Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness is the world's largest gym franchise, with more than 5,800 locations in about 40 countries and territories, offering 24/7 key fob access to fitness facilities. Members pay monthly or bi-weekly dues for access to cardio and strength equipment, with personal training and group classes available at additional cost.
Score generated by AI agents based on publicly cited evidence and reviewed by the project maintainer. Not independently validated. Last assessed 2026-10-01. Score revised 2026-10-01: 54 → 50.
Score History
Timeline events are AI-curated from public reporting. Score trajectory is derived from documented events.
Anytime Fitness opens its first franchised club in Cambridge, Minnesota, with a lean 24/7 key-fob model and low overhead. The franchise-first structure lets it expand quickly with few corporate-owned clubs. Contract and cancellation terms follow ordinary gym practice, and little is documented about their effect at this small scale.
The 1,000th club opens in January 2009 and Anytime Fitness is ranked the world's fastest-growing fitness club for years running. Co-founder Jeff Klinger sells out at the end of 2009. A June 2010 policy requiring franchisees to pay for each member enrolled in the Anytime Health program leads to a 2011 franchisee antitrust suit, and a 2010 voyeurism case at a Baton Rouge club exposes thin oversight of franchise staff.
Roark Capital takes a large minority stake and places directors on the board. Self Esteem Brands adds Basecamp Fitness (2018) and The Bar Method (2019), and Anytime Fitness passes 3,000 clubs in 2015 as international growth outpaces the US. A Franchise Chatter analysis of the FDD, first published in 2017, details layered franchise fees, and a 2019 TCPA suit targets promotional texts.
COVID-19 closures begin in mid-March 2020; corporate promises membership freezes but leaves their timing to each club, and franchisees' insurance claims against Markel are dismissed in 2021. In November 2021 Self Esteem Brands securitizes its franchise royalties in a $510.75 million deal that funds a distribution to its parent. Courts confirm the franchise shield, as in Flynn (2022).
The Self Esteem Brands-Orangetheory merger closes, creating what becomes Purpose Brands, led from November 2024 by PE veteran Tom Leverton. Growth shifts abroad (only 53 of 365+ 2025 openings were in the US, where the franchised base is shrinking), a 2026 securitization adds debt at about 5.3x leverage, and the franchisee marketing fee rises 50%. Cancellation stays in person or by mail in most states after the FTC rule's 2025 vacatur, and a 2026 Australian tribunal finds the chain's 'any gym' marketing misleading.
Alternatives
A nonprofit with a community mission, far less enshittified than Anytime Fitness. YMCAs offer comparable amenities (weight rooms, cardio equipment, group classes, pools at many locations) without the predatory cancellation process. Monthly memberships are standard with no long-term contract required at most locations, and many associations offer income-based financial assistance.
Starting at $15/month plus an annual fee, it's far cheaper, and some locations now allow online cancellation alongside the usual in-person or certified-mail options, a modest process improvement over Anytime Fitness. The tradeoff: limited free weights, no traditional group classes, and the 'lunk alarm' culture. Best for casual gym-goers who prioritize low cost.
Dimensional Breakdown
Summaries below were written by AI agents based on the cited evidence. They are editorial interpretations, not independent research findings.
Dimension History
Timeline (36 events)
First Anytime Fitness Franchise Opens in Cambridge, MN
The first Anytime Fitness club opens in Cambridge, Minnesota, operated by franchisee Eric Keller, a former employee of co-founders Chuck Runyon, Dave Mortensen and Jeff Klinger. The concept centers on low-overhead, small-format gyms with 24/7 key fob access and no staff required during off-hours. Keller went on to open eight units.
Anytime Fitness Expands Internationally to Canada
Anytime Fitness opens its first club outside the United States in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The founders had sold 29 franchises before opening a corporate-owned location, and the franchise-first model meant rapid expansion with minimal corporate operational oversight.
Franchise Expansion Creates Inconsistent Labor Standards Across Network
By 2008 Anytime Fitness had almost 700 franchisees in 45 U.S. states and Canada, and labor practices are set by individual franchise owners. Employee reviews describe personal trainers working as 1099 independent contractors with no base salary, paid by commission or per session, and owners who do not pay a survivable wage. The franchise model means corporate sets no uniform labor standards and bears no direct responsibility for how individual franchisees treat employees.
