Start a Crunch Franchise in 2024

2024 Franchise 500 Rank: #29 Ranked #39 last year

Initial investment: $918K - $6.7M

Units as of 2024: 458 30.1% over 3 years

Crunch is a gym franchise that encourages patrons to work out in a fun environment.

With signature group workout sessions that blend entertainment and hard work, the gym franchise has welcomed diverse groups through its doors since opening and beginning to franchise in 2010. No matter your age, gender, or race, the franchise strives to create an empowering atmosphere where you can feel good about getting fit.

Crunch has more than 225 locations in the United States, another few dozen in Canada, and even a few international franchises. With the gym and personal fitness industry being an increasingly important one, you may find that opening a Crunch franchise is a good decision for you.

Why You May Want to Start a Crunch Franchise?

Blending business with health and exercise couldn’t get any more “gym-azing” (to use Crunch’s words). With transparent information on sales and optimal locations, Crunch may help you make all the right business decisions for your franchise from the start.

The franchise also gives your gym the support to promote both locally and nationally, taking advantage of the digital front. Crunch’s No Judgements®, a pressure-free attitude, may make signing up for a membership appealing to a broad audience. This may increase your chances at gaining customers and succeeding as a Crunch franchisee.

When you start a Crunch franchise, you create a loyal community that promotes healthy lifestyles. You also may create the “fun jobs near me” that personal trainers are typically searching for.

What Might Make a Crunch Franchise a Good Choice?

To be part of the Crunch team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. Additionally, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

Terms of agreement between Crunch and its franchisees usually last for 10 years, at which point you will be offered the chance to renew your franchise for a sum if the company wishes to continue its relationship with you.

How to Open a Crunch Franchise

Before making any financial commitments or signing an agreement with Crunch, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. This process may also include speaking to a financial planner and an attorney.

To get started with Crunch, you’ll fill out an online application. If your application and finances are approved, you’ll learn more about what it means to own a Crunch franchise. You may attend a webinar, download the Franchise Disclosure Document, and speak with other franchisees to better understand the business.

Speak to existing franchisees and ask questions directed to the Crunch team. If your net worth and available liquid capital match the brand’s requirements, you may qualify to open a Crunch franchise, and you can get started with an initial investment and training.

Once you meet with executives and tour a Crunch gym, you may decide to open a Crunch franchise. If both parties feel you’re a good fit for the brand, you’ll sign an agreement form and start “working out” your Crunch franchise location.

Company Overview

About Crunch

Industry	Health & Wellness
Related Categories	Fitness
Founded	2010
Leadership	Chequan Lewis, President
Corporate Address	1 Harbour Pl., #230 Portsmouth, NH 03801
Social	Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2010 (14 years)
# of employees at HQ	100
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises worldwide.
# of Units	458 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Crunch franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$25,000 - $50,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$918,000 - $6,691,000
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$2,000,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$400,000 - $500,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	20% off franchise fee with purchase of 3+ clubs
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	5%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	2%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	10 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Crunch has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	200 hours
Classroom Training	44 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	15
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes