Best Gym Franchises to Own in 2026

The gym franchise industry hit $46 billion in 2025, but here's what the glossy brochures won't tell you: franchise termination rates vary wildly between brands, some "low-cost" gyms have hidden fees that double your investment, and only about 60% of gym franchises disclose actual revenue numbers in their FDD.

We analyzed 40 gym franchise FDDs filed with state regulators. These are the same documents franchisees sign before writing a check—real investment ranges, actual franchise fees, reported revenues (when available), litigation history, and how many franchisees left the system last year.