Overview
F45 Training is an Australian-founded fitness brand specialising in coach-led group exercise. Its name combines functional training with the 45-minute duration associated with its core workouts. Sessions mix strength, cardiovascular and hybrid training, typically using circuits and timed stations rather than the open-access gym floor familiar to conventional health-club members.
The business is principally a franchise system. Local operators run branded studios, recruit coaches and sell memberships, while the central organisation supplies programming, technology and operating support. Members are buying structured sessions and coaching rather than simply access to equipment. That distinction shapes the customer proposition, staffing requirements and economics of each studio.
History and growth
F45 was founded in Epping, Australia, in 2011. The first gym was established by Luke Istomin and Rob Deutsch, and the fitness franchise was launched in 2013 with Adam Gilchrist. Its early expansion used franchising to replicate a compact studio format, supported by centrally developed workouts. Australia provided the initial base before the business expanded into markets including the United States and the United Kingdom.
The company attracted wider attention through an investment involving actor Mark Wahlberg in 2019. F45 Training Holdings subsequently listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021. Expansion was followed by a more difficult period: in 2022, the company announced leadership changes, job reductions and lower growth expectations. In 2023, it announced its intention to delist voluntarily and deregister its shares. This history makes older expansion targets an unsuitable proxy for the network's present condition.
Global footprint
F45 has developed an international presence spanning Australia, North America, Europe, Asia and other regions. Its early public-market disclosures described a network of around 1,500 studios across around 60 countries in 2021. These are historical reference figures, not a current count of trading locations.
Network statistics require particular care. Franchises sold, studios open and territories under development are different measures, and a signed franchise agreement does not guarantee that a studio will open. Closures and ownership transfers also affect the operating estate. Prospective franchisees should obtain an updated breakdown of open studios in their intended market, together with local openings and closures, rather than rely on headline figures from the brand's earlier expansion.
How the franchise model works
F45's model combines centrally designed exercise programming with local delivery. Studios use a prescribed brand identity, equipment format and digital systems, including screens that demonstrate exercises and guide session timing. Coaches supervise participants, explain movements and make appropriate adjustments. Central programming reduces the need for each franchisee to develop a separate training product.
The franchisee remains responsible for turning that system into a viable local business. Responsibilities typically include securing premises, employing staff, managing memberships and delivering consistent service. Revenue comes principally from memberships and class packages, with availability and pricing varying by studio and market. The model requires active customer acquisition and retention: a recognisable brand and a full workout library do not themselves fill classes.
Investment and requirements
Opening an F45 studio involves more than paying a franchise fee. The budget must accommodate premises, fit-out, exercise equipment, technology, professional costs, insurance, recruitment, launch activity and working capital. Rent, building condition and local labour costs can produce substantial differences between otherwise similar studios.
US franchise disclosure documents have historically listed an initial franchise fee of US$50,000. That is a historical reference, not a current worldwide quotation or the total investment required. A single globally applicable investment range is not publicly disclosed. Prospective franchisees should request current franchise disclosure documents and a market-specific schedule of initial and recurring charges. They should also establish the required owner involvement, training obligations, equipment specifications and whether a proposed location meets the franchisor's criteria.
What franchisees should consider
The central operating question is whether a studio can attract enough recurring members at a sustainable price. Useful measures include membership retention, average revenue per member, class attendance, coach costs and the time needed to reach a stable membership base. Peak-time demand matters: strong morning and evening attendance can coexist with substantial unused capacity elsewhere in the timetable.
Site selection should account for local incomes, travel patterns, parking or public transport and competing studios. Franchisees should also examine territory protections, renewal and transfer terms, required refurbishment and the support available when performance weakens. Given F45's corporate restructuring history, the continuity of programming, technology and franchise support deserves attention. Conversations with both established and recently opened operators can provide context beyond sales material.
Competitive landscape
F45 competes most directly with coach-led group-training businesses such as Orangetheory Fitness, Body Fit Training and Fitstop. CrossFit affiliates also compete for customers seeking functional exercise, coaching and a social training environment, although CrossFit's affiliation structure differs from a conventional franchise. These businesses vary in programming, equipment and the degree of local operating freedom.
The competitive field extends beyond boutique studios. Anytime Fitness and other general gyms can offer broader access and different price points, while independent personal trainers compete on individual attention. F45's position rests on structured group sessions and standardised delivery. Whether that proposition succeeds depends on local execution and customers' willingness to pay, rather than on global brand recognition alone.
Outlook
F45 operates in a fitness segment with an established audience for coached strength and conditioning, but also considerable competition. Its centrally supplied workouts and repeatable format remain defining features. The challenge is to translate those features into durable member relationships and healthy studio-level economics across markets with different costs and spending habits.
For prospective operators, the most useful outlook is local and evidence-led. Current studio performance, membership retention and the quality of franchise support are more informative than historic development ambitions. Future expansion should be assessed alongside the stability of existing locations. A larger network is not necessarily a stronger one if openings are accompanied by persistent closures or weak franchisee performance.
F45 Training franchise: frequently asked questions
How much does an F45 Training franchise cost?
US franchise disclosure documents have historically listed an initial franchise fee of US$50,000, but this is not a current global quotation. Total start-up expenditure also includes premises, fit-out, equipment and working capital. A single worldwide investment range is not publicly disclosed. Request current franchise disclosure documents and a market-specific cost schedule.
How many F45 Training locations are there?
Early public-market disclosures described around 1,500 studios across around 60 countries in 2021. Those figures are historical and should not be treated as a current operating total. For an up-to-date assessment, request the number of open studios from the franchisor, distinguishing trading locations from franchises sold and sites still under development.
Where did F45 Training start?
F45 Training was founded in Epping, Australia, in 2011. The first gym was established by Luke Istomin and Rob Deutsch, and the fitness franchise was launched in 2013 with Adam Gilchrist. It expanded through franchising, first building an Australian presence and then entering international markets. The name refers to functional training and the 45-minute duration associated with its core group workouts.
What support does an F45 franchisee receive?
The system provides centrally developed workout programming, branded operating methods and technology supporting class delivery. Studios use digital exercise demonstrations and timing systems, while local coaches supervise participants. Franchisees should confirm the exact training, launch assistance, marketing resources and ongoing operational support included in their agreement, together with any associated charges.
How is F45 different from a traditional gym?
F45 focuses on scheduled, coach-led group workouts rather than primarily offering independent access to a gym floor. Sessions use functional strength and cardiovascular exercises within centrally developed programmes. For franchisees, this means that class scheduling, coach quality, attendance and membership retention are particularly important to the studio's day-to-day performance.
Latest F45 Training news
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Figures are approximate and based on publicly reported information as of 2024. Franchise costs and terms change; prospective franchisees should obtain the brand’s current disclosure documents and take independent legal and financial advice. Profile updated October 2026.