Retro Fitness logo

Retro Fitness

Health clubs
Investment
$1,400,000
Initial Franchise Fee
$29,000
Units
92
Growth Rate
-11%

Overview

Industry
Health & Wellness
Founded
2002
Franchising Since
2006
Parent Company
Leadership
Andrew Alfano, CEO
# of Employees at HQ
35

Units and Growth Chart

About Retro Fitness

For over 15 years, Retro Fitness has helped Americans meet their health and fitness goals. Its fitness programs are effective, and the business model is easy for franchisees to follow. 

Retro Fitness has been ranked in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 numerous times recently. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

Retro Fitness has grown since it started franchising in 2006, now boasting over 130 gym locations. If you want to help others reach their fitness goals while also flexing your business muscle with the right qualifications, you could become a Retro Fitness gym franchisee. 

Why May You Want to Start a Retro Fitness Franchise

As a franchisee, you can be an owner-operator directly in charge of your franchise or choose to hire a team to run it for you as an absent franchisee. 

Retro Fitness provides dedicated support to its franchisees. Franchisees receive development for a gym's grand opening and ongoing support after operations begin. The Retro Fitness franchise will assist franchisees in site selection, developing marketing and social media plans, price negotiation, and much more.

Retro Fitness prioritizes veterans, as it offers a discount off the franchise fee for those who have served and now wish to get into the gym business.

What Might Make a Retro Fitness Franchise a Good Choice?

Customers love Retro Fitness; they continue to choose it over other gym franchises because Retro Fitness strives to be an inclusive community and offers various workout plans at affordable and flexible prices. Retro Fitness offers reward programs, a fitness app, endurance and conditioning programs, cardio training, weight training, personal training, and group strength and conditioning workouts. Retro Fitness also has more than 150 pieces of premium equipment to fit clients' lifestyles. Amenities such as the Retro Blend smoothie bars, tanning, hydromassage, and child-sitting services are also available depending on a franchisee's total investment and site selection. 

To be part of the Retro Fitness team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment, including potential setup fees and a franchise fee. To meet the financial requirements, you will need a minimum net worth and liquid capital. Ongoing costs may also include a royalty fee and a marketing fund contribution. 

How Do You Open a Retro Fitness Franchise?

Retro Fitness has broken down its franchising process into eight steps. The first step, as with most franchises, is to fill out an inquiry form. A Retro Fitness franchise representative may follow up with you, review your financial qualifications, and send you the Franchise Disclosure Document. 

If you are a good match, you may be asked to attend a Retro Fitness franchise discovery day. Here, you may have the opportunity to speak with current franchisees and company executives. 

If all parties involved agree, you may be ready to sign a franchise agreement. From here, you may begin site selection and pre-construction with the guidance of Retro Fitness franchise representatives. Around the same time, you will also need to be trained under the Retro Fitness business model. 

Investment Details

Initial Franchise Fee
$29,000
Initial Investment
$1,400,000 - $2,200,000
Net Worth Requirement
$2,000,000
Cash Requirement
$500,000
Royalty Fee
5%
Ad Royalty Fee
2%
Technology Fee
Term of Agreement
10 years
Is Franchise Term Renewable?
Yes
Financing
Third Party
Veterans Incentive
Franchise fee waived, royalty fee reduced by 50% for 1 year

Available Territories

Franchising opportunities available in the following regions

United States International

Training & Support Programs

Comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you succeed

Training

On the Job Training
80 hours
Classroom Training
40 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 & Requirements

Key operational details and requirements for running this franchise

Is absentee ownership allowed?
Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
No
Can this franchise be run part time?
No
# of employees required to run
20-25
Are exclusive territories available?
Yes

Ranking History

Retro Fitness performance in the Franchise rankings over recent years

Find Your Perfect Franchise Match

See which franchises fit your budget and have open territories near you.

Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.

Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022