Anytime Fitness Franchise Complaints: Add yours as a comment below! Love the Anytime Fitness franchise? Tell us why!
Are you familiar with the Anytime Fitness franchise opportunity? Please share a comment below.
Also read: SNAP FITNESS Franchise Complaints
If you are searching for the right franchise opportunity, we hope you brought a shovel.
Even the absolute worst franchise disasters seem to receive high rankings in Entrepreneur and accolades in the mainstream business media.
Do some digging to find out the truth – then post it on UnhappyFranchisee.com for others to see.
In 2011, CNN.com named Anytime Fitness one of its “10 Great Franchise Bets.”
CNN made this pronouncement based almost solely on Anytime Fitness’ relatively low SBA loan default rate of 2.7%.
CNN wrote: “Anytime Fitness, a chain of gyms, offers customers workouts at their convenience. The clubs are open 24 hours a day. Members can exercise even when a club is not staffed, thanks to proprietary access software, security and surveillance technology.
“Co-founders Dave Mortensen, Chuck Runyon and Jeff Klinger — who has since left the company — opened the first club in 2002 in Cambridge, Minn. Less than 10 years later, there are nearly 1,600 clubs nationwide with more than 1.1 million members.
“More than half of the club owners have more than one location. Running an Anytime Fitness gym involves relatively low overhead, because large numbers of employees are not required. “
“…Of 147 SBA-backed loans between 2005 and 2010, there were just four defaults.
Despite the CNN’s implication that only four Anytime Fitness franchises have failed, a quick Google search reveals a different story.
Anonymous writes Maplewood, MN Anytime Fitness closed yesterday ( 5/25/11 ) and I showed up to exercise since management did not have the courtesy to notify any of the members.
Yelp reports Anytime Fitness – CLOSED 2501 7th St W St Paul, MN 55116
ABC57 reports SOUTH BEND, Ind.– Anytime Fitness is closing its doors at Eddy Street Commons.
Rasmus Auctioneers wrote: Anytime Fitness at Broadlands Center. Rasmus will make a complete liquidation of cardio, excess circuit, plated, strength and excercise equipment, office & business assets by internet only auction
Union County Weekly wrote: Stallings Anytime Fitness on Idlewild Road closed its doors on the last day of the year
Anytime Fitness franchise owners Chad and Jenni Riegel wrote: Dear Anytime Fitness Member, We regret to inform that we are forced to close anytime fitness – New Haven on August 31, 2011.
bcintron wrote: I was a member of the E. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV gym for three months, the gym was only open for about 5 months.
We could go on…
Anonymous writes:
All is not what it seems. A great concept except ATF wants all the control by making it mandatory to us ABC Financial. ATF owns ABC and this to me is a conflict of interest to the gym owner. As long as they have their hands on your money the only people that make money is them… this is not a easy business and far more difficult than what they try to make it out to be.Plus on average I would say that between the two of them you will be paying about 10-12% of your gross income to them which doesn’t leave much for you.
Bend Over Chuck writes:
BE PREPARED FOR THE MASS CLOSINGS OF BOTH FRANCHISES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. Besides a weak business model and crappy customer service most 24/7 clubs throughout the country are performing business contrary to the current state, county and city laws and regulations. BUYER BEWARE!
ANYTIMEASSHOLES writes
The owner of the anytime fitness in Ortley Beach New Jersey had the franchise for about 5 years. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a debilitating incurable disease. The franchise could not turn a profit so he had to close down when the franchise license and the lease on the property expired.
How did ANYTIME respond? By harassing the owner, sending threating letters from their scumbag ambulance chasing attorneys and threatening to sue the owner. They sent a private investigator to New Jersey to look for ways to screw the owner further. For what? Instead of letting him close the franchise and move forward with his life, made complicated by multiple sclerosis, these scumbags from anytime and their lowlife lawyers had to harass him and make his life difficult….
