Franchise opportunities compared
planet fitness vs The Bar Method
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Initial investment · Item 7
planet fitness
$1,282,500 – $5,386,000
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 31 · printed p. 24The Bar Method
$240,012
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 28Initial franchise fee · Item 5
planet fitness
Not available
The Bar Method
$42,500
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 17Royalty · Item 6
planet fitness
7% · percent of total gross monthly and annual membership fees payable via EFT Dues Draft
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19 · printed p. 12The Bar Method
6%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 20Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (planet fitness: 1, The Bar Method: 12). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
The Bar Methodplanet fitness
The Bar Method
planet fitness
The Bar Method
planet fitness
The Bar Method
planet fitness
The Bar Method
System scale & health
The Bar Methodplanet fitness
The Bar Method
planet fitness
The Bar Method
planet fitness
The Bar Method
planet fitness
The Bar Method
planet fitness
The Bar Method
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
The Bar MethodItem 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
planet fitness vs The Bar Method: common questions
- Which costs less to open, planet fitness or The Bar Method?
- planet fitness: $1,282,500 – $5,386,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 31 · printed p. 24); The Bar Method: $240,012 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 28). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Bar Method. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do planet fitness and The Bar Method royalties compare?
- planet fitness: 7% · percent of total gross monthly and annual membership fees payable via EFT Dues Draft (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19 · printed p. 12); The Bar Method: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 20). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, planet fitness or The Bar Method?
- planet fitness: 2,709 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 91 · printed p. 84); The Bar Method: 77 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 76). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do planet fitness and The Bar Method disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- planet fitness has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; The Bar Method has reviewed Item 19 figures for 12 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching
Full planet fitness report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full The Bar Method report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
