How much does a Crunch franchise cost?
The April 29, 2026 U.S. Franchise Disclosure Document gives two separate Item 7 ranges: $2,147,500 to $5,367,000 for a new Crunch Fitness health club and $3,192,500 to $5,277,000 for a new Crunch Select health club. Each total includes the $35,000 Initial Franchise Fee, but neither format assigns a low-high amount to real property, including real-estate security deposits.
This is the 2026 Crunch Fitness range. The separate Crunch Select range is $3.19M–$5.28M. Both cover the disclosed development, equipment, pre-opening and three-month Additional Funds categories, subject to the Item 7 qualifications. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 17–23.
Data basis. Legal franchisor: Crunch Franchising, LLC. Document: 2026 U.S. FDD, issued April 29, 2026. Formats analyzed: Crunch Fitness and Crunch Select. Cost evidence: Item 5, pp. 7–8; Item 6, pp. 9–16; Item 7, pp. 17–23; Item 10, p. 30; and cost-relevant portions of Items 8 and 17. Official information checked July 17, 2026.
Crunch provides official U.S. franchise information. A matching 2026 FDD was not located on a franchise-controlled public webpage, so FDD references in this article are intentionally unlinked. The Wisconsin active-registration list identifies Crunch Franchising, LLC with an April 29, 2027 expiration date.
The official Crunch franchise FAQ, checked July 17, 2026, still displays an older total-investment range and older local-advertising wording that do not match the April 29, 2026 FDD. This article uses the 2026 FDD for FDD-governed amounts and uses the FAQ only for current supplemental statements such as the $2.5 million combined net-worth and $500,000 combined liquid-capital thresholds.
Why does Crunch disclose two investment ranges?
Crunch Fitness and Crunch Select are separate franchise formats with different premises and buildout assumptions. The 2026 FDD describes Crunch Fitness as the base high-value, low-price model, generally in approximately 20,000 to 60,000 square feet. Crunch Select is a premium, smaller-footprint model, generally in approximately 15,000 to 30,000 square feet. The brand’s official format explanation also distinguishes Crunch Fitness and Crunch Select from affiliate-operated Crunch Signature locations; Signature is not one of the two franchise formats priced in this FDD.
The Select minimum is higher, while the Fitness range is wider and ends slightly higher.
Interpretation: derived arithmetic shows that the Select minimum is $1,045,000 above the Fitness minimum, but the Fitness maximum is $90,000 above the Select maximum. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 17–23.
The real-property row has no dollar range. Crunch says it cannot estimate land acquisition, ground-up construction, lease cost or real-estate security deposits because the amount depends on the market, site, building size and lease structure. A landlord’s tenant-improvement allowance may reduce the disclosed Leasehold Improvements range, while expensive metropolitan markets may exceed it.
What is included in the Crunch startup cost?
Item 7 includes the Initial Franchise Fee, design and permitting, buildout, fitness equipment, technology, opening inventory, initial advertising, insurance, professional costs and Additional Funds. The totals are estimates for one new Franchised Business. Crunch says it cannot accurately estimate conversion situations, so a conversion of an existing third-party club requires a site-specific budget rather than automatic use of either new-unit range.
Premises, design and buildout
| Item 7 category | Crunch Fitness | Crunch Select | Timing or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architect Fees | $35,000–$60,000 | $35,000–$60,000 | As incurred; architects, engineers and other third parties. |
| Permitting Fees | $5,000–$15,000 | $5,000–$15,000 | As incurred; permitting and other third parties. |
| Real Property, purchased or leased | Not estimated | Not estimated | Land, building, rent and real-estate deposits vary by site and market. |
| Leasehold Improvements | $950,000–$3,000,000 | $2,000,000–$3,000,000 | As arranged or incurred; disclosed net of tenant upfit allowance. |
| Signs | $25,000–$50,000 | $25,000–$50,000 | Before opening; Approved Supplier. |
| Utilities, licenses, bonding and prepaid expenses | $30,000–$100,000 | $30,000–$100,000 | When service begins or a license is required. |
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 17–23 and Note 4–5.
