FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · ILLINOIS

ANYTIME FITNESS franchise in Illinois: what the public record shows

Franchisees of ANYTIME FITNESS in Illinois have taken 74 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $290,186). Those approved through FY2020 defaulted at a rate not clearly different from franchise loans made in the same years nationally: 6 charge-offs among 46 resolved loans, where about 5.8 would be expected (1.0×). ANYTIME FITNESS's national ratio is 1.0× (not clearly different from 1.0×).

SBA loan outcomes · Illinoisvs same-year franchise loans

Loans in IL

74

Charged off (all years)

6 of 49

Loss ratio in IL (not clear)

1.0×

Loss ratio nationally (not clear)

1.0×

Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = IL. Loss ratio = charge-offs among loans approved through FY2020 ÷ the charge-offs expected if each had defaulted at the national rate for franchise loans approved the same year; 1.0× is the same. Only charged-off and paid-in-full loans count. A ratio is shown at 30+ such loans; “not clear” marks a ratio chance alone could produce. The all-years count mixes every era and is evidence, not a rate to compare. Borrowers are matched to the brand by name and SBA franchise code; some matches may be wrong or missing.

Market density · Illinois vs nationalTypical density

Businesses in this industry

1,566

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

12.3

national 11.9

Versus the country

+3%

denser

Every business in ANYTIME FITNESS's industry operating in Illinois — franchised and independent — from the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns (2023), against 2024 population estimates. Counter-intuitively, density is not a warning: across the brand-state cells in the loan data, denser markets have historically charged off less often than the thinnest (see the research page). A crowded market is usually proven demand; an empty one is often empty for a reason.

Labor cost · Illinois vs nationalTypical wages

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$460

Illinois, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$438

same industry, all states

Versus the country

+5%

costlier to staff

What ANYTIME FITNESS's industry actually pays workers in Illinois, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2025), employment-weighted across counties. This cost signal is independent of the FDD: a market can look demand-rich above and still carry a margin headwind here if local wages run hot for the sector.

Same-sector systems with SBA loan history in Illinois12 systems
SystemLoans in ILCharged off (all years)Loss ratio in ILUnits in IL
Curves for Women232 of 20——
HOTWORX210 of 3—17
Orangetheory161 of 14——
GOLD'S GYM151 of 9—1
Stretch Lab142 of 4——
Yoga Six130 of 6——
Fitness Together113 of 8—3
Pure Barre101 of 5——
D-Bat90 of 2—5
F45 Training91 of 3——
Club Pilates70 of 5——
I LOVE KICKBOXING62 of 3——

Other systems in ANYTIME FITNESS's sector whose franchisees borrowed in Illinois. A loss ratio appears only where at least 30 loans approved through FY2020 have resolved; “—” means too few.

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