 | |
 A Planet Fitness location in Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| Planet Fitness | |
| Company type | Public |
| Industry | Fitness |
| Founded | 1992; 33 years ago (1992) |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Hampton, New Hampshire, U.S. |
Number of locations | 2,722 (2024) |
Area served |
|
Key people | Colleen Keating (CEO)[2] |
| Revenue |  US$1.18 billion (2024) |
| US$324 million (2024) | |
| US$174 million (2024) | |
| Total assets | US$3.07 billion (2024) |
| Total equity |  US$−215 million (2024) |
Number of employees | 3,806 (2024) |
| Website | planetfitness |
| Footnotes / references [3] | |
Planet Fitness, Inc. is an Americanfranchisor and operator offitness centers based inHampton, New Hampshire.[4] The company has around 2,600 clubs,[5] making it one of the largest fitness club franchises by number of members and locations. The franchise has locations in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico, Spain and Australia.[6] It markets itself as a "Judgement Free Zone" that caters to novice and casual gym users.
In 1992, Planet Fitness founders Michael and Marc Grondahl acquired a strugglingGold's Gym franchise inDover, New Hampshire.[7] They eventually closed that original location, opened a gym called Coastal Fitness and brought on a third partner, former CEO Chris Rondeau.[8][7] In 2002, they purchased the rights to the name Planet Fitness from Rick Berks and renamed their franchise.[7]
Berks had started his own Planet Fitness gym in 1993 inSunrise, Florida, and eventually expanded it to three clubs, along with a Gold's Gym franchise.[9][10] The company name was derived from his daughter's school project, which was titled "Fitness Planet".[11]
As early as March 2015, the "Judgement Free Zone" policy was expanded to allowtrans women to use the women's locker room. The policy states that "members and guests may use all gym facilities based on their sincere self-reported gender identity."[12]
In the fall of 2013,TSG Consumer Partners LLC became an equity partner in the Planet Fitness franchise.[13] Michael Grondahl, co-founder of Planet Fitness stepped down as CEO, and was succeeded by Chris Rondeau.[14][15] The company went public on August 6, 2015.[16]
In September 2024, National Fitness Partners acquired over 20 Planet Fitness Clubs across the United States.[17]
Planet Fitness' business model focuses on the needs of occasional or first-time health club members, rather than more experienced members.[18] In 2003, Planet Fitness opened its first franchised location in Florida.[19]
Planet Fitness utilizes a "lunk alarm", which is a loud siren and rotating light that may be used when a gymgoer grunts too loudly or drops weights. This has alienated some gymgoers.[20]
Planet Fitness has been criticized for prohibiting certain weightlifting exercises—such asdeadlifts andclean-and-jerks—that many experts believe are highly effective.[21] In 2010,Men's Health magazine called Planet Fitness "the worst gym in America."[21]
In March 2020, the company was criticized for charging its customers membership dues despite the nationwide closure of all of its facilities due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]
