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Entrepreneur Magazine Ranks Anytime Fitness #1 On Prestigious Franchise 500® List

By: Anytime Fitness |  23 Shares     161 Reads

The World's Fastest-Growing Gym is on a Blistering Hot Streak

HASTINGS, Minn. - Dec. 19, 2013 // PRNewswire // - Anytime Fitness, the world's largest and fastest-growing co-ed fitness club chain, is ranked No. 1 on Entrepreneur magazine's annual Franchise 500® list. On a blistering hot streak, Anytime Fitness was also named "One of America's Most Promising Companies" by Forbesearlier this year, honored by Chief Executive magazine with its inaugural "Leadership" award, and named the "Best Place to Work" by Minnesota Business magazine two years in a row.

"This designation as number one is a credit to our fabulous franchisees," said Chuck Runyon, CEO and co-founder of Anytime Fitness. "In addition to operating convenient and affordable gyms, our franchisees and their staffs provide our members with personal service that gets real results. That personal touch and high level of engagement is what differentiates Anytime Fitness from many other gyms and what has strengthened and grown our brand worldwide."

According to Entrepreneur, the most important factors for inclusion on its Franchise 500® list are: financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the system.

"With a fifty-one percent increase over the previous year's growth, franchises continue to drive the economy forward and remain excellent choices for those looking to exercise their entrepreneurial spirit," said Amy Cosper, vice president and editor in chief of Entrepreneur. "Unit numbers from the Franchise 500® are up, providing ample opportunity for individuals to explore options with the best franchise opportunities in the world like Anytime Fitness."

Full Article: www.entrepreneur.com/article/230291

"Considering the reputation of the other franchises ranked in the top 10, this is a tremendous honor for Anytime Fitness," said Dave Mortensen, President and co-founder of Anytime Fitness. "We love the fact that our business model provides our franchisees with the financial freedom and flexibility to enjoy their families while making meaningful contributions to their respective communities."

Anytime Fitness (www.anytimefitness.com), the first fitness franchise ever to be ranked #1, placed higher than several franchise giants in the 2014 Franchise 500®, including Subway, Jiffy Lube, Hampton Hotels and McDonald's. The franchise was founded in 2002, and since its debut on the list in 2006 at #261, has climbed rapidly through the publication's ranking, reaching #1 in just under 10 years.

2014 Franchise 500® Ranking: http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500/index.html

That climb parallels a period of incredible growth for the company. While growth in the fitness industry overall has been slow the past several years, Anytime Fitness has opened at least 250 new clubs each of the last six years and now has more than 2,300 clubs located in 16 countries on five continents serving nearly 2 million members. It took Anytime Fitness only 10 years to reach 2,000 franchises – less than half the time it took Subway (23 years) and McDonald's (32 years) to reach the same milestone. Only 1% of all franchise systems worldwide have at least 1,000 units.

Watch Think Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKS9LHWkIA4

"One of the things I love most about being a franchisee, and what separates Anytime Fitness from other franchises, is the healthy lifestyle we promote," said Andy Gundlach, the owner of 22 Anytime Fitness gyms and a member of the company's Franchise Advisory Council. "We are surrounded by people day in and day out who are here for one reason: to better their own health and the health of others. Many careers and franchise systems make it more difficult to live a healthy life style, surrounded by food or stuck behind a computer. I am not only in the best financial shape of my life, but I am also in the best physical shape of my life."

In addition to the #1 Franchise 500® ranking, Anytime Fitness has also been named one of "10 great franchise bets" by CNN Money and the "#1 Best Franchise Business Model" by FranchiseChatter.com.

In a move to leverage the company's franchise expertise and infrastructure across new categories relevant to its mission to "improve the self-esteem of the world," the Anytime Fitness brand is now held under a broader holding company, Self-Esteem Brands, which launched a second high-growth franchise opportunity: Waxing the City, a boutique waxing studio. More information about Waxing the City is available at www.WaxingTheCity.com/franchise-opportunities.

About Anytime Fitness

Founded in 2002, Anytime Fitness is the fastest-growing gym franchise in the world, with more than 2,300 gyms serving nearly 2,000,000 members on five continents. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Anytime Fitness prides itself on providing its members with convenient and affordable fitness options in friendly, well-maintained facilities which feature top-quality exercise equipment. Gyms are now open in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland, Grand Cayman, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Qatar, India, Chile, Japan and Singapore. All franchised gyms are individually owned and operated. Join one gym and use them all. Members also enjoy free access to AnytimeHealth.com, the most comprehensive wellness website available.

SOURCE Anytime Fitness

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