Planet Fitness

A Planet Fitness location in Revere, Massachusetts in November 2012

Planet Fitness locations in the United States

Planet Fitness was created by Rick Berks in 1993 in Sunrise, Florida. "Berks had been dealing with a bodybuilding culture in his early Gold’s Gym. “I decided I didn’t want to deal with that crowd, so that’s when I opened the original Planet Fitness club in Sunrise, Fla., in 1993,” he recalled."[5]

Berks sold the Planet Fitness trademark to Mike Grondhal in 2002.

The Planet Fitness business model focuses on the needs of occasional or first-time health club members, rather than more experienced members,[4] and depends on many members rarely showing up.[6] According to a Planet Money episode from 2014, "half of the Planet Fitness members don't ever go to their gyms."[7]

In 1993, the Grondahl brothers hired Chris Rondeau, Planet Fitness’ current CEO, to work the front desk. Rondeau and the Grondahls recognized that there was a greater opportunity to serve a much larger segment of the population if they changed the gym environment, both in attitude and format, by creating a non-intimidating, low-cost model.[8] Planet Fitness then became known as the "Judgement Free Zone," aimed more at the average user than the bodybuilder type of fitness enthusiast.[9] As early as March 2015, the "Judgement Free Zone" policy has been expanded to allow trans 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."[10]

In 2003, Planet Fitness opened its first franchised location in Florida, with Eric Dore and Shane McGuiness.[9]

In the fall of 2013, TSG Consumer Partners LLC became an equity partner in the Planet Fitness franchise.[11] Michael Grondahl, co-founder of Planet Fitness stepped down as CEO, and was succeeded by Chris Rondeau.[12][13] The company went public on August 6, 2015.[14]

In February 2016, the franchise was added to the Franchise Times' "Fast and Serious" list of top franchises (#1),[8] and in its 2016 ranking of franchises, Forbes magazine ranked Planet Fitness #4.[15] It ranked in the top 50 of Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 in 2017.[16]

In 2020, the company received criticism for charging its customers for March dues "despite closing its facilities nationwide due to the novel coronavirus pandemic."[17] They stated that they were unable to stop the pre-scheduled payments on short notice, but would not charge future monthly dues until they reopen, and would also provide a credit for closed days previously paid for.[18]

The company reports that as of 2019, there are 80 corporate-owned gyms, the rest independently owned and operated.[19]

The club's two membership levels are $10 and $22.99 per month: the $10 per month level includes access to cardio and strength equipment, unlimited group fitness instruction and pizza and bagels once a month; the $22.99 per month ("Black Card") level allows members to bring one guest per day at no charge, access to all Planet Fitness locations, and access to extra amenities, such as tanning booths, massage chairs, red light therapy and water massage beds.[20][16]

In December 2014, Planet Fitness opened its first international location in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The second Toronto location opened in early 2015.[21][22] In October 2015 the company opened their second international location in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.[23]

With the addition of a Planet Fitness outlet in Hawaii in January 2018,[24] Planet Fitness had 1,500 locations with an estimated 10 million members across 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama[25] and Canada.[24][19] In 2016, over 90% of Planet Fitness locations were opened by existing franchise owners.[26]

In October 2011, Planet Fitness reached an agreement with NBC to sponsor the network's reality show, The Biggest Loser beginning with the 2012 season.[27] The contestants on the show worked out on Planet Fitness equipment and then at Planet Fitness gyms near their homes, working with Planet Fitness instructors.[27]

In March 2013, Planet Fitness partnered with 50 Cent to sell his energy drink "Street King".[28]

Since December 2014, Planet Fitness has been the official fitness sponsor of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on ABC.[29]

In March 2016, Planet Fitness partnered with STOMP Out Bullying,[30] a national organization dedicated to bullying prevention, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to launch the company’s national philanthropic initiative, The Judgement Free Generation.[31] Also in 2016, the company donated more than $1 million to the program.[32][33][34] Planet Fitness has also provided mini "Judgement Free Zone" gyms to Boys & Girls Clubs in Manchester, New Hampshire[35] and Pasadena, California.[36]

In October 2017, Planet Fitness and its members raised $1 million which it donated to the non-profit Boys and Girls Clubs of America.[37]

In January 2020, Planet Fitness partnered with The Biggest Loser, to be the official sponsor of the show's 2020 reboot.[38]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Planet Fitness.

• Official website
• Twitter
• Planet Fitness co founder Rick Berks opens YouFit