Industry data
Financing for gyms and fitness studios: what the loan data shows
4,496 SBA 7(a) loans went to gyms and fitness studios recently, at a median of $250,250. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
4,496 SBA 7(a) loans went to gyms and fitness studios in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $250,250 over 10 years. 68.0% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was The Huntington National Bank.
What a gyms and fitness studio loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Gyms and fitness centers | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 4,496 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $250,250 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $60,000 - $500,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 68.0% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 10.1% | 7.1% |
What stands out
Reading these figures against all 7(a) borrowers:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $250,250 is 67% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- New businesses do well here. 68% of these loans went to startups or businesses under two years old, against 34% nationally — an unusually open market if you have no trading history.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 30% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 10.1% of loans to this market from the FY2010-2019 cohorts were charged off, against 7.1% overall. That history is why underwriting in this sector is tighter than the numbers alone would suggest — it is not personal.
What lenders look at in this sector
The highest startup share and among the highest charge-off rates on this site. Membership churn, the length of your lease, and equipment that is hard to resell all work against you. Expect a larger injection and more scrutiny than the loan size suggests.
Which lenders actually fund gyms and fitness studios
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to gyms and fitness studios, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 1,053 | $150,000 | 89% | 10.25% |
| Newtek Bank | 159 | $150,000 | 27% | 10.75% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 148 | $50,000 | 66% | 10.50% |
| Citizens Bank | 136 | $500,000 | 95% | 10.25% |
| U.S. Bank | 136 | $50,000 | 27% | 8.99% |
| First Bank of the Lake | 121 | $544,000 | 94% | 10.75% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 106 | $407,500 | 44% | 9.99% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 98 | $106,750 | 32% | 11.25% |
| TD Bank | 83 | $50,000 | 32% | 10.80% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 64 | $187,750 | 86% | 9.50% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for gyms and fitness studios: California (489), Texas (445), Florida (326), New York (238), Ohio (177), Pennsylvania (170).
Which financing fits
| Product | Fit for this sector | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | The dominant vehicle in this niche | 10.0% - 14.0% APR |
| Equipment financing | For the hard assets, often cheaper separately | 7.0% - 30.0% APR |
| Line of credit | For seasonality and payroll timing | 9.0% - 60.0% APR |
| SBA microloan | If you need under $50,000 | 8.0% - 13.0% APR |
| Business acquisition loan | If you are buying an existing operation | 10.0% - 14.0% APR |
Before you apply
- Check coverage first. Run the payment through the affordability calculator at 1.25x.
- Shortlist from the lender table, favouring ones whose median loan here is close to what you need.
- Assemble the documents — see the checklist.
- If you are buying rather than starting, read business acquisition loans first; the injection rules and diligence are different.