Fitness Industry Roundup: Top Health Clubs & Female Franchisors

Fitness Industry Roundup: Top Health Clubs & Female Franchisors

December 22, 2024

There’s a lot of good things happening in the fitness industry. Women are making their presence known, IHRSA members are teaming up to provide management and customer relations solutions, virtual fitness offers real marathon races, and researchers say exercise may be able to combat cancer.

Although there’s so much good to share, the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over yet. The fitness industry still has a long way to go in terms of rebuilding and gaining relief. And for those who don’t believe that, I point your attention to this week’s first blurb on Club Industry’s 2021 Top 100 Health Clubs.

Just One Facility Reports Increased Revenue in 2020 Over 2019 in Top Clubs of 2021

Club Industry released its 2021 Top 100 Health Clubs, and the results highlight the pandemic’s toll on the fitness industry. Multiple health club owners chose not to submit the Top 100 forms and several companies had less than $1 million revenue, so this year’s list contains 75 companies. The list is solely based on revenue. This year, all but one health club on the list—Sasquatch Strength—reported a loss in revenue ranging from 3% to 75%. “Never in the more than 20 years of the Top 100 Clubs list have so many companies reported a decrease in revenue, not even during the 2008-2009 recession when 16 companies reported a decrease in 2008 revenue, 36 reported a decrease in 2009 revenue and 17 reported a decrease in 2010 revenue,” said Pamela Kufahl, Club Industry content director. This year’s top club is Life Time of Chanhassen, MN.