About The Exercise Coach Franchise
The Exercise Coach is a boutique fitness franchise that uses proprietary, technology driven exercise machines to deliver personalized strength training workouts in just 20 minutes, twice per week.
The brand's approach is built on the principle that short, intense, and scientifically optimized sessions produce better results than traditional lengthy gym workouts.
The Exercise Coach has been franchising since 2011.
The Exercise Coach Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$148K
Average Investment
$265K
Maximum Investment
$382K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $49,500 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | Greater of (i) 6% of monthly Adjusted Gross Revenues or (ii) $1,000 per month of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 1% of Adjusted Gross Revenues (Brand and System Development Fund Fee), Ranges from $2,000 to $2,500 per month (Local Marketing Fee), Up to $2,000 per month (Cooperative Advertising Fee) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $148,356 – $381,763 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $148K–$382K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (Greater of (i) 6% of monthly Adjusted Gross Revenues or (ii) $1,000 per month) and marketing fee (1% of Adjusted Gross Revenues (Brand and System Development Fund Fee), Ranges from $2,000 to $2,500 per month (Local Marketing Fee), Up to $2,000 per month (Cooperative Advertising Fee)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $49,500 | $49,500 |
| Initial Training Fee or Multi-unit Operator Training Fee | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Food, Lodging & Travel (up to 4 people) | $1,000 | $7,000 |
| Lease Deposit & 3 Months’ Rent | $4,000 | $18,000 |
| Utilities Deposits | $0 | $1,000 |
| Build Out & Improvements | $0 | $65,000 |
| Signage | $1,000 | $8,000 |
| Furniture, Decorations & Furnishings | $3,450 | $6,315 |
| Computer System | $1,250 | $3,500 |
| Technology Expense (3 months) | $1,107 | $1,107 |
| Third-Party Operating Software Expenses (3 months) | $1,486 | $1,486 |
| Telephone and Internet Services (3 months) | $400 | $1,200 |
| Fitness Equipment Package | $10,350 | $99,614 |
| Shipping, Installation and Setup of Fitness Equipment Package and Other Equipment | $6,973 | $9,500 |
| Initial Supply of Inventory | $2,550 | $4,250 |
| AED and First Aid Kit | $1,350 | $2,100 |
| Uniforms | $600 | $1,000 |
| Pre-Opening Marketing and Advertising Plus Print Collateral Material | $14,170 | $20,750 |
| Post-Opening Marketing and Advertising (3 months) | $15,000 | $22,500 |
| Business License | $250 | $750 |
| Professional Fees | $620 | $5,240 |
| Insurance (3-months’ premium) | $800 | $1,500 |
| Startup Payroll (3-months) | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 month period after opening) | $25,000 | $40,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $15,000 (reduced to $7,500 if buyer is an existing Exercise Coach® franchisee) |
| Renewal Fee | 20% of then-current initial franchise fee |
| Technology Fee | Varies (currently $369 per month) |
| Audit Fee | Actual cost of audit (including travel and lodging expenses for audit team) |
| Fines | Up to $500 per incident |
| Legal Support Fee | Up to $500 per occurrence |
| Ongoing Training / Assistance Fee | Up to $500 per person per day (plus reimbursement of expenses for onsite training / assistance) |
| Conference Registration Fee | Up to $500 per person per day |
| Late Fee | Lesser of 18% of amount past due or highest rate allowed by applicable law |
| Management Fee | $6,000 - $8,000 per month |
| Indemnification | Will vary with circumstances |
| New Product or Supplier Testing | $50 per hour |
| Insurance | Actual cost of premiums, plus our costs and expenses |
| Fees Imposed by Advisory Council | Set by advisory council, subject to our approval |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | Approximately 5 days |
| Classroom Training | 53 - 77 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 0 hours |
| Training Location | Lake Zurich, Illinois |
| Additional Training | Periodic refresher or additional training courses are mandatory for Managing Owner and managers. Remedial training may be required for operational deficiencies. Additional training can be requested by franchisee. Multi-unit Operator Training Program for area developers (5 hours classroom, 20 hours on-the-job). |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | Minimum of 5,000 qualified households with minimum household income of at least $100,000 |
| Description | Geographic area identified in Part D of ATTACHMENT "B" to the Franchise Agreement, based on zip codes or other boundaries. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | 5 years |
| Renewal Fee | 20% of then-current initial franchise fee |
| Renewal Conditions | Not in default; not more than two late payments in any 3-year period; timely notice (180-360 days before expiration); sign successor agreement and ancillary documents; sign general release (subject to state law); pay renewal fee; remodel or upgrade facility to comply with current standards and specifications; maintain possession of facility under lease. |
| Transfer Fee | $15,000 (reduced to $7,500 if buyer is an existing Exercise Coach® franchisee) |
| Transfer Conditions | Business opened; transferee meets franchisor's qualifications (good moral character, business experience, aptitude, financial resources); franchisee/owners in full compliance; transferee owners complete initial training; landlord consents to lease assignment; transferee obtains licenses/permits; transferee signs agreement to discharge/guaranty obligations; transferee signs new franchise agreement (or assigns existing); franchisee remodels or transferee commits to do so; pay transfer fee; franchisee/owners sign general release (subject to state law); subordinate transferee's obligations; franchisor does not exercise right of first refusal; other reasonable conditions met. |