Anyone who wants to do business with these lowlife scumbags deserves all the bad experiences they will bring . They are the lowest of the low and don’t deserve to be a part of the American franchise field. They and their lawyers are the lowest form of life on the planet. They are all greedy un-caring scum.
NO HEART, ANYTIME wrote:
This company’s leader is Chuck Runyon CEO. The company is all about one thing and one thing only, MAKING $$$. The owners and management have signed contracts with their franchisees and they are going to enforce the letter of the law! Franchisees are getting screwed and passing this behavior onto their members. It is a vicious cycle. Corporate is making BANK while franchisees are wiping out. It is tragic for all of the franchisees who bought into this business model based on the information AF corporate sales provided. Does anyone really know how many AF’s are even making money?
ARE YOU AN ANYTIME FITNESS FRANCHISE OWNER OR FORMER FRANCHISEE? ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE ANYTIME FITNESS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
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I must say that I am the owner at the Lebanon, Oregon Anytime Fitness. Another concerned member advised me that a personal trainer I had to have leave the property (for a variety of morale, ethical, and after several member's complaints) had posed as a member "Sheila Carter"...(there is no member with that name here) and badmouthed the management, equipment and atmosphere of the club. This was all done while still training at the club according to the dates posted. Anyone who came into this club will see an entirely different story. I wholeheartedly wish the former trainer the very best in all of her endeavors. She did a wonderful job helping her members/clients as a trainer and is gifted at what she does. I also hope that wherever she takes her business as a trainer, that she is successful and reaches her own personal goals. While she may have not been a great fit here, I pray she finds the right outlet somewhere. Regardless, I am grateful I made the business decision I did and shortly afterward read the above false representation of my business as it was only one more confirmation it was the right choice.
Nancy Anderson:
I'd like to commend you for a very professional and effective response. It appears that this same person is posting on at least one other site. I think taking the high road as you have reflects well on you and your club, and wish we'd get others responding in an adult and constructive manner.
ADMIN
Like most gyms they jump you into a contract , "Buyer beware "
I would have liked to join the ATF in Framingham, MA yet found the terms so hard that I left. It was a dilemma. The base participation time frame is year and a half, which I believe is too long. A year is the length of I need to focus on. Be that as it may, I was willing to be adaptable on this. The arrangement executioner was the point at which I inquired as to whether the Framingham site shut. I was informed that I would at present need to respect my dedication for the rest of the agreement in light of the fact that there are different ATFs inside a 25 mile span. The following nearest ATF is 7 miles away in the following town. I clarified that I just need to join the Framingham rec center near my home, and would not consider driving 7 miles to the following town. Consequently, I wouldn't sign an agreement abandoning me uncovered if for reasons unknown the Framingham site shut. They lost another participation, and I lost having the capacity to work out where I need to. Predicament.
Very disappointed in this franchise. My husband and I have been the owners just a couple of years. After years of putting up with their shenanigans I am so relieved to be getting rid of it. The corporate gave us some bad advise on rent cost and equipment lease. The FAST people ( who are supposed to advise you on a choice of property did a terrible job mishandling our contract). We have spent almost 250K on this venture. The business was not making enough for the first 9 months to cover the cost of operation. We are now making about 25K gross. The cost of running the business is probably around 18K. ABC costs 2K a month. Anytime Fitness corporate just wants your money. There is very little support from them during building out of the club through grand opening, etc. They take advantage of people's lack of knowledge how to do business. We were never shown proper P&L of any existing clubs. When you are opening a new club you are on your own. When my husband went to meet up with AF employees in Minnesota he was told by one of the AF employees who is also an existing franchisee that he has never stepped into his club and his business is very successful. AF business model is very weak- they are simply learning on our mistakes. It almost ruined our marriage. There is no consistency throughout the franchise. Some of the clubs are very poorly run and the corporate does not do anything about it. It reflects badly on the entire brand. They lied to us about the start-up cost as well. It is true what they say about the kickbacks. Some vendors that you are forced either split the money with AF or sometimes they are simply owned by AF like the company that does security for all the clubs.
