“Cheap Monthly Rate” health club franchise concept plans to open in this market ……

Atlanta-Based, “Cheap Monthly Rate” health club concept may soon open in …… The 24-hour, seven-day-a-week fitness concept is hot in the U.S. franchising world right now, and Randy Trotter is ready to pull the trigger in the Albuquerque market. Trotter is the VP of development for Atlanta-based Workout Anytime, a concept that has sold 100 franchises and has opened 60, mostly in the southeastern U.S. There are a handful of corporate-owned locations as well. “In our model, the Albuquerque market is underserved for a 24-hour, value-priced gym,” Trotter said. He said the gym is known for its $15- and $25-a-month options. Trotter said the gym differs from a Planet Fitness in a few ways: his gyms are smaller, he offers free weights and Planet Fitness locations are typically not open 24 hours. “They have a good product and a good model, but we also don’t offer a lot of the amenities you might see — juice bars and nurseries,” he said. He said Workout Anytime caters more toward the baby boomer demographic, too — those who might not be into a “social scene” at a gym. Franchise fees are around $125,000. “Part of that is the real estate; we negotiate it and often get some free rent and tenant improvements,” Trotter said. He said Workout Anytime contracts with a third-party finance company that will finance 80 percent of the equipment. There’s two weeks of training in Atlanta and on site too. Trotter is reaching out to Albuquerque real estate brokers and entrepreneurs who might be interested in operating a franchise. He said his real estate team typically looks for a shopping center that is anchored by a grocery store, maybe one that has a former Blockbuster Video or similar space that has been vacated — around 5,000 to 6,000 square feet. Workout Anytime has operated since 1999 and started franchising in 2006. Trotter said he’s not opposed to opening a corporate or seed location in Albuquerque and then building on that momentum. Contact Trotter directly at (770) 403-7203 for more information.