SETS Hybrid Training

Sets Hybrid Training began franchising in 2022 and now has 15 operating locations across New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Founded by Anthony Kapasakis, who remains CEO, the brand traces its origins to approximately 2015 in New Jersey. Its core method is coach led functional circuit training in 50 minute sessions for members from age 14 to 75, with all ages using the same class format. Headquartered in Eatontown, New Jersey, Sets Hybrid Training operates 15 locations in the United States and has no international locations. The company is focused on proving and replicating its model domestically before pursuing global expansion. Several franchisees already operate second and third locations, providing evidence that existing operators are willing to invest additional capital in the system. PeerSense produced this analysis independently, without promotional material from the franchisor.

The global fitness market is projected at USD 146.33 billion in 2025 and USD 235.47 billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 8.12 percent. Another estimate places the 2024 market at USD 254.20 billion and projects USD 367.07 billion by 2032. A third forecast values the 2025 market at USD 148.03 billion and expects it to reach approximately USD 324.05 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 8.15 percent. These estimates differ in scale, but each points to substantial global growth over the next decade. The stated drivers include greater health consciousness, aging populations seeking functional longevity, and consumer spending that shifted toward physical wellness after the pandemic. North America holds approximately 38 to 39 percent of the global market in 2025, supporting United States based operators such as Sets Hybrid Training. Memberships account for 91.35 percent of fitness center revenue, while personal training and instruction are growing at an 8.75 percent CAGR through 2031. That mix favors coached concepts over equipment only or self directed gyms. Analysts describe boutique fitness as being in a golden era, supported by coaching communities and demand for guided, high accountability workouts. Hybrid training combines cardiovascular conditioning, free weights, and machine based resistance training in one class. It addresses demand for measurable outcomes and efficient workouts. Post pandemic surveys report that 42 percent of gym goers prefer hybrid or partly coached options, which aligns closely with the Sets Hybrid Training offering.

Sets Hybrid Training is positioned as a boutique studio franchise, but its current Franchise Disclosure Document figures are not publicly available. Prospective investors should request the FDD directly from the franchisor for complete financial terms. The company began franchising in 2022 and uses fixed franchising fees, which can make initial planning more predictable than variable fee negotiations in some emerging franchise systems. Industry benchmarks place initial investment for mid range boutique fitness studios at USD 250,000 to USD 700,000. Lower investment gym franchises may begin at USD 90,000 to USD 250,000, while large gym buildouts can reach USD 1 million to USD 4 million or more, depending on square footage and market. Sets Hybrid Training uses 50 minute classes with free weights and machines, suggesting a studio footprint that may fall within the mid range boutique band, although geography, lease terms, and local construction rates will determine actual buildout costs. Fitness franchise royalties commonly range from 5 to 7 percent of gross revenue, and marketing fund contributions commonly range from 1 to 3 percent of revenue. These figures are sector benchmarks, not disclosed Sets Hybrid Training terms. The brand works with ABC Glofox and has eight custom built technology features, indicating that a technology fee may be part of the operating cost model, although the allocation between franchisor and franchisee is not public. Owners must operate on site. That requirement reduces absentee ownership risk and may support an SBA loan application by showing direct operational involvement. Lenders generally view owner operators more favorably than passive fitness franchise investors. PeerSense introduces buyers to SBA and conventional lenders but is not a lender and does not approve or provide loans.

A Sets Hybrid Training location delivers 50 minute coach led functional circuit classes from warmup through cooldown without interruption. Classes use free weights and machines to create varied, full body training. Constant variation is intended to limit boredom, while coaches modify pace and resistance in real time. As a result, a 14 year old beginner and a 75 year old advanced athlete can train productively in the same session, expanding the addressable membership base beyond age specific studio models. Franchisees must be on site managers rather than absentee investors. Phil Diaz, a franchisee operating between New Jersey and New Tampa, has acknowledged that this requirement may slow expansion compared with passive ownership fitness franchises, while supporting consistency and member retention. The technology platform is ABC Glofox, a boutique fitness management system from ABC Fitness. Eight features were developed exclusively for Sets Hybrid Training to consolidate systems, support franchise onboarding, simplify royalty management, and improve communication between studios. Average member attrition across the network is 2 to 5 percent per studio. The brand says its grow from within approach gives franchisees substantial operating experience before ownership. Coaches who become owners already understand programming, member management, and studio culture, reducing the learning curve for people with no prior fitness background. Community activity is part of the model. Franchisees are expected to host monthly happy hours, annual holiday events, and member participation in local athletic events such as Spartan races. Standard discounts are available for fire and police personnel, healthcare workers, educators, and military veterans, giving franchisees a membership acquisition tool and a way to build local goodwill.

