News and Publications

Latest News

Fit Bodies Becomes AFS Sponsor; Will Be at SUCCEED! 2020

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, Lakeside Park, KY, January 13, 2020)  – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) today proudly announced and welcomed the addition of Fit Bodies to the sponsorship ranks for both AFS and SUCCEED! 2020.

Everyone needs a vacation, especially when you're a business owner! Fit Bodies, Inc. encourages fitness professionals to think of a teaching vacation as a way to take a vacation at a fraction of the cost you would normally pay, AND you can choose to bring a companion or your family with you complimentary.

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LÄRABAR Becomes AFS Sponsor; Will Be at SUCCEED!

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, January 10, 2020)  – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) today proudly announced and welcomed the addition of highly successful energy bar company LÄRABAR to its sponsorship ranks for both AFS and SUCCEED! 2020.

By now the LÄRABAR story is well known, the concept being spawned by founder Lara Merriken on a Rocky Mountain hike in early 2000. From five initial flavors created with a Cuisinart and rolling pin, LÄRABAR now boasts millions of bars sold annually covering over 20 flavors.

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NPE and AFS To Support Faster and More Stable Business Growth For Studio Owners Alliance with SUCCEED! ‘makes all the sense in the world’

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, SANTA MONICA, CA, January 8, 2020) – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) and NPE today announced a marketing alliance to offer fitness studio owners more support to better grow and scale their business.

NPE clients will have the opportunity to learn more about and join the premier association for studio owners in the USA and Canada, including special incentives to participate in SUCCEED! 2020, the annual AFS Convention & Expo taking place in Irvine, CA on April 30 - May 3.

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DEKAFIT by Spartan Becomes AFS Sponsor; Major Presence Planned at SUCCEED!

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, BOSTON, MA January 6, 2020)  – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) today proudly announced and welcomed the addition of DEKAFIT – the newest fitness competition from Spartan Race - to its sponsorship ranks for both AFS and SUCCEED! 2020.

Spartan Race is well known around the world for bringing obstacle course racing to all levels of athletes. From Boston to California, Australia to Iceland the industrious sporting giant never stops evolving.  It makes sense that Spartan would step into the indoor fitness space and launch a “DEKAthlon” and training program for the masses. 

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AFS, Masters in Fitness Business Announce 2020 Podcast Partnership 

(OAKLAND, CA, UNIVERSITY CITY, MO, December 31, 2019)  – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) and Masters in Fitness Business Podcasts (MFB) today announced a partnership to jointly produce a bi-weekly series of fitness business podcasts in 2020, including a live podcast event at SUCCEED! 2020, April 30-May 3 in Irvine, CA.

Masters in Fitness Business is the #1 podcast of independent personal training studios, creating a community of working together to help independent studios be more successful. Given that’s essentially the mission of AFS, the collaboration makes total sense. 

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Spartan to Launch DEKAFIT. A Premier Indoor Fitness Competition and Experience

(Boston, Massachusetts, 20 December 2019) - Spartan Race is well known around the world for bringing obstacle course racing to all levels of athletes. From Boston to California, Australia to Iceland the industrious sporting giant never stops evolving. 

It makes sense that Spartan would step into the indoor fitness space and launch a “dekathlon” and training program for the masses. 

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Heart Zones and Kevin Bryant Team Up Together

(December 24, 2019) Sacramento, CA. For the past 40 years, Kevin Bryant, health club expert and industry veteran has been working within the fitness industry in almost every capacity. As a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, he attended on an athletic scholarship as a high jumper clearing 7’ 1” some 40 years ago. His career path started as a school physical education teacher, but Kevin quickly transitioned into the club business as a professional fitness trainer and director.

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Publications

Brand New Reports Coming Soon!!!

2019 Fitness Studio Operating & Financial Benchmarking Report 

The 2019 report is our most ambitious yet, including a financial breakdown of studios by region, studio type, and size to get the most accurate data possible.

Access the 2019 Report

2019 Fitness Studio Trend Report  

To ensure a variety of feedback, AFS canvassed its Advisory Council, vendor partners, and leading studio and gym operators to reveal their top trends for 2019!

Access the 2019 Report

2018 Fitness Studio Operating & Financial Benchmarking Report 

From coast to coast, the 2018 report canvassed the US to get the most accurate data possible. The 2018 report shows the studio market continues to thrive and become increasingly revenue efficient.

Access the 2018 Report

2018 Fitness Studio Trend Report 

To ensure a variety of perspectives AFS canvassed it’s Advisory Council, Vendor Partners, and leading studio operators on trends they see growing or continuing in 2018. 

Access the 2018 Trend Report

2017 Fitness Studio Operating & Financial Benchmarking Report 

The 2017 Report has expanded the reach of respondents to mirror the expansion of AFS and the studio business. A full 30% of respondents to this year’s survey are from non-U.S. locations.

Access the 2017 Report

Marketing Best Practices Research Report 

We surveyed hundreds of studio owners across the country, identified the successful strategies, and provide them to you in this first-ever research report! 

Access the 2016 Report