Equipment, systems and opening readiness
| Item 7 category | Crunch Fitness | Crunch Select | Timing or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness equipment, fixtures and other fixed assets | $850,000–$1,500,000 | $850,000–$1,350,000 | Purchase or lease through Crunch or Approved Suppliers; estimate assumes purchase. |
| Office equipment, technology system, furniture, graphics and supplies | $100,000–$200,000 | $75,000–$150,000 | As arranged or incurred; Approved Suppliers and third parties. |
| Opening Inventory | $8,000–$16,000 | $8,000–$16,000 | Upon order delivery; includes approved t-shirts, drinks and promotional items. |
| Initial Advertising | $45,000–$75,000 | $45,000–$75,000 | Before opening or as incurred; paid to approved media companies. |
| Insurance | $15,000–$35,000 | $15,000–$35,000 | Required before operations; landlord and local requirements may add coverage. |
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 17–23; Item 8, pp. 23–27.
People, advice, schedule and working capital
| Item 7 category | Crunch Fitness | Crunch Select | Timing or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training Expenses | $4,000–$8,000 | $4,000–$8,000 | Travel and living costs for an owner and manager attending three to five days. |
| Site Selection Travel Expenses | $500–$3,000 | $500–$3,000 | Reimbursed broker travel if site-selection assistance is used. |
| Professional Fees | $20,000–$50,000 | $20,000–$60,000 | Legal, accounting and other professional services. |
| Construction Extension Fee | $0–$20,000 | $0–$20,000 | Up to four 30-day extensions at $5,000 each, if approved. |
| Additional Funds — three months | $25,000–$200,000 | $45,000–$300,000 | Initial operating expenses net of revenue; owner draw or salary is excluded. |
| Official Item 7 total, including $35,000 Initial Franchise Fee | $2,147,500–$5,367,000 | $3,192,500–$5,277,000 | Real property remains unpriced. |
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 17–23 and Notes 2–3, 8, 10, 15–16.
The bars compare four compatible cost categories on the same $0–$3 million scale; they do not imply shares of the total.
Interpretation: Leasehold Improvements and fitness equipment create most of the visible dollar scale, while real property remains outside the quantified range. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 17–23.
When is the money paid?
The Initial Franchise Fee is paid at signing, while most of the remaining capital is paid to landlords, contractors, Approved Suppliers and other third parties as the club is designed, built, equipped and opened. Item 7 does not describe one closing-day payment equal to the entire investment range.
Assuming a lease is already signed, the Franchise Agreement provides 10 to 12 months to open. Crunch may approve up to four 30-day extensions at $5,000 per club per extension; Item 7 therefore shows a $0 to $20,000 Construction Extension Fee range. The fee is refunded if an extension request is denied.
The standard Initial Franchise Fee may be reduced, waived or deferred in written incentive programs for circumstances such as large development commitments, veterans or selected markets. The 2026 FDD reports that new franchisees paid $0 to $35,000 in Initial Franchise Fees during 2025. These incentives are discretionary, may be changed or withdrawn, and may become payable if a development schedule is missed. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5, pp. 7–8.
Which Crunch fees continue after opening?
The core continuing charges are a 5.0% Royalty and a 2.0% Brand Marketing Fund Contribution, each based on monthly Gross Sales and generally withdrawn by the fifth day of the following month. Item 6 also discloses local advertising, software, technology, enrollment-processing and card-processing obligations.
