In the current fast-paced lifestyle, individuals are constantly seeking practical methods to maintain their health and fitness. This is where fitness mobile applications come to the rescue. Among the multitude of fitness apps, the Planet Fitness mobile app has been gaining significant attention in the fitness industry.

Planet Fitness, established in 1992, has become one of the world’s most extensive fitness franchises, expanding its reach to over 2,410 locations across various countries, including the US and Canada. In 2022 alone, the company opened 158 new clubs, which included 14 corporate-owned locations, contributing to its exponential growth.

In this blog post, we will delve into the fundamentals of the Planet Fitness app, its business model, and other key factors that can aid in developing a similar fitness app. Therefore, without further ado, let’s get started.

What is Planet Fitness?

Planet Fitness is a popular gym franchise that offers a range of fitness equipment and services. The company has also developed its mobile application, which is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms. The Planet Fitness app offers a range of features for gym-goers, including workout routines for men and women, exercise tracking, and even radio songs for motivation during workouts.

The app also provides access to Planet Fitness Plus (PF+), a premium service that offers additional fitness content and features. Users can download the app for free, and access to PF+ requires a monthly subscription fee.

The gym’s founders, Michael and Marc Grondahl, have built the company into a successful franchise, expanded it into a thriving franchise and accumulated an impressive 17 million members, with an additional 1.8 million members, by the end of 2022.

Planet Fitness was named one of America’s Best Employers 2023 in the Midsize Employers Travel & Leisure category by Forbes, ranking in the top 500 among 3500 entrants.

The inside of a Planet Fitness gym offers a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, with a “Judgement Free Zone” policy that encourages all individuals to feel welcome regardless of their fitness level or experience and offers a convenient way to access workouts and track progress on the go, making it a popular choice for fitness enthusiasts around the world.

How does Planet Fitness Work?

Planet Fitness is a renowned fitness chain with spacious gyms that are approximately 20,000 square feet in size. The company is known for its friendly staff trainers who are always ready to assist members with their fitness needs. Planet Fitness is proud to uphold the cleanliness of its facilities, and its use of a unique purple and yellow color palette infuses a lively and playful ambiance that promotes a friendly and stress-free setting for all its members.

Low-Cost Membership: Planet Fitness offers low-cost membership options, starting at around $10-$22 per month, with a yearly fee of $39. Planet Fitness offers a range of membership types with a basic membership or something more premium, there’s an option that suits your needs and budget. And if you ever need to change, cancel, or delete your membership, the process is easy and straightforward – there are no hidden fees or penalties.

You can even share your membership with a friend, making it a great option for couples or workout buddies.

Franchise Requirements & Fees: Opening a Planet Fitness franchise requires a minimum net worth of $3 million and $1.5 million in liquid assets, as well as business management experience. The initial franchise fee is $20,000 with a 7% royalty fee on gross sales and a 1% contribution to the national marketing fund. Planet Fitness provides support with site selection, design, training, and marketing.

Non-Fitness Consumer Segments: Planet Fitness has successfully captured a significant share of the non-fitness consumer segments by providing an affordable and non-intimidating gym experience. According to surveys, about 56% of members identify as occasional or non-exercisers. The company has also attracted a high number of female members, with a 70/30 female-to-male ratio. This success can be attributed to the company’s unique business model and “judgment-free zone” policy.

24/7 Access: Planet Fitness offers 24/7 access to its facilities, allowing members to exercise at their convenience, no matter their work or schedule commitments. The gym also offers personal training services at an additional cost, ideal for individuals seeking tailored fitness plans or extra motivation to achieve their health goals.

The gym enforces a set of guidelines known as the “Lunk Alarm,” which alerts staff if a member exhibits behavior that may be intimidating or disruptive to others, such as dropping weights or loud grunting.

According to the data, Planet Fitness generated approximately $6.2 billion this year. A single franchise owner of Planet Fitness can earn between $513,000 to $5,554,000 per year.

Planet Fitness Business Model

Planet Fitness is a gym franchise that primarily makes money by charging membership fees to its customers. They offer a low-cost membership model that is meant to be affordable to people of all income levels. PF’s revenue sources can be categorized into three main categories.

1. Franchise Revenue Stream: Planet Fitness is a franchisor of fitness centers, which means that they grant the right to independent operators to use their brand name, business model, and operational systems to open and operate a fitness center.

• Initial franchise fee
• Royalty fee
• Advertising fee
• Equipment fee
• Additional services fee

Furthermore, in 2021, 50% of Planet Fitness’ total revenue, equivalent to $290 Mn, was generated from the franchise segment revenue.

2. Corporate-owned Stores: Planet Fitness not only provides affordable fitness services to individuals but also offers organizations the opportunity to operate their fitness centers and provide fitness services to their employees.

• Traditional Corporate-owned Stores
• Flagship Corporate-owned Stores
• Express Corporate-owned Stores
• Prototype Corporate-owned Stores
• Corporate-owned Studio Stores

Membership-related income, which comprises monthly membership dues, enrollment fees, and annual fees contributed $181 Mn (31% of total revenue) to Planet Fitness in 2021.

3. Equipment Revenue: The Equipment segment revenue refers to the income generated by Planet Fitness from the sales of fitness equipment to its franchisees. Existing franchisee-owned stores are required to replace their equipment every five to seven years, which creates a recurring source of revenue for Planet Fitness.

