Anytime Fitness FDD Item 6 is the section of the Franchise Disclosure Document that lists every ongoing fee a franchisee will pay after the initial $42,500 franchise fee. For most prospective Anytime Fitness franchisees, this is where the true cost of ownership becomes clear. The headline number that gets the most attention is the flat $799 per month royalty fee, but that is only one component of a broader fee structure that every buyer needs to understand before committing capital. At Lopes Law LLC, we routinely review Anytime Fitness FDDs for prospective franchisees, and the conversations about Item 6 are among the most important in the entire engagement.

Anytime Fitness is the world’s largest gym franchise, with over 5,000 locations worldwide, owned by Self Esteem Brands (the parent company that also operates Waxing the City and Basecamp Fitness). The brand’s 24/7 access model, enabled by a proprietary key fob entry system, has driven massive expansion. But expansion does not mean every individual location succeeds. SBA loan data shows 17 Anytime Fitness loan defaults at a 19.4% failure rate, a figure that underscores the importance of understanding every financial obligation disclosed in Item 6 before you sign.

What Is FDD Item 6 and Why Does It Matter for Anytime Fitness?

Item 6 of any Franchise Disclosure Document is titled “Other Fees.” It is required by the FTC Franchise Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 436) and must disclose every recurring fee, contribution, or payment obligation the franchisee will owe during the term of the franchise agreement. Item 5 covers the initial fees. Item 6 covers everything that comes after.

For Anytime Fitness specifically, Item 6 is notable because of the flat monthly royalty structure, which is unusual in the franchise industry. Most franchise systems charge a royalty as a percentage of gross sales, typically 4% to 8%. Anytime Fitness charges a flat $799 per month regardless of revenue. This creates a different financial dynamic that benefits high-revenue locations and penalizes low-revenue locations, and it is critical for prospective franchisees to understand which side of that equation they are likely to land on.

The total investment for an Anytime Fitness franchise ranges from $222,744 to $521,437 according to the FDD. Understanding the ongoing fees in Item 6 is what determines whether that investment generates a viable return or becomes a financial burden.

What Fees Does Anytime Fitness FDD Item 6 Disclose?

Anytime Fitness Item 6 contains a detailed fee schedule covering all ongoing obligations. Here is a breakdown of the major categories disclosed:

Fee Category	Typical Amount	When Paid
Monthly Royalty Fee	$799/month (flat fee)	Monthly
Advertising / Marketing Fund	Varies (see FDD for current amounts)	Monthly
Technology / Access System	Varies; covers key fob system, software	Monthly
Insurance	Required minimums (varies by state)	Annually / As required
Transfer Fee	As disclosed in FDD	Upon transfer of franchise
Renewal Fee	As disclosed in FDD	Upon renewal of franchise agreement
Training	At franchisee’s expense	Before opening / Ongoing
Late Payment Penalties	As disclosed in FDD	As incurred

Each of these line items deserves separate analysis. Let us walk through the most consequential ones.

The Flat $799 Monthly Royalty: Advantage or Trap?

The flat $799 monthly royalty is the defining financial feature of the Anytime Fitness fee structure. Unlike a percentage-based royalty, this fee does not scale with your revenue. For a location generating $40,000 per month in membership dues and ancillary revenue, the effective royalty rate is approximately 2%. For a location generating $15,000 per month during the ramp-up period, the effective rate is approximately 5.3%.

This creates an important dynamic: the flat fee structure rewards mature, well-performing locations and punishes new or struggling ones. During the first 12 to 18 months of operation, when membership revenue is building and the location has not yet reached its break-even membership count, the flat $799 fee represents a proportionally larger share of revenue. In a percentage-based system, your royalty payment would be smaller when revenue is low. With a flat fee system, you owe the same amount whether you have 100 members or 1,000.

