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.
Planet Fitness financing snapshot
SBA Franchise Directory
Listed
Loan programs typically used
SBA 7(a), SBA 504, Equipment financing
Total investment
$969,000–$4.2M
Minimum equity injection
10%–20%
Net worth required
$500,000
Typical timeline to funding
60–90 days
Source: Planet Fitness Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) + published franchisee financing guidance · as of 2026-07-25. Figures vary by lender, market, and individual borrower profile; verify current terms with your funding partner before applying.
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
1 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.
2 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 + 3.0% 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
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
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 Fed Small Business Credit Survey finds bank loans and SBA-guaranteed financing remain the primary credit sources fitness and recreation small employer firms use to fund startup and build-out costs at this investment tier. — Federal Reserve — Small Business Credit Survey
9 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 8):
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an SBA loan to finance a Planet Fitness franchise?
Yes. Planet Fitness is on the SBA Franchise Directory, allowing lenders to skip independent franchise agreement review. SBA 7(a) can finance the portion above your equity injection, up to $5M. Larger new builds may also benefit from SBA 504 when real estate is involved.
How much cash do I need to open a Planet Fitness franchise?
Planet Fitness requires $500K+ in liquid assets and $1.5M+ net worth. The SBA equity injection adds a 10–20% cash requirement. On a $2M new club build, that's $200K–$400K in required injection. Satisfy both the SBA and Planet Fitness thresholds independently.
Is equipment financing available for Planet Fitness franchisees?
Yes — and it's particularly relevant given the equipment intensity of a Planet Fitness build-out. Equipment loans (3–7 year terms, equipment as collateral) can be layered on top of SBA 7(a). Franchisor-preferred equipment vendors may also offer vendor financing programs.
Does Planet Fitness offer in-house financing?
Planet Fitness does not operate a direct lending program. The company maintains relationships with preferred lender networks and equipment vendors who offer financing programs, but these are third-party products — not corporate-backed loans.
How long does SBA financing take for a Planet Fitness franchise?
Expect 60–90 days from a completed SBA application to funding. PLP lenders can issue conditional commitments in 3–4 weeks. Run the Planet Fitness franchisee approval process in parallel to avoid sequencing delays.
Summary:
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.
This article is for educational purposes and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Rates,
fees, qualification requirements, and product availability are illustrative ranges that vary
by lender, market conditions, and individual business profile. ClearValue Lending is a
funding platform; all financing is subject to lender partner approval and terms. Always read
your contract end-to-end and verify specific numbers before signing.