1,000th Anytime Fitness Club Opens in Wake Village, Texas
Anytime Fitness opens its 1,000th club in Wake Village, Texas, in January 2009, a year after reporting almost 700 franchisees in 45 states and Canada. By October 2009 it had more than 1,200 clubs. This rapid expansion amplifies quality inconsistency across the franchise network, as corporate has limited ability to enforce standards across so many independently owned locations.
Co-Founder Jeff Klinger Sells Shares and Departs
Jeff Klinger, Anytime Fitness CEO and co-founder since 2002, sells his shares and steps down. Chuck Runyon takes over as CEO. Klinger's departure marks the transition from a founder-operated startup to a more corporate-managed franchise operation. Klinger continues to serve as president of the franchise's preferred insurance provider.
Named Fastest-Growing Fitness Club by IHRSA
IHRSA's annual Global 25 rankings name Anytime Fitness the world's fastest-growing fitness club, part of a run that reached seven consecutive years by 2014 (it added 338 gyms in 2013 alone). The recognition validates the aggressive franchise expansion model but does not address growing quality variation across locations.
Video Voyeurism Incident Leads to Class Action Lawsuit
Terry Telschow, a trainer working as an independent contractor at a Baton Rouge, Louisiana Anytime Fitness franchise, is arrested for hiding a pen camera in the women's shower room; police recover video of at least four women. He later pleads guilty to four counts of video voyeurism. In 2012 a Louisiana appeals court rules that the 250-300 women who used the gym while he worked there can join a class action against the franchise owner. The case highlights the lack of corporate oversight over franchisee hiring and facility security.
Franchisees File Antitrust Lawsuit Over Anytime Health Fees
A group of Anytime Fitness franchisees sue in Illinois federal court, alleging the company breached their franchise agreements and violated antitrust law by tying franchises to its Anytime Health online wellness program. Under a June 2010 policy, franchisees had to pay $0.50 per month for each club member enrolled in Anytime Health (capped at $225 per club per month) to an Anytime Fitness affiliate, a fee they said was never disclosed when they signed. The case is transferred to Minnesota, where the franchisees end the suit in October 2012.
Self Esteem Brands Formed with Waxing the City Acquisition
Runyon and Mortensen create Self Esteem Brands as an umbrella holding company, acquiring Waxing the City salon chain as its first non-fitness brand. The corporate restructuring marks the shift from a single-brand franchise to a multi-brand holding company focused on scaling across recession-resilient service industries. This creates additional corporate layers between the parent company and gym members.
Ranked #1 on Entrepreneur Franchise 500 List
Entrepreneur magazine ranks Anytime Fitness #1 on its Franchise 500 list, the first fitness franchise ever to achieve the top spot, placing above Subway, McDonald's, and Hampton Hotels. The ranking repeats in 2015 and 2016 for Top Global Franchise. The accolades accelerate franchise sales and validate the rapid-expansion model.
Roark Capital Group Acquires Minority Stake
Atlanta-based private equity firm Roark Capital Group makes an equity investment in Anytime Fitness, acquiring a large minority share. Roark Managing Directors Erik Morris and Steve Romaniello join the board. Roark, whose 31 franchise brands had nearly 18,000 locations and $16 billion in systemwide revenue, brings a PE-oriented growth-maximization approach to the franchise. Piper Jaffray advises on the transaction.
Louisiana Supreme Court Reverses Class Certification in Voyeurism Case
In Doe v. Southern Gyms, the Louisiana Supreme Court reverses the certification of a class of women who used the women's changing room at the Baton Rouge Anytime Fitness franchise where a trainer had hidden a pen camera. The court holds that the plaintiff had not shown the class was numerous enough, so the claims cannot proceed as a class action against the franchise owner.
3,000th Anytime Fitness Club Opens in England
Anytime Fitness opens its 3,000th gym in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, reaching the milestone in 13 years, faster than McDonald's (20 years), Subway (15) or Dunkin' Donuts (37). Global expansion now outpaces domestic growth for the first time. New master franchise agreements are announced for Sweden and Italy, and the company celebrates its 100th gym in Japan.