The 17 SBA loan defaults at a 19.4% failure rate in the Anytime Fitness system suggest that not every location reaches the revenue level where the flat royalty fee becomes advantageous. This is a critical consideration for any first-time franchisee evaluating the Anytime Fitness opportunity. For context, franchise systems like Dickey’s Barbecue Pit have recorded 27 SBA loan defaults, and Patrice & Associates has shown a 31% failure rate, but the Anytime Fitness default rate is still significant enough to warrant careful financial planning.

Advertising and Marketing Fund Contributions

Anytime Fitness requires franchisees to contribute to marketing and advertising funds. These contributions support the national brand marketing, digital advertising campaigns, and corporate marketing initiatives. The franchisee’s obligation is typically a set monthly amount or a percentage-based contribution as detailed in the current FDD.

Local advertising requirements may also apply. Franchisees are generally expected to maintain a certain level of local marketing activity in their territory. The specifics vary by market and are outlined in the franchise agreement. What is consistent is that these costs are in addition to the $799 monthly royalty and can add several hundred dollars per month to the ongoing fee burden.

Why Are Technology Fees a Critical Cost for Anytime Fitness Franchisees?

The Anytime Fitness business model is built on 24/7 unstaffed access. Members use a proprietary key fob to enter any Anytime Fitness location at any time of day or night. This system is not optional, and it is not free. The technology fees cover the access control hardware and software, member management platform, and integration with Anytime Fitness corporate systems.

These technology fees are ongoing and mandatory. If Anytime Fitness upgrades its access system or introduces new technology platforms, the franchisee is required to implement those changes. The cost of compliance is borne by the franchisee, and failure to maintain the required technology can constitute a breach of the franchise agreement, potentially triggering termination provisions under Item 17.

Insurance Requirements

Anytime Fitness requires franchisees to maintain specific insurance coverages, including general liability, property insurance, and workers’ compensation. The required coverage limits are detailed in the FDD. Insurance costs vary significantly by state, by the location’s claims history, and by the type of coverage required.

For a gym franchise, insurance is particularly important because the risk of member injury is inherent to the business. The 24/7 unstaffed model adds an additional layer of liability risk, because members may be exercising without any staff present. Insurance premiums for gym franchises typically range from $5,000 to $15,000 or more per year depending on the location and coverage levels. This is a real cost that must be factored into the total fee burden, and it tends to increase over time.

How Do Item 6 Fees Add Up for a Typical Anytime Fitness Location?

To illustrate the real financial impact of Item 6 fees, let us model a hypothetical Anytime Fitness location at two different revenue levels: a mature location generating $30,000 per month and a newer location generating $15,000 per month during the ramp-up period.

Fee	Mature Location ($30K/mo)	Ramp-Up Location ($15K/mo)
Monthly Royalty	$799 (2.7% effective)	$799 (5.3% effective)
Advertising / Marketing	Varies per FDD	Varies per FDD
Technology / Access System	Monthly technology fees	Monthly technology fees
Insurance (monthly)	~$500-$1,250	~$500-$1,250
Total Monthly Fee Burden	$1,800-$2,500+ estimated	$1,800-$2,500+ estimated

The critical insight here is that the total monthly fee burden is essentially the same regardless of revenue level. For the mature location generating $30,000 per month, the fees represent approximately 6% to 8% of revenue. For the ramp-up location generating $15,000 per month, those same fees represent approximately 12% to 17% of revenue. This is the fundamental trade-off of the flat fee model: it rewards success and punishes underperformance.

When you factor in rent (which is not part of Item 6 but is the largest operating expense for most gym franchises), utilities, equipment maintenance, staffing costs, and supplies, the margins available during the ramp-up period can be extremely tight. This is why a careful review of the financial projections alongside Item 6 and Item 19 financial performance data is essential before committing to the franchise.

What Is the Real Cost of the Anytime Fitness Key Fob System?

The key fob access system is the technological backbone of the Anytime Fitness model. Without it, the 24/7 unstaffed access concept does not work. As a franchisee, you are required to install, maintain, and upgrade this system according to Anytime Fitness specifications.

