For aspiring business owners passionate about fitness and wellness, franchising offers a proven pathway to launch a recognizable brand, complete with a reliable playbook and ongoing support.
In today’s evolving landscape, which emphasizes health, wellness, fitness and longevity, prospective franchisee partners have a wealth of franchisors to choose from—perhaps more than ever before.
Here are some of the leading franchise brands actively seeking dedicated partners and what sets them apart.
Revenue & ROI
F45 Training is a fast-growing functional fitness franchise that has just unveiled Recovery by F45, a new program giving partners the option to add cold plunge tubs, infrared saunas and percussive therapy equipment to studios as either an add-on purchase for members or as an a-la-carte option for drop-ins. The new initiative not only continues the momentum of holistic wellness trends but also has the potential to boost membership and increase revenue.
Prospective fitness franchisees looking for a more streamlined solution rather than a standard brick-and-mortar model should look no further than GymGuyz, a mobile in-home and on-site personal training franchise. The New York-founded fitness franchise has added assisted stretching to its offerings and just unveiled a new data platform, GG Drive, to advance ROI for its franchisees.
All About Wellness
A departure from recovery and fitness franchises, 100% Chiropractic offers clients adjustments, massages, assisted stretching, cold lasers and nutrition services. According to the brand, the 100% chiropractor model is suitable for non-chiropractors and has seen impressive numbers, with offices averaging nearly 250 patient visits per week and an average income in 2023 of $813,365.
Xponential Fitness, the leading boutique fitness and wellness franchisor, is seeing exceptional interest in Lindora, its latest acquisition. Lindora provides franchisees the opportunity to tap into the rapidly growing weight loss drug market, offering a range of services, including weight loss medications, weight management programs, hormone replacement therapy, IV hydration, nutrition services and more.
For prospective franchisees who want a winning combination of a science-backed workout and a household name attached, Pvolve is it. The functional movement fitness franchise, beloved by A-lister, brand ambassador and advisor Jennifer Aniston, delivers low-impact fitness and pain relief with its strength training method, cultivating a fan base of women of all ages.
Pilates took the world by storm in 2024 and has seen massive activity in the franchise space. Aspiring Pilates franchisees have an abundance of playbooks to choose from: FS8 (a brand under F45), Bodybar Pilates, JETSET Pilates, Club Pilates (a brand under Xponential Fitness), Studio Pilates International.
Hot, Cold and Beyond
Looking to bring the heat? Sauna franchises have emerged in the recovery space to treat a myriad of conditions and promote overall health. Perspire Sauna Studio is taking it a step further, offering a spa-like experience with a combination of red light therapy and infrared sauna. The franchisor has also added cold contrast therapy.
Most would agree that there’s nothing quite like the feeling of a good stretch, but receiving assistance from an expert in assisted stretching can be a game-changer. The assisted stretching space isn’t as saturated as other modalities, and franchisors such as Xponential’s StretchLab and Stretch Zone are leading the way. Stretch Lab, in particular, is in growth mode and touts a staff of trained Flexologists and MAPS, a revolutionary 3D body scan that evaluates how a client’s body moves.
Athletes Abound
Make no mistake: in a crowded space of boutique fitness, those who are sports-focused have several options, as well. D1 Training, a fast-growing franchise founded by former NFL player Will Bartholomew, delivers athletic-style programs to everyone from youth athletes to professional athletes to adults with both private and group offerings.
One of the most surprising and promising spaces in franchising at the moment is indoor pickleball. Following a key finding that the U.S. lacked the number of courts needed to support the popular sport’s rabid players, indoor pickleball brands like Pickle Rage and Drew Brees-backed The Picklr have stepped up their game. The Picklr recently signed a multi-year agreement with Wingfield to launch an AI coaching platform for its players, while PickleRage has caught the interest of GreenPeak Venture Partners, a private equity group.
Franchising continues to wind an interesting path, offering diverse opportunities across emerging trends. With the right brand alignment and commitment, owning a fitness franchise is not just a business opportunity but also a chance to make a meaningful impact in promoting health and well-being.
This article originally appeared in ATN’s Fitness & Wellness Franchise Outlook Report, where we take you inside the emerging trends and critical insights shaping the future of fitness and wellness franchising. Download the free report to find out what’s currently shaping health and wellness from the ground up.
