How to Finance a Planet Fitness Franchise in 2026

Planet Fitness total investment runs $969K–$4.2M depending on club size and market. SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 are both viable — here's how lenders evaluate the deal and what you need to qualify.

Key takeaways

• Total investment: $969K–$4.2M depending on club size, leasehold improvements, and equipment package
• Planet Fitness is on the SBA Franchise Directory — SBA 7(a) covers the financed portion up to $5M
• SBA 504 is a strong option when the franchisee is acquiring the real estate (owner-occupied fitness facility)
• Planet Fitness requires $1.5M+ net worth and $500K+ liquid assets for prospective franchisees
• Equipment financing is highly relevant — fitness equipment represents a large share of total investment
• Typical lender timeline: 60–90 days from completed application to funding

Planet Fitness is the largest fitness franchise system in the United States by member count, with a low-price, high-volume model ($10/month membership). Franchisee economics depend heavily on club size, lease terms, and equipment density. The $969K–$4.2M investment range reflects that variability. This guide covers financing mechanics only. For startup cost detail, see the companion cost-to-start guide.

Planet Fitness total investment + what lenders look at

Total estimated initial investment per the current FDD runs $969K–$4.2M depending on club square footage, leasehold improvement scope, equipment package, and real estate costs. Lenders evaluate the following when underwriting a Planet Fitness franchise deal:

• Equity injection: SBA requires 10–20% of project cost in non-borrowed liquid cash; Planet Fitness requires $500K+ liquid assets.
• Net worth: Planet Fitness requires $1.5M+ net worth — lenders verify independently before structuring the loan.
• Fitness industry experience: Not required but helpful — Planet Fitness management training covers club operations.
• Existing club cash flow (acquisition): Trailing 12-month membership revenue; DSCR of 1.25x or better.
• Personal credit: 680+ FICO is a common SBA lender threshold for deals of this investment size.

SBA 7(a) for Planet Fitness franchises

The SBA 7(a) loan program is the primary financing vehicle for Planet Fitness franchise acquisitions and new builds. Planet Fitness's listing on the SBA Franchise Directory allows lenders to bypass independent franchise agreement review. Key parameters:

• Maximum loan amount: $5M — most single-club Planet Fitness deals fall within this ceiling
• Terms: Up to 10 years for equipment and working capital; up to 25 years when real estate is included
• Rate: Prime + 2.75% for loans over $350K (variable); fixed-rate options vary by lender
• Use of proceeds: Leasehold improvements, fitness equipment, franchise fee, working capital reserve
• What it does NOT cover: The equity injection — from borrower's own non-borrowed liquid assets

SBA 504 for real estate and build-out

The SBA 504 program is particularly relevant for Planet Fitness when the franchisee is acquiring the commercial real estate outright — which occurs with freestanding or strip-mall anchor locations. A large club (15,000+ sq ft) with a property acquisition can easily reach $3M–$5M in total project cost, making 504's long-term fixed-rate debenture attractive. Structure: 50% conventional bank + 40% SBA 504 debenture + 10% borrower equity.

Equipment financing for Planet Fitness

Fitness equipment is a major cost driver in Planet Fitness clubs — treadmills, ellipticals, strength machines, and cardio equipment are all specified by the franchisor. Equipment loans (3–7 year terms, collateralized by the equipment) are commonly layered on top of the SBA 7(a) loan for Planet Fitness new builds. Planet Fitness's franchisor-preferred equipment vendors sometimes facilitate vendor financing or preferred lease programs for franchisees — worth evaluating against standalone equipment loan terms.

Franchisor financing programs

Planet Fitness (PF Brands) does not operate a direct in-house lending program for franchisees. The company maintains relationships with a preferred lender network that it communicates to qualified franchisee candidates, and its equipment vendors offer commercial financing programs. These are third-party financial products, not corporate-backed loans. Planet Fitness corporate revenue comes from royalties and equipment sales — not lending activity.

