Anytime Fitness to close select locations in the United States
Anytime Fitness is reducing its U.S. footprint as the brand faces three consecutive years of unit decline domestically, despite its global expansion.
Minnesota-based gym chain Anytime Fitness is closing a selection of its U.S. locations. The move comes as the company continues to focus on international growth, having reached 6,000 locations worldwide earlier this year as part of the Purpose Brands portfolio.
Industry observers note that while the parent company pursues international scale, its domestic operations have struggled. Beverly Bradshaw, an attorney at Next Era Legal, points out that the company has seen a decline in U.S. unit counts for three consecutive years. She argues that the structure of modern multi-brand ownership can prioritize corporate risk management while leaving individual franchisees vulnerable to local market pressures.
Financial terms in the brand’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document have also emerged as a point of contention. The agreement reserves the right for the franchisor to shift from a flat fee to a royalty of up to 8 percent of gross revenue with 30 days’ notice. Bradshaw notes that such provisions create significant financial uncertainty for owners who have invested heavily in their local gym operations.
As the company moves forward, the divergence between its international expansion strategy and the financial challenges faced by its U.S. franchise base remains a central issue for the brand’s domestic performance.