Franchise Chatter Catalogs the Fees in the Anytime Fitness FDD
A Franchise Chatter analysis of the Anytime Fitness Franchise Disclosure Document, first published in 2017 and since updated to list 36 fees, details what franchisees pay beyond the $42,500 initial fee: a flat monthly fee that starts even before opening if the club isn't open within 12 months of signing, a General Advertising and Marketing Fee the franchisor can raise on 60 days' notice, required local marketing spend of $600-1,000 a month, a monthly technology fee, and purchases from designated equipment vendors. The fee structure deepens franchisee lock-in after a total investment that FDD data put at roughly $459,000-$908,000.
Self Esteem Brands Acquires Basecamp Fitness
Self Esteem Brands acquires Basecamp Fitness, a high-intensity interval training concept, adding another brand to its portfolio. The acquisition signals the parent company's strategy of building a multi-brand fitness empire through acquisition rather than improving existing Anytime Fitness locations.
TCPA Lawsuit Filed Over Unsolicited Promotional Text Messages
Scottsdale personal trainer Randy Bergeron files a federal class action lawsuit alleging Anytime Fitness sent unsolicited promotional text messages offering '$1' membership deals using an automatic telephone dialing system without prior written consent. When Bergeron replied 'STOP,' additional promotional texts continued arriving within days.
Self Esteem Brands Acquires The Bar Method
Self Esteem Brands acquires The Bar Method boutique fitness chain with plans to franchise it worldwide. This third major acquisition further diversifies the parent company's revenue streams beyond Anytime Fitness, while corporate overhead and management attention continue to be split across an expanding portfolio of brands.
COVID-19 Closures Expose Uneven Billing Freezes Across Franchise Network
Anytime Fitness clubs across the U.S. and Canada temporarily close under COVID-19 mandates. Corporate says memberships are frozen so that no member should be charged during closures, but warns that 'the timing of implementation of billing freezes will vary' because clubs closed on different dates. The episode shows how the franchise model leaves basic billing decisions to individual clubs.
Anytime Fitness Franchisees Sue Insurer Over COVID-19 Business Interruption
Fountain Enterprises, an Anytime Fitness franchisee, files a proposed class action on behalf of Anytime Fitness franchisees against Markel Insurance Company after the insurer denies business interruption claims for COVID-19 closure losses. A federal judge dismisses the case in 2021, leaving franchisees to absorb closure costs without insurance support.
Self Esteem Brands Acquires Stronger U Nutrition
Self Esteem Brands acquires digital nutrition coaching brand Stronger U, adding a digital-first subscription service to its portfolio. The acquisition builds an ecosystem of cross-sellable services that can be marketed to Anytime Fitness members, creating additional upselling channels within the franchise network.
Self Esteem Brands Securitizes Franchise Royalties, Funds Parent Distribution
KBRA rates Self Esteem Brands' first whole-business securitization: SEB Funding LLC issues $510.75 million of notes backed by substantially all of the company's revenue-generating assets, including Anytime Fitness franchise agreements, royalties and fees. Proceeds repay existing debt and fund general corporate purposes, including a distribution to the parent. The system had 5,153 units and about $1.7 billion in systemwide sales.
Court Rules Franchisor Not Liable for Franchisee Equipment Injury
In Flynn v. Anytime Fitness, a Louisiana court grants summary judgment to Anytime Fitness after a member is severely injured by a used inversion table purchased from Craigslist by a franchisee in violation of the franchise agreement. The court finds the franchisor lacked sufficient control over day-to-day operations to establish liability. The ruling reinforces the corporate shield the franchise model provides, insulating corporate from franchisee negligence even when members are harmed.
Self Esteem Brands Announces Merger with Orangetheory Fitness
Self Esteem Brands and Orangetheory Fitness announce intent to merge as equals in an all-stock transaction, creating a company with about 7,000 franchise locations and combined systemwide sales of $3.5 billion across 50 countries. Roark Capital has been invested in both companies since 2014 and 2016 respectively.
Orangetheory-Self Esteem Brands Merger Completes
The merger between Orangetheory Fitness and Self Esteem Brands officially closes, creating what the companies call the world's largest portfolio of fitness, health and wellness franchise brands. The combined, as yet unnamed, entity has about 7,000 franchise locations across 50 countries and $3.5 billion in systemwide sales. The consolidation reduces competitive diversity in the franchise fitness market.
