How much does it cost to open a Gold's Gym franchise?

The total initial investment for a Gold's Gym franchise ranges from $1,793,500 to $4,537,000. This includes the franchise fee of $40,000, buildout costs, equipment, and initial working capital.

What are the ongoing fees for a Gold's Gym franchise?

Gold's Gym franchisees pay a 5.0% royalty fee and a 2.0% advertising/marketing fund contribution. These are typically calculated as a percentage of gross revenue.

How much money can you make with a Gold's Gym franchise?

Gold's Gym does not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their FDD. Revenue and profitability figures are not publicly available from the franchisor.

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Fitness

Gold's Gym Franchise Cost Breakdown

Complete investment analysis based on official FDD data

Total Investment

$1,793,500 – $4,537,000

Franchise Fee

$40,000

Royalty Rate

5.0%

Initial Investment Range

Low: $1,793,500 High: $4,537,000

The total initial investment to open a Gold's Gym franchise ranges from $1,793,500 to $4,537,000, as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the one-time franchise fee of $40,000.

Midpoint estimate: $3,165,250

Franchise Fee

$40,000

One-time initial fee

The Gold's Gym franchise fee is a one-time upfront payment made to the franchisor when you sign the franchise agreement. This fee grants you the right to operate under the Gold's Gym brand and is included in the total initial investment range above.

Ongoing Fees

Royalty Fee

5.0%

of gross revenue

Ad/Marketing Fund

2.0%

of gross revenue

Total Ongoing Fee Burden: 7.0% of gross revenue

Combined royalty and advertising fund contributions before any other fees.

Other Ongoing Fees

Fee Type	Rate	Type	Notes
Royalty	5.0	PCT	Greater of 5% of Facility's Gross Revenue or $2,000 per month. Payment due on Payment Day (currently 15th of month). Begins when first Gross Revenue was recognized (including presale) through end of previous month.
Marketing Contribution	2.0	PCT	Greater of 2% of Facility's Gross Revenue or $1,350 per month. Due on Payment Day (currently 15th). May be increased by any amount if at least 2/3 of all U.S. Gold's Gym Facility owners vote for increase, with each owner receiving 1 vote per facility owned.
Cooperative contributions	3.0	PCT	Amount that the Cooperative determines, up to 3% of Gross Revenue. Due as the Cooperative determines. See Note (3).
Marketing Spending Requirement shortfall	N/A	VARIABLE	If you fail to meet the Marketing Spending Requirement (defined in Item 11), franchisor may require payment of shortfall to use for marketing. Due as incurred.
Studio Program Training Fee	250.0	VARIABLE	$250 per trainee. If field-based training provided: $1,250 for minimum of 5 trainees plus instructor travel expenses (estimated $1,500 to $3,000). Due only if franchisee elects to participate in one or both optional Studio Programs. Fee subject to change. See Note (5).
Relocation expenses	N/A	VARIABLE	Due only if franchisee requests to relocate the Facility. Payable promptly upon receipt of invoice.

What You Get

Financial Performance (Item 19)

Unit Growth & Failure Rate

Avg. Annual Closure Rate

1.8%

Low risk — below industry average

Net Unit Growth

-166 units

From 2022 to 2025

Unit Activity History

Year	Start	Opened	Closed	Transfers	End
2022	166	+6	—	—	158
2023	158	+10	—	—	158
2024	158	+7	-1	—	159
2025	—	+11	—	—	—

Is a Gold's Gym Franchise Worth It?

Based on the FDD data, here is a data-driven snapshot of the Gold's Gym franchise opportunity:

Overall Score

63/100

Moderate opportunity

Est. Payback Period

N/A

Insufficient data

Risk Level

Low

1.8% annual closure rate

Gold's Gym shows a moderate score across our evaluation criteria. Careful due diligence is recommended. For a complete analysis including risk factors, deal-breaker flags, and detailed financial modeling, see the full report.