How Much Does a Gold’s Gym Franchise Owner Make?
How Much Does a Gold’s Gym Franchise Owner Make?
Gold’s Gym franchise owners earn approximately $150,000 to $350,000 annually for a mid-size club (15,000–25,000 sq ft), with large-format locations (30,000–50,000 sq ft) generating $350,000–$600,000+ in owner income. Gold’s Gym operates on a membership model with high upfront capital requirements — the brand’s income potential scales significantly with club size and local market penetration.
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| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Owner Income (mid-size club) | $150,000–$350,000 |
| Average Owner Income (large format) | $350,000–$600,000+ |
| Royalty Rate | ~5% |
| Total Fees | ~7–8% |
| Initial Investment | $1.5M–$6.8M |
| Avg Membership Count | 2,000–5,000 members |
| Avg Payback Period | 5–8 years |
| SharpSheets Rating | 6.8/10 |
Gold’s Gym Income Model: Membership + Ancillary Revenue
Gold’s Gym generates income from three sources: monthly membership dues ($30–$60/month average), personal training (franchisee keeps 40–60% of PT revenue), and ancillary sales (supplements, merchandise, guest passes). A club with 3,000 members at $40 average EFT generates approximately $1.44M in annual membership revenue. Adding personal training and ancillary at a typical 25–30% of membership revenue brings total gross revenue to $1.8M–$2.0M.
At 7–8% total fees ($126K–$160K on $1.8M revenue) and 60–65% operating costs (rent, labor, utilities), the owner nets approximately $180K–$360K annually on a mature 3,000-member club.
Gold’s Gym vs. Fitness Franchise Competitors
| Brand | Investment | Total Fees | Est. Annual Income | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crunch Fitness | $314K–$6.7M | ~7% | $250K–$400K | Large gym |
| Gold’s Gym | $1.5M–$6.8M | ~7–8% | $150K–$600K+ | Large gym |
| Planet Fitness | $1.0M–$4.9M | ~7% | $200K–$320K | Large gym |
| Burn Boot Camp | $219K–$481K | ~7% | $80K–$160K | Studio |
Frequently Asked Questions About Gold’s Gym Franchise Income
How much does a Gold’s Gym franchise owner make?
A Gold’s Gym franchise owner earns approximately $150,000–$350,000 annually for a mid-size club and $350,000–$600,000+ for a large-format location with 4,000+ members.
What is the Gold’s Gym franchise fee and royalty?
Gold’s Gym charges approximately 5% royalty plus 2–3% in marketing fees, for a total ongoing fee burden of 7–8% of gross revenue. The initial franchise fee is $40,000.
How much does a Gold’s Gym franchise cost?
Total investment ranges from $1.5M to $6.8M depending on club size and real estate requirements. This is significantly higher than boutique fitness concepts but generates substantially higher per-location revenue.
Is Gold’s Gym a good franchise investment?
Gold’s Gym earns a SharpSheets rating of 6.8/10. The brand has strong awareness but faced significant headwinds during COVID (filed Chapter 11 in 2020) and has rebuilt its franchise system. Current risk factors include high capital requirements and a competitive large-gym market (Planet Fitness, Crunch, LA Fitness). Best for operators with real estate access and fitness industry experience.
How does Gold’s Gym compare to Planet Fitness?
Planet Fitness targets value-conscious members at $10–$25/month, generating lower per-member revenue but higher volume (5,000–10,000+ members). Gold’s targets premium members at higher price points but with fewer members. Planet Fitness has a stronger system with better corporate support and a lower SBA default rate. For income alone, both are comparable at $200K–$400K for a mature location.
Bottom Line
Gold’s Gym delivers solid income ($150K–$600K depending on format) but requires substantial capital ($1.5M–$6.8M) and carries higher brand-level risk than Planet Fitness or Crunch given its Chapter 11 history. Operators with real estate, fitness expertise, and strong local markets can generate excellent returns — especially with large-format clubs. For full FDD data, visit FranchisePayback.com →
Compare all fitness franchise income →
— SharpSheets Editorial Team | sharpsheets.io | Last Updated: July 2026