Key Takeaways
- Fitness businesses with recurring membership revenue are among the most bankable service operations
- Gym equipment, studio buildout, and second location expansion all eligible
- Boutique fitness (yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, boxing) and full-service gyms both qualify
- SBA closed to L-1 holders — Bankable funds fitness businesses on membership revenue
- Decisions in 48 hours, $50K to $2M
Recurring membership revenue is the gold standard for lending. A gym with 400 active members paying $49 per month generates $19,600 in predictable monthly revenue that renews automatically unless a member cancels. This is the kind of cash flow that lenders compete to finance — when the owner has a green card. For L-1 holders who have built boutique fitness studios, CrossFit boxes, yoga studios, or full-service gyms, the membership revenue is identical. The visa status is the only difference, and Bankable does not treat it as one.
L-1 holders in fitness often come from sports management, physical therapy, or wellness industry executive backgrounds. An L-1A fitness industry director who establishes a US studio with an international wellness brand relationship creates a business with built-in brand recognition, proprietary programming, and an instructor recruitment pipeline. These are real competitive advantages that translate into better member retention and higher revenue stability.
Fitness Business Capital for L-1 Holders
- Studio buildout: Flooring, mirrors, sound systems, climate control, and locker rooms — boutique studio buildouts average $60K-$150K; full-service gyms $200K-$600K
- Equipment packages: Cardio machines, strength equipment, cycling bikes, functional training equipment — $30K-$250K depending on format
- Membership management software: Mindbody, Zen Planner, Glofox, and PushPress — subscription and setup costs
- Personal trainer and instructor staffing: Hiring certified instructors requires capital before new members are enrolled
- Second location expansion: Funded based on the performance of your first studio — same buildout and equipment cost profile
Check your Bankability Score or explore equipment financing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Fitness businesses owned by L-1 holders qualify for Bankable funding based on membership revenue. We connect to Mindbody, Glofox, or review 6+ months of bank statements. No green card required.
Monthly membership dues, class pack sales, personal training packages, retail product sales, and corporate wellness contracts all qualify. Recurring membership revenue is the strongest qualification metric.
A declining membership trend is a negative factor but not necessarily a disqualifier. We evaluate the reason for the decline — new competition, COVID recovery, seasonal — and whether current revenue still supports repayment capacity.
Yes. Treadmills, ellipticals, strength equipment, cycling bikes, rowing machines, and functional training equipment all qualify for equipment financing. The equipment serves as collateral with 70-85% LTV.
Yes. CrossFit affiliates, martial arts studios, boxing gyms, and other specialty fitness formats all qualify. We evaluate the membership base and revenue regardless of fitness format.
If you have an existing studio with documented revenue, Bankable can fund the second location buildout in advance of its opening. We use your first location's revenue as the repayment basis.
We focus on revenue rather than member count. A studio with 100 members at $89/month ($8,900/month) qualifies. A gym with 500 members at $30/month ($15,000/month) also qualifies. Minimum 6 months of membership revenue documentation.
Yes. Boutique yoga, Pilates, barre, and similar wellness studios qualify on class pack and membership revenue. The recurring nature of wellness studio revenue makes these strong funding candidates.