Overview of Planet Fitness' Equipment Procurement Strategy

Planet Fitness operates a vast network of franchise clubs and company-owned locations. The procurement strategy is designed to achieve scale, control costs, and deliver a consistent member experience across all clubs. Corporate procurement teams coordinate national accounts, standardize equipment specs, and manage supplier relationships with multiple brands to keep floor plans uniform while allowing regional flexibility.

Key principles include standardization, total cost of ownership, serviceability, and speed of deployment for new locations. With thousands of clubs worldwide, the ability to source, install, and maintain equipment quickly is essential to hitting opening timelines and maintaining a reliable member experience. In practice, this means a multi-brand approach, a centralized specification library, and a rigorous vendor management program that aligns with franchise agreements and local compliance.

Franchise Model and Corporate Oversight

Planet Fitness follows a franchise-heavy model in which corporate sets the core equipment standards and procurement processes, while individual franchisees manage daily operations. The corporate office establishes floor plans, zone allocations, and minimum and optional equipment lists. This central guidance ensures a recognizable store layout, which reduces maintenance complexity and makes training for staff easier across locations. The oversight extends to installation schedules, warranty coverage, and service level agreements, with performance dashboards that monitor downtime, parts availability, and technician response times.

For franchise owners, the arrangement translates into predictable budgets and access to negotiated terms. The corporate framework typically negotiates volume pricing, bulk shipping, and warranty terms with preferred distributors, while still allowing regional adaptation for local demand. In practice, a new Planet Fitness site may enter a multi-stage procurement timeline: from site readiness to equipment delivery, installation, safety testing, and staff training, all aligned with a shared opening timeline.

Vendor Management and National Accounts

Procurement teams manage relationships with a slate of national distributors and major manufacturers. The aim is to secure favorable pricing, reliable spare parts supply, and consistent service coverage across states. This approach minimizes risk when a single brand runs into supply constraints and supports rapid replacement of worn units without interrupting member access. Typical arrangements include:

• Multi-brand eligibility with brand-agnostic specifications to avoid lock-in and preserve competition.
• Long-term service contracts that cover preventive maintenance, parts, and on-site service windows.
• Dedicated account managers who coordinate shipments, on-site installs, and technician scheduling.
• Performance-based KPIs like average downtime, time-to-replace faulty components, and customer satisfaction metrics.

In addition, procurement teams use data analytics to forecast demand by region, optimize re-order points, and schedule equipment refresh cycles every 5-7 years, depending on usage and technology shifts. The result is a resilient supply chain that can scale with openings and refurbishments without sacrificing floor cohesion.

Typical Equipment Mix, Brand Partners, and Case Studies

Most PF-style clubs allocate space across cardio, strength, and functional training with an emphasis on high-utilization cardio to satisfy membership expectations for value and variety. The typical equipment mix emphasizes durability, ease of maintenance, and standardized service parts. Below is a representative guide that operators can adapt for their site footprint.

Core Cardio, Strength, and Functional Zones

Cardio is usually the largest category by machine count due to high usage and revenue-per-visit potential. A mid-size facility might include 40-60 treadmills and 20-30 elliptical machines, along with stationary bikes and stair climbers. Strength zones prioritize compact, modular machines that can be serviced quickly. Core equipment often includes multi-gyms, plate-loaded machines, and versatile benches. Functional zones may feature free weights, cable stations, and compact rigs for resistance training and mobility work. For planning accuracy, use a zone-by-zone spec sheet that lists machine count, footprint, electrical needs, and maintenance intervals.

• Cardio efficiency: prioritize durability ratings, after-sales support, and error-free parts sourcing.
• Strength versatility: prefer equipment that targets multiple muscle groups with adjustable loads.
• Maintenance planning: ensure suppliers provide quick access to commonly replaced parts and on-site support.

Visualizing the floor plan helps. For example, a 12,000 sq ft club could allocate 7,000 sq ft to cardio, 3,000 sq ft to strength, and 2,000 sq ft to functional and free weights, with clear sightlines and safe circulation routes. This balance supports a high member throughput while maintaining serviceability and safety compliance.