| Continuing obligation | Amount or basis | Payment timing | Cost interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 5.0% of monthly Gross Sales | By the fifth day of the next month | Automatic deduction through the membership-management platform servicer. |
| Brand Marketing Fund Contribution | 2.0% of monthly Gross Sales | By the fifth day of the next month | Crunch may instead charge a pro rata share of actual joint-marketing expenses. |
| Local Advertising | Age-based formula | As incurred | Separate from, and not offset by, the Brand Marketing Fund Contribution. |
| Club Management Software System | $159 per month | Monthly | Paid to ABC, plus transaction-processing fees; broader service plans may cost more. |
| Technology and IT Support Services | Currently $75 per month | Monthly | May be adjusted for increases in Crunch’s service costs. |
| Online Enrollment Processing | Currently $5 per enrollment | By the fifth day of the next month | Automatically deducted from the designated account. |
| Card and billing processing | Interchange and processor fees | Monthly deduction | Variable third-party rates based on transaction and card type. |
| Franchise Advisory Council | Any assessed dues | As indicated | Membership and assessed dues are required. |
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 9–16. “Gross Sales” includes revenue from services and products related to the Franchised Business, less disclosed sales taxes, refunds and discounts.
How does the Local Advertising formula work?
The required monthly Local Advertising spend is the lesser of two calculations. The first is 7% of Gross Sales including personal-training revenue. The second is an age-based amount using Gross Sales excluding personal-training revenue:
- Open 1–24 months
- The greater of $10,000 or 8% of Gross Sales excluding personal-training revenue.
- Open 25–72 months
- The greater of $8,000 or 7% of Gross Sales excluding personal-training revenue.
- Open more than 72 months
- The greater of $10,000 or 5% of Gross Sales excluding personal-training revenue.
If a club fails to market for two consecutive months, Crunch may withdraw an appropriate amount and place marketing for the franchisee. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 11–12.
The 5.0% Royalty, 2.0% Brand Marketing Fund Contribution and Local Advertising obligation are separate cost entities. The two percentage fees should not be converted into annual dollars without actual Gross Sales, and Brand Marketing Fund payments do not satisfy the Local Advertising requirement.
Which fees arise only in certain circumstances?
Item 6 includes material fees tied to inspections, extra training, transfers, renewal, relocation, development delays, defaults, unauthorized conduct and remodeling. These charges are not part of the standard Item 7 total unless Item 7 expressly includes an initial amount, such as the possible Construction Extension Fee.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 9–16; Item 17, pp. 48–52. Renewal also requires compliance, a then-current Franchise Agreement and upgrades to then-current format requirements.
How much liquid capital and net worth does Crunch require?
The current official Crunch franchise FAQ states that all partners must have at least $2.5 million in combined net worth and $500,000 in combined liquid capital. These are supplemental qualification thresholds, not substitutes for the Item 7 Estimated Initial Investment. Net worth includes assets less liabilities; liquid capital is the portion readily available to fund the project or support financing.
The 2026 FDD does not state those two numeric thresholds in Items 5–7. It does state that entity owners generally sign an Owner’s Guaranty unless Crunch agrees otherwise in writing. Prospective franchisees should therefore distinguish the official website’s screening thresholds from the equity, debt and guarantees required for a specific club.
Does Crunch finance the startup cost?
No direct or indirect financing is offered in Item 10, and Crunch does not guarantee a note, lease or other obligation. The official website says Crunch may help review finances and introduce prospects to a network of lenders, but the lender makes the credit decision and no approval or funding level is promised. See the official financial-requirements and financing statements and the broader official franchise support page. FDD source: Item 10, p. 30.
What should a buyer verify before setting a capital budget?
The most important unresolved number is real property. A buyer also needs written confirmation of the applicable format, current fee schedule, development commitment, tenant allowance, equipment package, local advertising calculation and any incentive or state-specific payment rule.
A prospective U.S. franchisee should read Crunch as a multi-million-dollar development project rather than a $35,000 fee purchase. The verified 2026 totals are $2,147,500–$5,367,000 for Crunch Fitness and $3,192,500–$5,277,000 for Crunch Select, with real property unpriced, three months of Additional Funds included, continuing percentage fees after opening and potentially substantial transfer, renewal, remodel and default-related obligations.