| Termination for Cause | Failure to complete initial training; failure to obtain site approval; failure to secure fully executed lease and Lease Addendum; failure to open business in timely manner; insolvency/bankruptcy; seizure of assets; abandonment; refusal to allow inspection; license suspension/revocation; conviction of certain types of crimes; acts adversely affecting reputation; health/safety hazard; material misrepresentation; failure to pay amounts owed; underreporting by 3% (after similar breach); unauthorized transfer; unauthorized IP use; breach of brand protection covenants; breach of Franchise Owner Agreement; lease termination due to default; three or more breaches during any 12-month period; termination of any other agreement with franchisor or affiliate due to default. |
| Non-Compete Period | During the term of the franchise and for 2 years after termination/expiration |
| Non-Compete Details | During term: no interest (over 5% in public company) in Competitive Business, no diverting business, no inducing clients to transfer, no consulting using Know-how. After term: no Prohibited Activities in Restricted Territory (10-mile radius from facility and other Exercise Coach facilities). Restricted Period extended if breach occurs. Immediate family members are presumed to violate if they engage in Prohibited Activities. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | The Managing Owner must be actively involved in the operation of the Business on a full-time basis and provide on-site management and supervision, unless management functions are delegated to an approved manager. Managers must successfully complete initial training and sign a Brand Protection Agreement. All coaches must be Certified Coaches and sign a Brand Protection Agreement. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisees must purchase or lease certain "source restricted" goods and services from approved or designated suppliers, which may include the franchisor or an affiliate. These include facility lease, fixtures, furnishings and décor, signage, computer and POS system, fitness equipment and associated software (and mobile applications), inventory, uniforms, marketing materials and services, social media services, and insurance policies. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must use best efforts to ensure landlords sign the Lease Addendum. Proprietary fitness equipment and related software must be purchased exclusively from affiliate Gymbot. Non-proprietary fitness equipment must be purchased from approved/designated suppliers. All branded marketing materials must be purchased from franchisor or designated/approved suppliers. Social media services must exclusively use the designated supplier. Required insurance policies (except worker's comp) must be purchased from a designated supplier. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | In 2021, franchisor received $676,237 (14% of total revenues) from franchisee purchases/leases from designated/approved suppliers. Affiliate Gymbot received $3,316,439 from franchisee purchases/leases. Rebates from suppliers are anticipated to range from 2% to 15% of the cost of the item purchased. Currently receives 10% of production cost + $0.01 per mailer from Direct Mail Supplier and $50/unit for microshields from Equipment supplier. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing, nor do we guarantee any notes, leases, or obligations. |
The Exercise Coach Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$275K
Median Revenue
$260K
Revenue Range
$79K – $472K
Sample Size
88 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
The Exercise Coach Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordThe Exercise Coach has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
The Exercise Coach System Growth
Total Units
132
Franchised
130
Company-Owned
2
The Exercise Coach currently operates 130 franchised locations and 2 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 32 | 2 | 68 |
| 2020 | 27 | 2 | 93 |
| 2021 | 39 | 2 | 130 |
Transfers: 4 | Closures: 2
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$4.7M
Net Income
$1.1M
Total Assets
$2.3M
Audited by CYGAN HAYES, LTD. for year ending December 31st.
The Exercise Coach Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a The Exercise Coach franchise ranges from $148,356 to $381,763, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $49,500. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
The Exercise Coach charges a royalty fee of Greater of (i) 6% of monthly Adjusted Gross Revenues or (ii) $1,000 per month of gross sales, plus a 1% of Adjusted Gross Revenues (Brand and System Development Fund Fee), Ranges from $2,000 to $2,500 per month (Local Marketing Fee), Up to $2,000 per month (Cooperative Advertising Fee) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the The Exercise Coach Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from The Exercise Coach to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, The Exercise Coach franchise owners report average revenue of $275K and median revenue of $260K. This is based on a sample of 88 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Exercise Coach has been franchising since 2011. The FDD shows an investment range of $148,356-$381,763, a Greater of (i) 6% of monthly Adjusted Gross Revenues or (ii) $1,000 per month royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $49,500 and the total investment ranges from $148,356 to $381,763 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $70,430 in liquid capital is required. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from The Exercise Coach and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with The Exercise Coach or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com