independent research platforms to assess factors that can include market saturation, growth potential, and financial viability within the franchise sector. The score should be considered alongside the total investment strategy and the long term direction of the franchise system.
The Powerhouse Gyms operating model is built around a clean, safe, and motivating facility with equipment for different forms of training, including weightlifting, cardio, and functional fitness. Franchisees are generally guided on facility layout, equipment selection, and continuing maintenance so the gym remains functional and supports member satisfaction. Staffing is another central requirement. A typical operation may include a general manager, membership consultants, certified personal trainers, and group exercise instructors. These employees are expected to meet the brand’s service and expertise standards. Membership sales and retention are also central to the model. The franchisor may provide methods for attracting members through local marketing and encouraging loyalty through service and varied program offerings. Initial training is designed to prepare a new franchisee to open and operate the gym. Training commonly addresses operating procedures, sales, marketing, equipment maintenance, and human resource management. Continuing assistance may include a dedicated support team, operational updates, marketing materials and campaigns, and possible preferred vendor relationships for equipment and supplies. Those vendor relationships may create cost efficiencies. The system is intended to give franchisees a consistent operating structure while leaving them focused on community relationships and member experience.
The broader fitness and consumer service sectors offer context, but their figures should not be treated as Powerhouse Gyms results. The pizza industry is projected to produce $50.1 billion in revenue in 2024 from more than 74,000 businesses, illustrating the scale of service businesses that meet recurring consumer needs. Those figures are not directly attributable to Powerhouse Gyms. Gym memberships provide recurring revenue, with additional sources potentially including personal training, group classes, and merchandise sales. A Powerhouse Gyms owner would need to assess those variables at the individual location level.
Powerhouse Gyms currently has 34 total units, indicating measured expansion and a system that has emphasized sustainable development over unchecked growth. For a franchisee, that approach may support closer attention to unit economics and system assistance. The brand’s competitive position is based in part on its long standing recognition and reputation in the fitness community. Consumers may already recognize the name and associate it with quality and reliability, which can reduce the initial marketing burden faced by an independent gym or a newer franchise concept. Existing brand awareness may also support member acquisition and retention. The franchisor’s experience operating and supporting gym facilities provides a business model covering facility design, equipment purchasing, membership management, and marketing execution. That structure can reduce some risks involved in starting a business without an established system. Even with 34 units, the network may provide purchasing and marketing economies of scale for equipment, supplies, and advertising campaigns that could be difficult for an independent operator to obtain. The brand also seeks to adjust to changing fitness trends while preserving its core identity. That balance may help a location remain relevant to members seeking a broad fitness offering in their community.
A suitable Powerhouse Gyms owner needs business judgment, leadership ability, and a genuine interest in health and wellness. The owner must be able to direct staff, motivate employees, and encourage members as they work toward fitness goals. Knowledge of local market conditions is useful because marketing and community outreach need to fit the demographics and preferences of the territory. Previous fitness industry experience can help, but it is not always required. The franchise system typically provides training and continuing support for people from different professional backgrounds. Candidates should be prepared to maintain operating standards every day, including cleanliness, equipment maintenance, and customer service. An entrepreneurial approach is valuable, along with the discipline to follow an established system. Specific territory details are not provided. In general, successful franchise development requires reviewing population density, local demographics, visibility, and accessibility when choosing a market. The franchisor typically assists with site selection and seeks locations that can support a gym while limiting internal competition among Powerhouse Gyms units. That process is intended to support cooperation and continued growth across the network.
