Snap Fitness
A global 24-hour fitness-center franchise brand.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Snap Fitness is a privately held international fitness-center franchise brand headquartered in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Founded in 2003 by Peter Taunton and Chad Kirchoff, the company developed a model centered on convenient access, extended or round-the-clock opening hours, compact neighborhood facilities, and franchise ownership. Its gyms generally combine cardiovascular and strength-training equipment with membership access, personal-training services, and digitally supported fitness experiences. The first Snap Fitness location opened in River Falls, Wisconsin, in 2004. The brand expanded rapidly across the United States and began international development in 2007, when it opened its first location in Canada. By 2008, the system had reached 910 clubs and approximately 400,000 members across 46 U.S. states, while also beginning expansion into India, Australia, and New Zealand. Mexico was added in 2009. Subsequent expansion used master-franchise and area-development agreements, allowing local operators to develop territories while using Snap Fitness branding, systems, and operating standards. The international network continued to broaden during the 2010s. The brand established its first New Zealand site in Papanui, Christchurch, in 2010 and entered the United Kingdom in 2012 with a club in Milton Keynes. In 2015, it entered Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Georgia, and the Philippines through separate master-franchise arrangements and also signed an agreement covering Saudi Arabia. Development agreements for the United Kingdom and Ireland followed in 2016, and agreements covering a number of Asian markets were signed in 2017, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Snap Fitness operates within the broader Lift Brands group, which has also been associated with fitness and franchise businesses including Fitness On Demand and Fitstop. The brand's business model is therefore connected to a wider platform of fitness concepts rather than functioning solely as an independent chain. Franchisees are the principal local operators of individual clubs, while the brand and its parent organization support market development, brand standards, training, and related systems. Leadership changed in 2019 when founder Peter Taunton stepped down as chief executive officer of Lift Brands and became nonexecutive chairman and a strategic adviser. Tom Welter, then the group's chief operating officer, assumed the interim CEO role. Ty Menzies was appointed global CEO of Lift Brands in August 2020. During the early 2020s, Snap Fitness undertook an extensive brand refresh built around the “For the Feeling” positioning. The updated platform emphasizes the emotional and experiential benefits of exercise, such as confidence, energy, and wellbeing, rather than focusing only on physical appearance. The brand has also used high-profile localized concepts, including the TRUMAV Signature Snap Fitness club opened by Tim McGraw in Nashville in January 2019. In October 2024, Snap Fitness announced that it had opened its 100th location across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Reference material describes the wider network as having more than 1,000 locations in more than 17 countries across five continents and almost one million members, with more than 500 gyms in North America, over 130 in Europe, and more than 350 in Asia and the Pacific. Exact totals can change as clubs open, close, or change operating status.
History
Snap Fitness was established in 2003 by Peter Taunton and Chad Kirchoff. The founders designed the business around a relatively convenient and accessible gym format, with extended-hours or 24-hour access intended to accommodate members whose schedules did not fit traditional health-club hours. The first club opened in River Falls, Wisconsin, in 2004. Kirchoff later left the operating business to pursue full-time religious ministry and sold his interest, leaving Taunton as the principal continuing founder associated with the brand's development. The company expanded quickly through franchising. Its first international location opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 2007. By 2008, Snap Fitness had grown to 910 clubs and approximately 400,000 members in 46 U.S. states. That period also marked the beginning of a broader international strategy, with expansion into India, Australia, and New Zealand. Mexico followed in 2009. The model relied heavily on local franchisees and, outside the United States, master-franchise agreements that granted development rights for defined territories. Snap Fitness established its first New Zealand location in Papanui, Christchurch, in 2010 and entered the United Kingdom in 2012 with a club in Milton Keynes. In 2015, the company added several European and Asian markets through separate master-franchise agreements, including Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Georgia, and the Philippines. It also signed a master-franchise agreement for Saudi Arabia. A major United Kingdom development arrangement with MSG Life Limited was announced in April 2016, followed by an area developer agreement for Ireland in August of that year. During 2017, the brand signed agreements covering Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The brand became associated with Lift Brands, a broader fitness and franchise group whose related businesses include Fitness On Demand and Fitstop. This relationship placed Snap Fitness within a multi-brand platform serving conventional clubs, digital fitness, and other fitness concepts. Individual clubs generally remained locally operated franchises, while the group provided the brand framework and support infrastructure. Leadership evolved in 2019. Peter Taunton stepped down as Lift Brands' chief executive officer and moved into a nonexecutive chairman and strategic-adviser role. Tom Welter, previously the group's chief operating officer, became interim CEO. In August 2020, Ty Menzies was appointed global CEO of Lift Brands. The company also pursued brand and experience changes during the early 2020s. Snap Fitness's “For the Feeling” platform shifted communications toward the emotional benefits of exercise and the way training affects confidence, energy, and wellbeing, rather than presenting fitness primarily as an appearance-oriented activity. Snap Fitness has used special-format and personality-led locations as part of its development. In January 2019, Tim McGraw's TRUMAV Signature Snap Fitness club opened in Nashville, Tennessee. In October 2024, the brand reached 100 locations across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Reference material describes the global system as exceeding 1,000 locations in more than 17 countries across five continents and serving almost one million members. It also describes more than 500 locations in North America, more than 130 in Europe, and more than 350 in Asia and the Pacific. Because franchise networks change continuously, these figures should be treated as time-specific descriptions rather than permanent totals.