Revenue based on equipment comprises:

• Revenue generated from the sales of fitness equipment to its franchisees.
• The sales of equipment to new franchisee-owned stores, as well as replacement equipment for existing franchisee-owned stores.
• As Planet Fitness continues to expand and attract new franchisees, the Equipment segment revenue is expected to remain an important source of income for the company.
• Planet Fitness generated $129 million (22% of its total revenue in 2021) from equipment sales to both new franchisees and existing franchisees in the United States and Canada.

Suggested Read: The Ultimate Guide To Mastering The On-Demand Business Model In 2023

How to Build an App Like Planet Fitness?

Building an app like Planet Fitness can be an exciting endeavor. Here are five points to consider when embarking on this journey:

Identify the key features: The first step in building an app like Planet Fitness is to identify the key features that make it successful. Some of the must-have features include an easy-to-use interface, workout tracking, personalized fitness plans, virtual coaching, and social networking capabilities.

Design a user-friendly interface: One of the most important aspects of building an app like Planet Fitness is to design a user-friendly interface. The app should be easy to navigate and offer a seamless user experience. It should also be visually appealing with high-quality graphics and engaging content.

Leverage technology: To provide users with a comprehensive fitness experience, it’s important to leverage technology. This can include incorporating wearable devices to track fitness goals, utilizing machine learning to personalize workout plans, and integrating virtual reality for immersive workout experiences.

Create a community: Building a community is an essential component of any successful fitness app. Users should be able to connect with like-minded individuals, join virtual classes, and share their progress on social media. This creates a sense of accountability and motivation, which can help users stay committed to their fitness goals.

Offer value: Finally, it’s important to offer value to users. This can include providing free content such as workout videos, offering discounts on gym memberships, or partnering with nutritionists to provide personalized meal plans. By offering value, you can build a loyal user base and ensure the long-term success of your app.

Features to Include in a Fitness App

Given below are the points where you need to invest your money to make your app more attractive, and they are very important if you are planning to develop a unique app like Planet Fitness on a budget.

1. Custom Workout Routines: A good fitness app should allow users to create workout routines based on their fitness goals and personal preferences.
2. Clear 3D-animated Exercise Videos: High-quality, 3D-animated exercise videos are a must-have feature in any fitness app. They help users understand how to perform exercises correctly and reduce the risk of injury.
3. Written Exercise Instructions: For users who prefer written instructions, make sure your app includes clear, concise instructions for each exercise.
4. Workout Reminders: To help users stay on track with their fitness goals, it’s important to include workout reminders that notify them when it’s time to exercise.
5. Progress Tracking: Users should be able to track their progress and set goals in the app. Make sure your app can track over 100 values to provide a comprehensive view of their fitness journey.
6. Find Club Locations and Contact Info: For gym-goers, the ability to find and contact nearby clubs is essential.
7. Google Fit Connection: Integrating with Google Fit allows users to seamlessly connect their fitness data from other apps and devices.
8. Connects with NEO Health Wearables: Wearables like fitness trackers and smartwatches are becoming increasingly popular, so make sure your app can connect with them.
9. Digital Keytag: Allow users to store their membership information and access the gym using a digital key tag in the app.
10. Live Crowd Meter: To help users plan their workouts, include a live crowd meter that shows how busy the gym is in real time.

Bonus Features:

• Digital Workout Videos: Offer on-demand workouts that users can follow along with from home or on the go.
• Member Perks: Provide exclusive discounts and perks for gym members through the app.
• Exercise & Equipment Tutorials: Offer tutorials on how to use different types of gym equipment and exercises.
• Activity Tracking with My Journey: Give users a visual representation of their fitness journey with an activity tracking feature.
• Music: Allow users to play music directly from the app while they work out.
• Member Login: Enable users to log in to their accounts to access their data and workout routines.
• Conference: Host virtual fitness conferences and seminars to keep users engaged and motivated.
• Special Offers: Provide users with special offers and promotions to keep them coming back.
• Sign In: Allow users to sign in using their preferred social media accounts or email.
• Change Location: Give users the ability to change their gym location in the app.
• Newsletter: Keep users informed with a newsletter that provides updates on new features, workouts, and promotions.
• Deals: Offer daily or weekly deals on gym memberships, supplements, and fitness gear.

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How Much Does It Cost to Build a Fitness App?

If you’re thinking about building a fitness app, one of the first questions you’re likely to ask is “How much does it cost?” The answer, of course, depends on a variety of factors, including the app’s features, complexity, and platform. A simple mobile fitness app with basic features may cost around $10,000 to develop, while a more complex app with advanced features like body transformation tracking could cost upwards of $100,000 or more. App development costs can also vary depending on the region where you are building the app.

However, with the evolution of app development and the rise of app planet, building a fitness app has become more accessible and affordable than ever before. Regardless of your budget, it’s important to work with an experienced app development team that can help you bring your vision to life while keeping costs under control.

Wrapping Up

The Planet Fitness App serves as an excellent model for building a successful fitness app. By examining the app’s features, functionalities, and user interface, you can gain valuable insights into what users expect and what features are essential for a fitness app.

If you have an out-of-the-box app idea to build own fitness app, get in touch with pre-vetted developers at Gsquare. Not only will our team assist you in development, but we are also proficient in offering cost-cutting suggestions, providing support after the launch, and proposing funding solutions for emerging mobile app startups.