FTC Finalizes Click-to-Cancel Rule Targeting Gym Cancellation Practices
The Federal Trade Commission finalizes its 'Click-to-Cancel' rule requiring businesses including gyms to make cancellation as easy as signup, and letting members who joined in person cancel online or by phone. The rule directly targets practices like Anytime Fitness's in-person/certified-mail cancellation requirement.
HFA Reports 48-1 Win Record Blocking State Consumer Protection Bills
The Health & Fitness Association releases its 2024 State Advocacy Report showing 48 wins and one loss on key state bills, including stopping or amending 31 click-to-cancel and auto-renewal bills and eight total-pricing disclosure bills in five states; it says it averted phone-staffing requirements in California. The HFA also points to key concessions it secured in the FTC's newly finalized click-to-cancel rule. These wins protect the industry from rules that would directly affect Anytime Fitness's pricing opacity and cancellation friction.
Purpose Brands Named, PE Veteran Tom Leverton Appointed CEO
The merged entity is officially named Purpose Brands, and Tom Leverton is appointed its first CEO. Leverton most recently was an operating partner at Pritzker Private Capital and previously served as CEO of CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese), Topgolf and Omniflight. Co-founder Chuck Runyon, the former Self Esteem Brands CEO, moves to co-chair the Purpose Brands board. The appointment of a PE-oriented executive signals prioritization of expansion and financial optimization over franchisee or member welfare.
Illinois Law Requires Email or Online Gym Cancellation
Illinois Public Act 103-0838 takes effect, requiring gyms and fitness centers to accept written cancellation by email or through the club's website, in addition to certified or registered mail, instead of only in person or by mail. The law directly targets the in-person/certified-mail cancellation practices used by Anytime Fitness and similar chains.
Trustpilot Reviews Rate Anytime Fitness About 2.5 Stars
Anytime Fitness's Trustpilot TrustScore stands at 2.5 out of 5 from 461 reviews. Recent reviews describe cancellations that are not processed, continued card charges, and facility complaints such as poorly maintained showers. The franchise model means corporate collects its flat monthly royalty regardless of facility condition.
Eighth Circuit Vacates FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacates the FTC's Click-to-Cancel rule, removing the federal mandate that would have required gyms to offer easy online cancellation matching the ease of signup. The Health & Fitness Association celebrates the ruling as a 'major victory for the fitness industry.' The vacatur preserves Anytime Fitness's ability to maintain in-person/certified-mail cancellation in most states.
New TCPA Lawsuit Filed Over Prerecorded Voicemail Messages
Chet Michael Wilson files a class action against Anytime Fitness Franchisor LLC and Anytime Fitness Springfield in Oregon federal court (Case No. 6:26-cv-00019), alleging unsolicited prerecorded telemarketing calls in December 2025 to consumers on the National Do Not Call Registry. This is the second TCPA lawsuit against Anytime Fitness in the record, following the 2019 text message suit, suggesting a pattern of aggressive telemarketing practices across the franchise network.
Anytime Fitness Opens 365+ New Clubs in 2025, Averaging One Per Day
Purpose Brands announces that Anytime Fitness opened over 365 new clubs in 2025, averaging more than one new location per day. The company targets 10,000 total units by 2030. The continued aggressive expansion prioritizes franchise fee collection and market saturation over improving conditions at existing locations.
Purpose Brands Prices $737.8 Million Securitization at 5.3x Leverage
SEB Funding, the securitization vehicle for Purpose Brands' franchise revenues from Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory and its other brands, prepares a $737.8 million series 2026-1 note sale, its third since 2021, with leverage of about 5.3x per KBRA. The notes, rated BBB, are backed by franchise agreements, royalties, fees and rebate revenue and replace the 2021 notes.
Court Recommends Dismissing Franchisor from TCPA Text-Message Suit
In Bukowiec v. Anytime Fitness, filed in September 2025, a New Jersey member alleges that the Elmwood Park franchisee sent telemarketing texts after he replied STOP and outside permitted hours, at the franchisor's direction. A magistrate judge recommends dismissing Anytime Fitness Franchisor LLC for lack of personal jurisdiction, finding no sufficient link between the franchisor and the messages. The franchisee remains a defendant.