- 2024
United Kingdom and Ireland network reaches 100 locations
[1]Snap Fitness announces its 100th location across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- 2020
Ty Menzies becomes global CEO
[1]Ty Menzies is appointed global CEO of Lift Brands.
- 2019
Founder leaves CEO role
[1]Peter Taunton becomes nonexecutive chairman and strategic adviser of Lift Brands after stepping down as CEO.
- 2017
Expansion agreements signed across Asia
[1]Snap Fitness signs agreements covering Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
- 2015
New European and international franchise territories
[1]The brand enters or secures development arrangements for Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Georgia, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia.
- 2012
United Kingdom entry
[1]Snap Fitness opens its first United Kingdom location in Milton Keynes.
- 2010
First New Zealand location
[1]The first New Zealand club opens in Papanui, Christchurch.
- 2008
Network reaches 910 clubs
[1]The system reaches 910 clubs and approximately 400,000 members across 46 U.S. states and expands into additional countries.
- 2007
International expansion begins
[1]Snap Fitness opens its first international location in Winnipeg, Canada.
- 2004
First club opens in River Falls
[1]The first Snap Fitness location opens in River Falls, Wisconsin.
Products and positioning
Accessible, convenient, neighborhood-oriented fitness with 24-hour access, franchise-operated clubs, and an emphasis on how exercise makes members feel.
Fitness clubs · 2004
Snap Fitness 24/7 clubs
The core Snap Fitness offering is a neighborhood fitness club operated under the franchise system. Clubs are designed around convenient access, commonly including 24-hour entry or extended opening hours, and typically provide cardio machines, resistance equipment, free weights, functional-training areas, and basic member amenities. Local club formats and services can vary by market and franchisee.
Training services
Personal training
Many Snap Fitness locations offer personal training or individualized coaching alongside general gym membership. These services are intended to help members structure workouts, learn exercise technique, work toward strength or conditioning goals, and maintain accountability. Availability, pricing, and delivery are determined at the club or market level.
Brand platform
For the Feeling
For the Feeling is the brand platform developed during Snap Fitness's early-2020s rebrand. It frames exercise around the subjective benefits of training, including energy, confidence, mood, and wellbeing, rather than presenting fitness only as a route to a particular physical appearance.
Signature club · 2019
TRUMAV Signature Snap Fitness
TRUMAV is a Signature Snap Fitness club associated with musician Tim McGraw. The club opened in Nashville, Tennessee, in January 2019 and represents a personality-led, localized expression of the Snap Fitness concept rather than a separate mass-market product line.
Controversies
2019
SF Franchisee Association sues Snap Fitness
The SF Franchisee Association filed a lawsuit against Snap Fitness, Inc., alleging that the franchisor materially breached franchise agreements by requiring franchisees to use Fitware, software that allegedly failed to meet industry security standards. The association said a ransomware attack on the software caused franchisees to lose data and left clubs unable to operate for 13 days.
Marketing campaigns
- For the Feeling
Global
Snap Fitness's early-2020s rebrand emphasizes the emotional and experiential rewards of exercise, positioning fitness as something that changes how members feel as well as how they perform or look.
Outcome. Used as the brand's current positioning platform.
Brand decisions
2020
Adopt the For the Feeling brand platformStrategyBackground
The brand undertook an extensive rebrand during the early 2020s.
Action taken
Snap Fitness shifted its messaging toward the emotional benefits and lived experience of exercise.
Aftermath
For the Feeling became the central expression of the refreshed brand positioning.
2019
Change Lift Brands leadership structureStrategyBackground
Peter Taunton stepped down from the Lift Brands CEO position after leading the business associated with Snap Fitness.
Action taken
Taunton became nonexecutive chairman and strategic adviser, while Tom Welter took the interim CEO role.
Aftermath
The transition was followed by the appointment of Ty Menzies as global CEO in 2020.
2007
Begin international franchise expansionStrategyBackground
After establishing its initial U.S. club network, Snap Fitness sought to extend the franchise model beyond the United States.
Action taken
The company opened its first international location in Winnipeg, Canada, and subsequently used additional international franchise and master-franchise arrangements.
Aftermath
The move initiated expansion across multiple continents and markets.
Recent events
- 2024
Snap Fitness reaches 100 locations across the United Kingdom and Ireland[1]
Other
The brand announced that its network across the United Kingdom and Ireland had reached 100 locations.
- 2020
Ty Menzies appointed global CEO of Lift Brands[1]
Leadership change
Ty Menzies was appointed global CEO of the parent organization associated with Snap Fitness.
- 2019
Leadership transition at Lift Brands[1]
Leadership change
Peter Taunton left the CEO role to become nonexecutive chairman and strategic adviser, while Tom Welter became interim CEO.
- 2019
TRUMAV Signature Snap Fitness club opens in Nashville[1]
Product launch
A Signature Snap Fitness club associated with musician Tim McGraw opened in Nashville, Tennessee.
- 2012
Snap Fitness opens its first United Kingdom location[1]
Other
The brand entered the United Kingdom through a club in Milton Keynes.
- 2009
Snap Fitness enters Mexico[1]
Other
The franchise continued its international rollout with locations in Mexico.
- 2008
Snap Fitness reports rapid U.S. network growth and begins wider international expansion[1]
Other
The system had reached 910 clubs and approximately 400,000 members in 46 U.S. states, while adding India, Australia, and New Zealand to its expansion plans.
- 2007
Snap Fitness opens its first international location in Canada[1]
Other
The brand began international expansion with a club in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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