Case Studies: Regional Standardization

Case study A: A regional rollout in the Midwest standardized on three major suppliers for cardio and two for strength, enabling bulk freight savings and simplified maintenance. Result: 10-15% reduction in equipment downtime over a 12-month period and a streamlined technician schedule, which reduced on-site service visits by 20%. Case study B: In the Southeast, a cluster of new openings adopted a modular equipment approach with interchangeable arms and automated belt maintenance features, reducing installation time by 25% and enabling faster staff training on controls and safety features.

Procurement Best Practices for Operators

Whether you are building a PF-style gym or upgrading an existing club, these practices translate into tangible savings and better member experiences.

Step-by-step RFP and Selection Process

1) Define objective specs for each zone (cardio, strength, functional) including counts, footprints, and electrical needs.

2) Issue a pan-regional RFP to major distributors and equipment manufacturers; ask for case studies and service SLAs.

1. Review proposals against total cost of ownership rather than purchase price alone.
2. Evaluate warranty terms, part availability, and response times from regional service partners.
3. Shortlist at least three credible suppliers with regional coverage.
4. Run a pilot installation in a test club to validate performance and maintenance complexity.

3) Negotiate pricing, lead times, and service packages; lock in multi-year contracts with automatic price adjustments tied to inflation or commodity indices.

4) Plan installation and staffing, aligning with opening schedules to minimize downtime and ensure staff training on new equipment.

Budgeting, Warranty, and Service

Effective procurement emphasizes lifecycle costs. Budget for a 5- to 7-year refresh cycle and set aside reserve funds for unexpected downtime. Warranty coverage should include parts, labor, and scheduled maintenance windows with guaranteed response times. A robust service partner network reduces mean time to repair and improves member satisfaction by minimizing downtime during peak hours.

• Track KPIs: downtime per machine, parts lead time, service ticket closure rate.
• Establish spare parts inventories at regional depots to shorten repair times.
• Schedule preventive maintenance during off-peak hours to avoid member disruption.

Operational tips include creating a standardized onboarding checklist for new franchisees, ensuring the equipment library is synced with the floor plan, and maintaining a living document of approved vendors, SKUs, and installation guidelines.

Lead Times, Logistics, and Deployment

Lead times vary by brand, volume, and location. Expect cardio equipment to take 6-12 weeks from order to delivery, with assembly taking an additional 1-3 weeks per site. Strength equipment typically arrives in waves, with integration into the floor plan during installation windows. Logistics planning should include:

1. Consolidated shipments to reduce freight costs.
2. On-site staging areas to minimize disruption during installation.
3. Clear installation manuals and safety checklists for staff training prior to opening.

Finally, maintain a proactive communications channel between corporate procurement, regional operations, and franchisees to handle changes in product availability, supported brands, and service coverage. This collaboration is essential to preserving brand standards while responding to local demand and budget constraints.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does Planet Fitness own all of its gym equipment or is it leased?

A1: The equipment is typically owned or leased under corporate or franchise-level arrangements, with ongoing service contracts. Ownership vs lease terms vary by location and may be negotiated at the franchise level within corporate guidelines.

Q2: How does Planet Fitness choose which brands to stock?

A2: The corporate procurement team uses a multi-brand approach, prioritizing reliability, service coverage, parts availability, and total cost of ownership. Brand selection can vary by region and due to evolving product lines, but specifications remain standardized.

Q3: Can franchisees influence equipment choices?

A3: Franchisees have input within the framework set by corporate standards. They can flag local equipment preferences or constraints, but major changes typically require approval to maintain consistency across the network.

Q4: How often are machines refreshed or replaced?

A4: Typical refresh cycles for cardio and strength lines range from 5 to 7 years, depending on usage, downtime, and technology advances. Warranties and service agreements influence scheduling.

Q5: What maintenance programs does Planet Fitness use?

A5: National or regional service contracts cover preventive maintenance, parts, and on-site service windows. Facilities rely on a network of trained technicians with rapid response times to minimize downtime.

Q6: How can a new gym owner emulate the Planet Fitness procurement approach on a budget?

A6: Start with a scalable, modular floor plan, focus on high-utilization cardio first, negotiate multi-year service contracts, and use a tiered brand strategy to balance cost with durability and service. Use regional distributors to secure favorable freight terms.

Q7: Where can I find public information about Planet Fitness equipment procurement?

A7: Public information is limited; consult corporate press releases, franchise disclosures, and industry reports for generic procurement practices in large gym networks. For accurate brand lists and terms, direct inquiries to franchise support channels are required.