Franchise Empire Articles

Franchise of the Week: Crunch Fitness and a Home Services Resale Doing $700K**

Written by Tariq Johnson | Mar 29, 2026 1:45:00 PM

Hey Empire Builders, Welcome to this week’s Franchise Empire Newsletter, where we share specific franchise opportunities that we think are interesting and examples of everyday folks building their empires.

Today, in 5 minutes or less:

Home Services Resale Doing $700K** 

Is This the Most PROFITABLE Gym Business Model in 2026?

From Side Hustles to Scalable Ownership

Is Great Clips Still Worth Buying in 2026?

**Sales are non-verified information provided by the franchise Owner. The data provided has NOT been verified by the source; they should treat the values as approximated values. Buyer is encouraged to independently verify the financial information and asking price supplied by the Seller.

Attention Franchise Buyers:

For those of you who are struggling to find the right franchise, or maybe you’ve worked with a broker or consultant and haven’t had success…

We now offer complimentary access to our proprietary Zero to Profitable Franchise™ system to help you get access to the most proven franchises and reduce your risk, so that you can buy a money-making franchise with confidence and PROTECT YOUR ASSETS. 

This is exclusively available for franchise buyers that want to work with our team in a brokerage capacity to find, vet, and launch a money-making franchise.

You can schedule a free consultation with our team to see if you qualify and if we are the right fit to work with each other.

You can do that here https://www.franchiseempire.com/ztpf

FEATURED RESALE

Franchise resales possess many benefits for aspiring business owners – established cash flow, experienced employees, systems in place, and brand awareness, to name a few. 

CONFIDENTIAL - For Qualified Buyers 

Andover, Massachusetts, Georgia (CONFIDENTIAL: Brand & Location available upon request)
  • Home Services 
  • Asking Price: $125,000
  • Prior year Gross Sales: $700,745** 
  • 10 years in business
    **Sales/ SDE, or any financial numbers, are non-verified information provided by the franchise Owner. The data provided has NOT been verified by the franchisor. You should treat the values as approximated values. Buyer is encouraged to independently verify the financial information and asking price supplied by the Seller.

Franchise Empire’s Take:

  • Very mature brand with 233 open units
  • In demand services in fragmented industry
  • Recurring revenue
  • Low overhead
  • Possible opportunity to scale by purchasing other selling franchisees
  • Prior leadership and/or management experience a real plus
  • Pre-approval financing recommended

Curious to learn more about this particular franchise resale, or other resales available in your area?

We have a list of over 100+ resales with various brands spanning the United States and Canada. Click the link below to find out what specific opportunities are available in your area

🎉 New Franchise Owner through Franchise Empire 🎉

Michael has always had an investor’s mindset. Over the years he explored everything from crypto to vending machines, constantly searching for the next high-ROI opportunity. But this time, he wanted something different. Something stable, scalable, and connected to a real community.

He also wanted a business that could involve his family and potentially create a path for his wife to step away from her role at Exxon.

He explored a few options but nothing truly clicked at first. That’s when he connected with our team.

Working through the process helped him narrow his focus to service-based businesses with strong systems and real growth potential. Eventually, he found the right fit with a home improvement service model that checked every box: solid economics, scalability, and the flexibility to run with or without him in the day-to-day.

Today, Michael owns two territories in Katy, Texas and is building a business designed not just for profit, but for long-term opportunity for his family.

Big congrats, Michael. You’re just getting started

 

FRANCHISE OF THE WEEK


History:

Crunch Fitness began in 1989 in New York City when founder Doug Levine opened the first gym in a basement studio in Manhattan’s East Village. The concept was simple but different from traditional gyms at the time. Instead of focusing only on hardcore bodybuilding culture, Crunch introduced a more welcoming environment built around fun, inclusivity, and personality-driven workouts.

Early classes included creative offerings like co-ed wrestling, hip-hop aerobics, and other unconventional group fitness formats that helped the brand quickly build a cult following in New York. The company’s philosophy, often summarized as “No Judgments,” aimed to make fitness accessible to people of all experience levels.

Crunch began expanding through franchising in the 2010s, and growth accelerated rapidly as the brand positioned itself between budget gyms and high-end boutique studios. Today, Crunch operates hundreds of locations across the United States and internationally, offering a mix of affordable memberships, group fitness classes, and premium training options.

Numbers*:

  • Total Locations (2024): 422
  • Company-Owned Locations: 8
  • Franchise-Owned Locations: 415
  • Franchise Fee: $35,000
  • Royalty: 5% of monthly gross sales
  • Brand Fund: 2% of monthly gross sales
  • Estimated Total Investment:
    • Crunch Fitness Model: $928,000 to $3.7 million
    • Crunch Select Model: $804,000 to $5.198 million
    • Crunch Signature Model: $1.3 million to $6.7 million
*Numbers according to their website and FDD released on September 25, 2025


Function of the Owner:

Crunch Fitness franchisees typically operate as owner-operators or multi-unit investors overseeing large fitness facilities.

Initially, owners focus on:

  • Hiring and training fitness staff and management teams
  • Managing daily gym operations and member experience
  • Overseeing sales and membership growth
  • Driving local marketing and community engagement
  • Maintaining equipment, facilities, and programming standards

As the business grows, owners often build a management team and transition into overseeing multiple gym locations.

Ideal Franchise Candidate:

Crunch Fitness typically looks for candidates who:

  • Have significant capital and access to development funding
  • Are interested in operating large-scale fitness facilities
  • Have experience managing teams and customer-driven businesses
  • Are comfortable operating within a structured franchise system
  • Have the ability to scale into multi-unit ownership

Due to the size and cost of the facilities, many Crunch franchisees are experienced operators or investment groups rather than first-time business owners

Financial Data*:
*Below screenshot taken from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document - Item 19

Benefits for the Franchisee:

Strong Brand Recognition – Crunch Fitness is one of the most recognizable gym brands in the U.S., with a loyal membership base and established reputation.

Growing Fitness Industry – Health and wellness remain a major consumer focus, with continued demand for accessible gym memberships.

Multiple Revenue Streams – Locations generate revenue from memberships, personal training, group classes, retail products, and other services.

Scalable Multi-Unit Model – Many operators expand into multiple locations once the first gym reaches operational stability.

Distinct Brand Identity – The brand’s “No Judgments” philosophy and fun, inclusive culture help differentiate it from traditional gym competitors.

To see if this franchise is available in your territory OR Check the availability of ALL franchises in your area

Episode #169: Is Great Clips Still Worth Buying in 2026?

Thinking about buying a Great Clips franchise? Before you invest $187K–$419K, watch this. We break down the real FDD numbers, average sales, operating cash flow, startup costs, and what most owners actually take home each month.
 
If you're evaluating hair salon franchises or comparing Great Clips to other franchise investments, this video gives you the honest breakdown so you can make a smarter decision.

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Podcast Platforms

That’s a wrap for this week’s Franchise Empire newsletter. 

Feel free to reply with any questions, or feedback. I appreciate and value your time and attention.

I’ll see you at the same time next week!

-Tariq and The Franchise Empire Team