Anytime Fitness
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fitness |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Chuck Runyon, Dave Mortensen, Jeff Klinger |
| Headquarters | Woodbury, Minnesota , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (50 countries) |
Key people | Chuck Runyon (CEO) |
| Products | 24-hour fitness centers |
Number of employees | 188 (2016) |
| Parent | Purpose Brands (since 2024) |
Anytime Fitness Franchisor, LLC, operating under the name Anytime Fitness, is a U.S.-based franchise network of 24-hour fitness centers, with its headquarters located in Woodbury, Minnesota. The brand boasts more than 5,000 franchised gyms worldwide, spanning 50 countries. In 2014, Entrepreneur magazine recognized Anytime Fitness as the leading franchise.
In 2024, the parent organization completed a merger with Orangetheory Fitness.
History
Chuck Runyon, Dave Mortensen, and Jeff Klinger first connected in the early 1990s while employed at a fitness facility in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They purchased Southview Athletic Club in 1995 and successfully expanded its membership from 500 to 4,000 before selling it in 2001. Drawing from their operational insights and feedback from gym members about their preferences, the trio developed the concept that would become Anytime Fitness.
The company was established in 2002. Eric Keller, who had previously worked at Southview, became the inaugural franchisee. The first franchised gym launched that same year in Cambridge, Minnesota, selected due to its large market size and absence of competing fitness centers. Additional sites opened in Duluth, Minnesota and Albert Lea, Minnesota, with 29 franchises sold prior to inaugurating a company-owned location in Bemidji, Minnesota.
Growth and international expansion
Anytime Fitness marked its international debut in February 2005 by opening a club in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. By 2008, the franchise network had grown to nearly 700 locations across 45 U.S. states and Canada, including a dozen gyms owned directly by the company. The milestone of the 1,000th club opening was celebrated in January 2009 in Wake Village, Texas. By October of that year, Anytime Fitness operated upwards of 1,200 gyms serving roughly 800,000 members.
Founder and CEO Jeff Klinger sold his stake and resigned in December 2009; Chuck Runyon then assumed the CEO role. Expansion continued into Japan, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and Ireland during 2010—following earlier entries into Mexico and India. The following year saw further growth into Qatar, Poland, and additional locations in the Netherlands. By 2012, Anytime Fitness had established a presence across Australia, Canada, Grand Cayman, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand, Qatar, and the UK.
That same year marked the creation of Self Esteem Brands by Runyon and Mortensen as a holding entity aimed at broadening their portfolio within personal care sectors. In November 2012, Waxing The City was acquired and transitioned into a franchise model aligned with Anytime Fitness’s approach. Subsequent purchases included Basecamp Fitness (2018), The Bar Method (2019), and Stronger U Nutrition (2021).
In December 2013, Anytime Fitness secured a 38-acre property in Woodbury, Minnesota to serve as its new corporate headquarters. Roark Capital Group took a substantial minority ownership position in March 2014; Erik Morris and Steve Romaniello joined the board of directors while Mortensen and Runyon maintained controlling ownership and operational leadership.
The company celebrated opening its 3,000th gym on October 12, 2015 in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. In April 2016, headquarters operations moved from Hastings to an expansive Woodbury facility spanning 80,000 square feet with features including a tattoo parlor and running trail.
June 2017 saw Anytime Fitness become the first American fitness franchise authorized to operate via master franchising in China through an agreement with Maurice Levine. In 2019, it further expanded its footprint by equipping gym facilities aboard the cruise ship Magellan Explorer during Antarctic voyages.
By 2018, Anytime Fitness managed over 4,200 gyms serving three million members across more than 32 countries; this number increased to over 5,200 locations by 2023.
In February 2024, Self Esteem Brands revealed plans to merge with Orangetheory Fitness to form a combined fitness franchise network exceeding 7,000 sites with annual revenues totaling $3.5 billion. The merger was completed in April 2024 under the newly formed parent entity Purpose Brands.
Operations and amenities
Anytime Fitness facilities remain open around the clock throughout the entire year. Membership fees differ depending on the member's designated "home club," yet members enjoy access to all other gyms worldwide. By 2016, the workforce included 188 employees. A distinctive element of the corporate culture is its exceptional brand allegiance, with approximately 4,000 individuals—including CEO Chuck Runyon—bearing tattoos of the company logo. This practice is encouraged by the organization, which arranges for tattoo artists to be present at monthly training sessions and covers the associated expenses.
Awards
Anytime Fitness has earned notable accolades within the industry, such as being recognized as the fastest-expanding fitness chain by the International Health, Racquet, and Sports Club Association in 2010. Entrepreneur magazine awarded it the top spot on their Franchise 500 ranking in 2014 and named it first on their Top Global Franchises list for both 2015 and 2016.