The initial cost of the access control system is included in the total investment range ($222,744 to $521,437) disclosed in Item 7 of the FDD. The ongoing costs, which include monthly software licensing, system maintenance, key fob inventory, and replacement equipment, are disclosed in Item 6. These costs are not trivial, and they represent a fixed obligation regardless of how many members are using the system.

If Anytime Fitness mandates an upgrade to a new access system (for example, transitioning from physical key fobs to a mobile app-based entry system), the cost of that transition falls on the franchisee. The FDD typically gives the franchisor broad discretion to require technology changes, and franchisees have limited ability to negotiate or delay compliance. This is an area where a franchise exit audit becomes relevant if you are considering leaving the system and want to understand your obligations.

How Does Anytime Fitness Compare to Other Gym Franchises on Fees?

The flat royalty model distinguishes Anytime Fitness from most other gym franchises. Planet Fitness, for example, charges a percentage-based royalty (typically 7% of gross sales). Orangetheory Fitness also uses a percentage-based model. The flat fee model is unusual in the fitness industry and relatively uncommon across franchising as a whole.

The advantage of the flat fee is clear for high-performing locations: your royalty does not increase as your revenue grows. The disadvantage is equally clear for locations that struggle to build membership: you pay the same fee whether you have 200 members or 2,000. For prospective franchisees evaluating the Anytime Fitness opportunity against other gym franchises, the fee comparison must be done in the context of realistic revenue projections, not just the headline royalty number.

At Lopes Law LLC, we frequently help prospective franchisees compare fee structures across competing franchise systems. The royalty is only one component. Advertising contributions, technology fees, insurance requirements, and transfer restrictions all factor into the total cost of ownership.

What Should Prospective Anytime Fitness Franchisees Watch for in Item 6?

When reviewing Anytime Fitness FDD Item 6, focus on these specific areas:

• Advertising fund breakdown: Determine exactly how much you will pay monthly to the advertising fund, whether it is a flat fee or percentage, and what local advertising obligations exist on top of the national fund contribution.
• Technology fee escalation: Check whether technology fees are fixed or subject to increase. Understand what happens if Anytime Fitness mandates a new access system or software platform during your franchise term.
• Transfer fee amount and conditions: If you plan to eventually sell the franchise, understand what fees are triggered by the transfer, what approval conditions apply, and whether the buyer must meet specific financial qualifications.
• Renewal terms and fees: Understand what the renewal fee is and whether the terms of the franchise agreement can change upon renewal, including any fee increases.
• Late payment consequences: Understand the penalties for late royalty or fee payments, including interest charges and whether late payments can trigger default provisions.
• Insurance minimums: Confirm the required insurance coverages and limits. For a 24/7 unstaffed gym, insurance costs can be significant and tend to increase over time.
• Equipment replacement obligations: Determine whether you are required to replace gym equipment on a specific schedule and at what cost.

Why Legal Review of Item 6 Is Not Optional

The fees disclosed in Anytime Fitness Item 6 represent contractual obligations that will continue for the full term of the franchise agreement. The flat royalty model may look attractive on the surface, but the total fee burden, including advertising, technology, insurance, and equipment obligations, creates a financial picture that is more complex than the $799 per month headline suggests.

With 17 SBA loan defaults at a 19.4% failure rate, the risk of underperformance in the Anytime Fitness system is real. Compare that to the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit system, which recorded 27 SBA loan defaults, or the Patrice & Associates franchise recruitment system, which showed a 31% failure rate. These numbers demonstrate that brand recognition alone does not guarantee financial success, and understanding the fee structure is essential to making an informed investment decision.

At Lopes Law LLC, we review Anytime Fitness FDDs and franchise agreements regularly. Our flat-fee FDD validation review is $3,000 and covers all 23 items of the FDD, with particular attention to the fee structure in Item 6 and the financial performance data in Item 19. For a complete overview of what that process involves, see our guide on what to expect from an FDD review.

Frequently Asked Questions About Anytime Fitness FDD Item 6

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Last updated: March 11, 2026