Down payment and liquidity requirements

Planet Fitness requires prospective franchisees to demonstrate $500K+ in liquid assets and $1.5M+ net worth. These are franchisor thresholds independent of the SBA lender's injection requirement. The SBA injection (10–20% of project cost) must come from non-borrowed funds. On a $2M Planet Fitness new build, that is $200K–$400K in required SBA injection, with $500K+ total liquidity to satisfy Planet Fitness's franchisor threshold.

Timeline to funding

1. Pre-qualification: Lender reviews financial statements, Planet Fitness approval letter, and FDD. 1–2 weeks.
2. SBA package: Full SBA application: SBA Form 413, 3 years tax returns, business plan, site lease or purchase agreement. 2–3 weeks.
3. SBA approval: SBA review and conditional commitment. 3–6 weeks depending on lender's PLP status.
4. Closing and funding: Title, legal, and closing. 2–3 weeks post-commitment. Total: 60–90 days from complete application.

Apply with ClearValue Lending

ClearValue Lending works with franchise operators at every stage — from first-club acquisition to multi-club expansion financing. Apply at Find my match. Your file routes to one matched lender. Related: SBA 7(a) loans explained · SBA 504 loan explained.

Sources

• Planet Fitness is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, enabling expedited SBA 7(a) franchisor eligibility review. — SBA Franchise Directory
• SBA 7(a) loans provide up to $5M for eligible franchise startup and acquisition costs, with terms up to 25 years when real estate is included. — SBA 7(a) Loan Program
• SBA 504 loans finance owner-occupied commercial real estate with a long-term fixed-rate debenture structure — applicable when a franchisee acquires the club's physical real estate. — SBA 504 Loan Program
• The FTC Franchise Rule requires franchisors to disclose all fees and estimated initial investment in the FDD before a prospective franchisee signs. — FTC Franchise Rule — Buying a Franchise: A Consumer Guide
• FDIC data shows SBA-guaranteed loans are the dominant financing vehicle for high-investment franchise acquisitions where borrower equity meets the required injection threshold. — FDIC — Financial Institution Letters

What lenders look for in a Planet Fitness franchise application

Here are the five factors SBA lenders evaluate when underwriting a Planet Fitness franchise deal (per SBA SOP 50 10 7):

• Equity injection and liquidity requirement: SBA requires 10–20% of project cost in non-borrowed liquid cash. Planet Fitness requires $500K+ liquid assets independently. On a $2M new club build, expect $200K–$400K in SBA injection plus documentation that total liquid assets exceed $500K. Both thresholds must be satisfied separately.
• Membership ramp DSCR: Planet Fitness clubs operate on a membership model — cash flow does not stabilize until the club reaches critical member density, typically 12–18 months post-opening. Lenders require a stress-tested pro forma with break-even DSCR of 1.25×+ and commonly require 12 months of debt service reserve as a funding condition.
• Net worth and multi-club capacity: Planet Fitness requires $1.5M+ net worth per unit. For multi-club area development agreements, lenders model the complete committed development schedule — not just the immediate loan — evaluating cumulative financial capacity.
• Equipment collateral intensity: Planet Fitness clubs are equipment-intensive — treadmills, ellipticals, and strength machines carry a 30–50% advance rate as collateral. Equipment loans layered on top of SBA 7(a) are common, reducing the total SBA draw and providing a more flexible capital stack.
• Lease quality and real estate: Planet Fitness operates in large inline spaces (15,000–20,000+ sq ft). Lease quality — term matching loan amortization, landlord assignment provisions — is a critical collateral signal. For freestanding real estate acquisitions, SBA 504 provides a long-term fixed-rate debenture that can significantly reduce blended financing cost.

Deal structuring note

Planet Fitness's $10/month low-price model drives high member counts but requires scale to support debt service on a $2M–$4M investment. Lenders evaluate local market gym density and planned new club openings. In oversaturated markets, a more conservative membership ramp assumption is applied. For large clubs or real estate acquisitions, the SBA 7(a) + SBA 504 hybrid structure is standard.

Frequently asked questions