I own/operate a very successful non-franchise gym for over 7 years now. I make well over 6 figures per year and I have no corporate to answer to ever. I run my own ship, my way. I had no gym ownership experience prior to purchasing my current location and now have 2 gyms operating successfully. If you are in need of information on how to get it done without a franchise shoot me a message and I might be able to save you tons of wasted time and money.
Bill W.
http://www.fitnessfactoryfor10.com
ofc247.com
Do NOT invest even a $1.00 with this company. They get you to buy product from a "preferred vendors" costing you twice as much money because they get a kick back from it. They make you use Their billing companies etc. I could go on and on... On top of the thousands of dollars in kick backs they also charge you minimum 2500.00 a month in bogus fees. They do not help you with anything, they do however bully you. You pay for your own advertising etc.
After only having our gym for 5 years they made us do an unnecessary "reinvention" Why you ask? Because after WE invested our own money and took out loans to build a gym (they promised to help with) they decided to add new walls, purple scratchy turf, different colored tile, rugs you name it. The remodel costs on average 60,000.00 per gym. Its one thing to keep your gym up to date, re paint, keep it looking nice. Its another thing to tear up perfectly good carpet, tile etc. If you dont do it they fine you minimum of 500.00 a month, bully you and tell you they will take over your business.
In case most of you dont know.. Most owners of Anytime Fitness's are small time, local owned, family run.
Coming up with an unnecessary 60,000.00 to do this ridiculous "reinvention" for no reason is disgusting.
The sad thing is.. They dont care one bit how many lives and futures they are ruining. They just take in all the money and go home to their million dollar homes.
If you are considering buying into this franchise. Please read ALL complaints and do your research... I beg you.
Sincerely,
Drowning and losing it all.
These comments have saved me: time, money, credit and from making a bad career move which was going to be a lifetime investment for me, My passion is fitness and desiring to own my own gym, but was first considering a franchise such as anytime fitness, I've been searching for information about anytime fitness and was hard to fine the bad reviews i even took time out of my Sunday to try and talk to a Manager or owner, but not staffed on Sundays. I have great confidence now to open my own gym and treat people with honesty and respect. As a blue collar (Truck driver ) we work hard for our money and would appreciate it being well spent on great service.
The Anytime fitness on Kennedy, (Tampa, FL) is horrible. They have 6 tvs, one has been broken for one month, two tvs show constant info commercials, one is streaming local ads, and the other two show ESPN and they have the radio talk show hosts. They have three treadmills with tvs, but those tvs have been broken for two months. WHY BOTHER running in the gym when the gym is more boring than running outside? I am only going to this gym, until I find another one in the area.
My husband and I just accepted a contract with AF and then their attorney informed us that we were misinformed about some things verbally and in emails when we questioned specific things in the FDD. Our attorney is working to get our money back. I have a bad feeling about this company but each time I ask questions they end up making me feel like this is just a big scam. Is this a blessing in disguise? From what I'm reading here, many have had issues with the same things we were asking for clarification about. Asked if we could talk to other owners and were given two specific owners numbers and asked not to reach out to any others??? first red flag....Now finding out what we were told was just to appease us and make us keep moving forward with the franchise purchase. Now their attorneys want to pull out... I would love to hear others opinions on this. The monthly fees seem ridiculous and if by some chance we aren't successful and have to close our doors, we are still responsible to pay these fees for 6 years?!?!?
I'm interested in buying an existing franchise in eastern Washington state. I've run several small businesses in the past and currently own a digital company since 2010. From looking at the 3 yrs worth of financials provided to me, the "true royalty" cost is hovering around 6.4% - not $549 a month that the broker told me. I've read conflicting comments that the internal CRS system mandated is also owned by ATF. Can someone confirm that? I'd love to chat w/ any current ATF owners who are happy and successful with their business. Thanks!