Row House vs Planet Fitness: Which Is the Better Investment?

Side-by-side comparison of investment costs, fees, unit economics, and franchisee satisfaction. Data from FDD disclosures and franchise database — updated 2026.

Fitness & Health Real Data Not Investment Advice
RH

Row House

Fitness & Health
$393K – $717K
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VS
PF

Planet Fitness

Fitness & Health
$1.5M – $4.9M
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At a Glance: Key Differences

Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.

Investment Cost
Row House wins on investment range ($4.2M less) vs Planet Fitness.
Fee Burden
Both have the same royalty rate.
Unit Count
Planet Fitness wins on total units (2,395 more) vs Row House.
Satisfaction
Planet Fitness has available Franchisee Satisfaction data; Row House does not.

Investment & Fees

Metric Row House Planet Fitness
Min Investment $393K $1.5M
Max Investment $717K $4.9M
Franchise Fee $60K $20K
Royalty Rate 7.0% 7.0%
Ad Fund Rate 2.0% 7.0%

Unit Economics

Metric Row House Planet Fitness
Avg Unit Revenue N/A $2.5M
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric Row House Planet Fitness
Total Units 105 2,500
Annual Growth N/A 6.0%
Failure Rate N/A 1.0%

Franchisee Performance

Metric Row House Planet Fitness
Franchisee Satisfaction N/A 82/100

Track Record

Metric Row House Planet Fitness
Years in Business 10 32
Years Franchising 7 22

Financial Requirements

Metric Row House Planet Fitness
Min Net Worth Required $300K $3.0M
Liquid Capital Required $80K $1.5M

Operations

Metric Row House Planet Fitness
Avg Employees N/A 20
Training Weeks N/A 4

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Row House or Planet Fitness a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. Row House has 105 total units and a track record in its industry. Planet Fitness has 2,500 total units and a 82/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Use our ROI Calculator to model both scenarios.

How much does it cost to open a Row House franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Row House franchise requires an initial investment of $393K – $717K. The franchise fee is $60K, with ongoing royalties of 7.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

How much does it cost to open a Planet Fitness franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Planet Fitness franchise requires an initial investment of $1.5M – $4.9M. The franchise fee is $20K, with ongoing royalties of 7.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

What is the royalty rate for Row House vs Planet Fitness?

Row House's royalty rate is 7.0%. Planet Fitness's royalty rate is 7.0%. That means Planet Fitness has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — Row House or Planet Fitness?

Row House has 105 total units. Planet Fitness has 2,500 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is Row House or Planet Fitness semi-absentee friendly?

Row House is typically run as a owner-operator model. Planet Fitness is typically run as a semi-absentee model. If passive income is your goal, semi-absentee models let you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations.

Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.

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