Starting Strength franchise
A Starting Strength franchisee operates a gym focused on strength training. At the end of 2025 there were 28 Starting Strength locations in the US, all franchised.
- Cost to open
- $267K–$708K
- Franchise fee
- $39,950
- Royalty
- 8%
- Locations, 2025
- 28
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Company snapshot
- SBA loans
- On the SBA Franchise Directory
From Strength Train LLC’s 2026 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
How much a Starting Strength franchise costs
Opening one gym costs an estimated $267,257 to $707,518. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Strength Train LLC, 2026 filing, page 20
Starting Strength franchise fee
The franchise fee is $39,950. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Strength Train LLC, 2026 filing, page 10
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 8% of gross sales, collected when sales are processed, including pre-opening payments. |
|---|
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: Strength Train LLC, 2026 filing, page 12
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Starting Strength publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: historical operating and revenue measures for 28 franchised gyms, with each gym’s time in operation shown. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Strength Train LLC, 2026 filing, page 62
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 22 (+5) | 0 |
| 2024 | 26 (+4) | 0 |
| 2025 | 28 (+2) | 0 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
Source: Strength Train LLC, 2026 filing, page 65
How Starting Strength compares
Of the 12 gym franchises on this site, Starting Strength is the 2nd cheapest to open and the 10th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Starting Strength | Typical gym |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $267K | $311K |
| Royalty | 8% | 6.5% |
| Change in franchised locations, 0 yrs | +64.7% | +58.7% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 10 of 12 |
Typical is the median across the 12 brands in gym franchises.