2026 FDD Raises Franchisee Marketing Fee 50% as US Units Shrink Again
Anytime Fitness's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document sets the required marketing fee at $900 per month per center, up from $600 in the 2025 FDD, alongside a flat monthly fee of $842. Franchised US outlets fell for a third straight year, from 2,290 to 2,271 in 2025. Coaching (personal training) made up 16.5% of the average franchised center's 2025 revenue of about $447,000.
Australian Tribunal Finds 'Any Gym' Marketing Misleading Over Membership Transfers
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal finds Anytime Fitness misled customers by promoting access to more than 600 Australian gyms without making clear that regular use of another club can trigger an automatic transfer to that club's higher price. Member Reginald Yakob's weekly rate rose from $19.95 to $25.95 after a move; cancelling would have cost about $400. The tribunal orders a $129.75 refund and finds the franchise gave 31 days' notice of the increase instead of the 35 its contract required.
Evidence (40 citations)
D1: User Value Erosion
D2: Business Customer Exploitation
D3: Shareholder Extraction
D4: Lock-in & Switching Costs
D5: Twiddling & Algorithmic Opacity
D6: Dark Patterns
D7: Advertising & Monetization Pressure
D8: Competitive Conduct
D9: Labor & Governance
D10: Regulatory & Legal Posture
Scoring Log (7 entries)
Checked 78 items (36 timeline, 34 evidence, 6 milestones, 2 alternatives) + prose. 34 verified, 33 corrected (7 date-only), 1 re-sourced, 10 removed. Invented (contradicted): Anytime Health $0.50 fee described as a member surcharge (NDIL 2012 opinion: charged to franchisees); Trustpilot '1.8 stars' (Trustpilot shows 2.5/461 in May 2025, 2.4/748 now); Subway '25 years' to 3,000 units (Anytime Fitness PR says 15). Removed 6 synthetic or unsupported timeline events and 4 dead-source evidence items; fixed TCPA filing date (Jan 2026), voyeurism arrest date (Apr 2010), $3.5B vs $3.7B, Illinois law (email/website, not phone), club size, fee figures.
54->50. D1 5->4 (recalibration + correction: Trustpilot is 2.4 not 1.8; complaints mostly billing, no documented network-wide decline), D2 6->4 (recalibration: flat $842 fee + $900 marketing is ~4-5% of center revenue, below standard royalties; offset partly by 2026 marketing-fee hike), D5 4->5 (event: Sept 2026 NSW tribunal on automatic transfers to higher-priced clubs), D8 5->4 (recalibration: no exclusionary conduct; US system shrinking, growth international), D9 6->5 (recalibration: no anti-union, layoffs or wage actions found; contractor trainers and private pay opacity keep it mid-band). D3, D4, D6, D7, D10 unchanged. Eras: 2014-03-01 re-dated to 2014-03-03 (Roark investment), 2020-03-01 to 2020-03-16 (COVID closures), 2024-04-01 to 2024-04-02 (merger close); assessment-dated 'Franchise Empire' (2026-02-15) merged into the 2024 merger era, relabeled 'Purpose Brands Expansion'; 2002 and 2009 kept. Era 2009 D4/D6 lowered to 4 (no cancellation events found for 2009-2014); D2 raised to 4 (Anytime Health fee policy, 2011 suit). Since Feb 2026: 2026 FDD raised the franchisee marketing fee 50% ($600 to $900/mo) while US franchised outlets fell a third year (2,290 to 2,271); Purpose Brands priced a $737.8M whole-business securitization (5.3x leverage, Mar 2026); 365+ 2025 openings but only 53 in the US; NSW tribunal (Sept 2026) found 'any gym' marketing misleading over automatic transfers to pricier clubs; Bukowiec TCPA suit: magistrate recommended dismissing the franchisor (Mar 2026); Jan 2026 TCPA suit pending. No FTC/state AG action against Anytime Fitness found. Category OK.
Removed typed-in site scores from alternatives text (they go stale on re-score; the page shows live scores). No other changes.
No material changes since 2026-02-15. Checked company/parent news, FTC/regulatory actions, lawsuits, pricing/fee changes, layoffs/restructuring, cancellation complaints, and data privacy. FTC click-to-cancel revival (ANPRM, 2026) is industry-wide and not yet enacted; FTC gym enforcement targeted LA Fitness/Xponential, not Anytime Fitness; Singapore franchisee CPF charges and continued expansion are consistent with existing D9/D8 scoring.