Anytime Fitness might be Singapore’s smartest gym business
Walk through almost any neighbourhood mall, MRT station, or business park in Singapore, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a familiar purple sight: an Anytime Fitness gym.
Once a novel concept in a market dominated by traditional gym chains and boutique studios, the brand has managed to build one of the largest fitness networks in the country, with 150 outlets since launching in 2013. That’s roughly one gym for every 5 square kilometres in Singapore.
But growth of this scale doesn’t happen by chance—Anytime Fitness has cracked the franchise formula. By combining a scalable business model with strong local ownership, it has created a network that’s not just everywhere, but also highly rewarding for its franchise partners.
We spoke with Ryan Cheal, Group Chief Operating Officer of Inspire Brands Asia, the exclusive regional master franchisee of Anytime Fitness across eight markets in Asia, about how the brand came to dominate Singapore’s gymscape and what makes running an Anytime Fitness club such a lucrative business opportunity.
The Anytime Fitness franchise formula
Anytime Fitness first opened in Minnesota, USA, founded by Chuck Runyon and Dave Mortensen in 2002, who envisioned a convenient, 24/7 gym with affordable access.
It was only about 10 years later that it opened in Singapore, with its first outlet in 2013 at a rather unexpected location: Woodlands. It was brought in by Maurice Levine, then-Master Franchisee of Anytime Fitness Asia.
“Conventional knowledge told us that the first location all the way back in 2013 needed to be at the heart of Orchard—and yet we placed it in Woodlands,” said Ryan. “We focused on neighbourhoods and business districts with strong community potential, areas where people wanted to work out close to home or work, but where quality fitness options were limited.”
This allowed it to “build trust quickly, establish local relevance, and create early momentum without overextending the brand.”
For early members, especially those with irregular work hours or living outside the city centre, the main draw was simple: a gym that stayed open when they needed it. On top of that, no matter where they signed up, members could access any Anytime Fitness gym across the island—and even overseas—adding an extra layer of convenience and flexibility.
Pricing, too, was competitive compared with many other full‑service gym chains, and the smaller club format made Anytime Fitness’s gyms feel more local and less transactional.
The model that attracted members also appealed to franchisees. Entrepreneurs saw a business with a scalable framework, clear market demand, and strong brand support.
By focusing on neighbourhoods underserved by quality gyms, early franchisees were able to build loyal memberships quickly. This approach helped Anytime Fitness scale to 50 outlets within just two years and continue growing steadily thereafter.
A significant proportion of the Singapore network today, according to Ryan, is operated by franchise partners managing multiple outlets, both locally and across the region.
Over 60% of our Singapore franchisees are multi-unit owners, operating an average of four clubs, and even expanding their own reach into such markets as Malaysia and Indonesia. That progression, from ownership to multi-club portfolios, is a strong indicator of confidence in the model.
The regional strategy was further strengthened in 2020 when Anytime Fitness Asia was acquired by Inspire Brands Asia, a consortium of its top sub-master franchisees in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. Their owned gyms and management businesses were merged into the group, which at the time operated over 30% of the brand’s footprint in Asia.
Today, Inspire Brands Asia operates close to 600 Anytime Fitness outlets across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
The numbers behind running an Anytime Fitness gym
If you’re thinking about becoming a franchisee in Singapore, know that it doesn’t come cheap—setting up a club, as expected, involves considerable capital.
According to Ryan, the total investment to open an Anytime Fitness outlet across Asia typically ranges from US$330,000 to US$450,000, depending on the location, size, and build requirements.
But franchisees aren’t left to navigate the complexities of starting and running a gym alone. Inspire Brands Asia provides “end-to-end support,” from site selection and pre-opening setup to operational systems, staff training, marketing, and ongoing performance guidance. This support helps maintain brand quality and consistency across all outlets.
The group also adopts fixed, clearly defined fee structures, allowing franchisees to plan and focus on running their business without worrying about unpredictable monthly costs.
“Predictability matters, especially in a capital-intensive industry like fitness,” said Ryan. “The goal is to build a sustainable, profitable business over the long term.”
On the topic of profitability, there have been several claims that franchisees can manage to break even in as little as six months.
While Ryan acknowledged that some outlets do achieve early breakeven—sometimes even before opening, driven by strong pre-sales and effective local marketing—outcomes can vary widely depending on factors such as location, execution, and market conditions.
An operating breakeven period of around six months is achievable for well-run clubs, while our broader benchmark is a return on investment within three years of operating. In stronger-performing cases, we’ve seen gyms reach full ROI in closer to 12 months.
Deepening its presence across Asia
Singapore’s strong performance has not only cemented Anytime Fitness as a household name locally but also served as a blueprint for the brand’s growth across Asia.
The same neighbourhood-first, community-driven approach has been replicated in other markets under the stewardship of Inspire Brands Asia, where the same fundamentals proved “just as relevant.”
Looking ahead, the brand continues to expand and deepen its presence through the franchise model—but in a small city-state like Singapore, is there still room to grow? To that, Ryan remarked: “Singapore’s size was never a limitation, in many ways, it is an advantage.”
“Its high urban density and fast-paced work culture create a clear need for fitness that is convenient, consistent, and accessible—people want quality training without rigid schedules, and a gym experience that could fit into real life rather than compete with it.”
Strong health awareness here also makes Singapore a particularly receptive market for Anytime Fitness. Residents are not only aware of the benefits of regular exercise, but they are also willing to commit to memberships and wellness routines when the value is clear.
This is why the city-state remains a “priority market” for the brand. That said, the fitness landscape here is crowded, and many gyms have shuttered in the face of intense competition.
In such a market, Ryan believes that differentiation comes from consistency, not novelty. “Anytime Fitness continues to stand out by combining three fundamentals: true 24/7 accessibility, a strong community-based club model, and a clear focus on measurable member outcomes—these expectations must be delivered well, every day.”
The brand has also evolved beyond the physical gym, complementing the Anytime Fitness experience with a digital ecosystem that allows members to access training content, track progress and manage their membership through its app.
“That integration helps members stay engaged over the long term, not just during peak motivation periods—we’ve been able to move beyond just being a place to work out and become a long-term wellness partner for members in Singapore and across our other Asian markets.”
- Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.
Featured Image Credit: Inspire Brands Asia/ Anytime Fitness