Investors must use franchisor discussions, franchisee validation, and third party benchmarks to build a unit economics model. The network attrition rate of 2 to 5 percent per studio is one useful operating data point. At that level, a studio charging typical boutique fitness membership rates may be able to model recurring revenue with less ongoing new member acquisition pressure than a higher churn competitor. Coach led concepts with strong community retention can reach the upper end of that range. Personal training and instruction, which generally carry higher per session margins than unlimited membership tiers, are growing at an 8.75 percent industry CAGR through 2031. Memberships account for 91.35 percent of fitness industry revenue, supporting the view that a retained member base can produce recurring cash flow with relatively low variable cost per active member. Investors should request franchisee contact references from the franchisor, which franchisors are required to provide in the FDD.

Sets Hybrid Training grew from its 2022 franchise launch to 15 operating locations as of December 2025, or roughly 4 to 5 net new franchise units per year. That pace reflects a focus on quality over volume. Tracking from April 2024 showed 12 locations, including three corporate locations in New Jersey and nine franchises across New Jersey, Murfreesboro Tennessee, and New Tampa Florida. The system therefore added approximately three net new locations during the eight months between April and December 2024. The company has announced plans to open approximately 10 additional studios within the next year in Florida, New Jersey, and Tennessee, which would double the current annual opening rate. The pipeline includes multiple franchisees opening second locations, at least one franchisee opening a third location, and many current single unit owners expected to open second locations in the coming year. This indicates that existing franchisees are generating expansion rather than the brand relying entirely on new external recruitment. The upcoming The Barn concept is a larger format gym as a clinic facility scheduled to open in August 2026 in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina. It will introduce youth focused programming as foundational fitness and age specific programming for older adults, extending the multigenerational model into a dedicated facility. The ABC Fitness partnership and its eight custom Glofox features provide current operating infrastructure. As the unit count increases, the cost of developing that technology can be spread across more locations, which may strengthen the system relative to smaller or less technology integrated competitors. Current concentration is in New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, with announced expansion into South Carolina and the Charlotte metro. This suggests a southeastern and mid Atlantic corridor strategy supported by population density, warm climate fitness culture, and favorable commercial lease markets.

The intended franchise candidate is an experienced fitness professional who has coached within the SETS system and is ready to become an owner operator. The grow from within recruiting model means that many prospective owners already know class programming, member relationships, and the ABC Glofox platform before formal franchise training. That experience can reduce early operating risk. The on site management requirement excludes pure financial investors and passive owners in favor of candidates who view daily studio involvement as part of their professional role. Active expansion targets include Florida, New Jersey, and Tennessee, while the planned South Carolina entry may create another near term market. Charlotte, North Carolina, will be anchored by The Barn's August 2026 opening. The model serves members from age 14 to 75 in one class format, making suburban markets with young families and active retirees natural territory fits. A prospective owner should plan for the time from signing a franchise agreement to opening a studio, including site selection, buildout, hiring, and technology onboarding for the custom Glofox platform.

Investors evaluating Sets Hybrid Training franchise cost, franchise investment, and long term return potential should assess the concept against a clear thesis: a boutique fitness company focused on coached training, expanding through an internal talent pipeline, using proprietary technology, and reporting attrition of 2 to 5 percent in a market projected to grow at 8 percent annually toward a USD 235 billion global valuation by 2031. PeerSense provides independent franchise intelligence for this evaluation, including Loan Activity Score scoring. Sets Hybrid Training currently has a moderate Loan Activity Score of 56. The platform also includes SBA lending history, location maps with verified Google ratings, FDD financial data, and comparison tools for reviewing Sets Hybrid Training alongside other boutique fitness franchises with similar investment ranges and operating models. PeerSense is built to support that research and to introduce franchise buyers to SBA and conventional lending sources. It does not lend, fund, or approve loans. The available profile includes 15 operating units, a confirmed pipeline of 10 new openings, The Barn gym as a clinic concept planned for 2026, and the ABC Fitness partnership with eight custom features and reported attrition of 2 to 5 percent. Investors can review the complete Sets Hybrid Training franchise profile on PeerSense for additional independent franchise information.