A Powerhouse Gyms franchise places a buyer in the fitness industry under a brand associated with serious training, member results, and an established operating history. Its 34 total units represent a system that is stable while still capable of growth. The broader fitness market has continuing consumer demand and a membership model that can produce recurring revenue, but specific financial results for Powerhouse Gyms units are not publicly disclosed in the source. Franchise support includes initial training and continuing operating guidance intended to help owners manage the facility and build membership. The investment range is $48,000 to $787,900, in addition to the initial franchise fee of $26,171. A buyer should review the full cost structure, local market conditions, staffing needs, and potential revenue sources before proceeding. The opportunity may suit someone with financial capacity for the stated investment, leadership skills, interest in fitness, and willingness to follow the Powerhouse Gyms system. PeerSense provides franchise research and introduces franchise buyers to SBA and conventional lenders. PeerSense is not a lender. The complete Powerhouse Gyms franchise profile on PeerSense includes the available independent franchise intelligence data.
Loan Activity Score
27/100
SBA Default Rate
15.2%
Active Lenders
23
According to its Franchise Disclosure Document or public business records, Powerhouse Gyms has 34 locations, all owned by franchisees. Public SBA loan records show 23 lenders made 33 loans to franchisees of Powerhouse Gyms. PeerSense calculates Powerhouse Gyms's score as 27 out of 100, using public SBA loan performance and recent lending activity.
34 locations
$48,000 to $787,900
$26,171
34
34 franchised
Proprietary PeerSense metric
LimitedDistinct lenders in public SBA records for Powerhouse Gyms
33
Total SBA loans
$325K
Average loan size
Source: public SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records through December 31, 2025
Referral fee at closing
SBA Lending Activity for Powerhouse Gyms
Loan Activity Score Breakdown
Established (25 to 99 loans)
Are lenders increasingly or decreasingly funding this brand? Growing trends score highest.
Blended default rate (recent + all time) compared to NAICS sector peers.
Quality lenders actively backing this brand, with penalty for lender pullback.
FDD availability, Item 19 disclosure, and overall data completeness.
Geographic spread of SBA funded locations across states.
SBA Lending Performance
SBA Default Rate
15.2%
vs 7.9% peer avg
SBA Loans
33
Total Volume
$10.7M
Active Lenders
23
3 selective
States
15
vs. SBA Sector Average
SBA loan default rate vs. all franchises in the same NAICS sector, not limited to direct competitors
Key Highlights
Franchise Financing Resources
Data Insights
Key performance metrics for Powerhouse Gyms based on SBA lending data
SBA Default Rate
15.2%
7.3% above peer avg
SBA Loan Volume
33 loans
Across 23 lenders
Lender Diversity
23 lenders
Avg 1.4 loans per lender
Investment Tier
Significant investment
$48,000 to $787,900 total
Powerhouse Gyms: Deep SBA Data
Brand specific metrics derived directly from SBA 7(a) approval records: peak lending year, leading state, average loan size, and lender concentration. PeerSense computes these per brand so capital advisors and prospective franchisees can benchmark this opportunity against the rest of the franchise universe.
Peak SBA Year
1995
7 approvals. The best year on record for Powerhouse Gyms.
Top SBA State
Michigan
16 SBA financed Powerhouse Gyms locations, the densest operator footprint.
Average Loan Size
$341K
Median $250K. Use as a sizing anchor when modeling your own Powerhouse Gyms unit.
Lender Concentration
39%
Moderately Spread
Share of Powerhouse Gyms approvals captured by the top 3 SBA lenders.
Powerhouse Gyms's SBA lending pipeline peaked in 1995 (7 approvals). Operator density is highest in Michigan with 16 SBA financed locations. Average funded ticket sits at $341K, with the median at $250K. Lender mix is moderately spread: the top three SBA lenders account for 39% of approvals. Meaningful choice exists, but specific lenders carry the brand.
Payment Estimator
Estimated Monthly Payment
$497
Principal & Interest only
Indicative only, as of October 1, 2026. Not a quote, commitment or offer of credit. Final pricing, leverage and terms are determined by the lender at underwriting, after full transaction materials are reviewed. PeerSense sources the file. The lender sets pricing. What these terms mean.
Locations
Powerhouse Gyms, unit breakdown
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Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and 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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