Is Crunch Fitness Private Equity Owned?
Crunch Fitness
Includes Crunch Gym, Crunch
gym chain · New York, NY
Leonard Green & Partners (from TPG Growth)
2025
“The PE growth machine that keeps getting flipped between private equity firms.”
The PE Playbook
- •TPG Growth acquired Crunch in 2019, then sold majority stake to Leonard Green & Partners in 2025 — the second PE flip in six years
- •Added 2.1 million members (176% increase) and 275 locations under TPG, more than doubling its footprint
- •Unveiled 'Crunch 3.0' redesign adding saunas and red light therapy — premiumizing a formerly budget brand
- •Largest franchise groups are themselves PE-backed, creating a PE-on-PE ownership layer between members and decision-makers
Since the Acquisition
- ▸Members report being charged hundreds of dollars after cancellation — one customer was billed an additional $300 post-cancellation, another was re-enrolled and charged monthly without authorization five months after canceling
- ▸Crunch holds 1.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot with 78% negative reviews — the most common complaints center on unauthorized charges, hidden fees, and cancellation runarounds
- ▸Despite advertising 'cancel anytime with no contracts,' members report discovering hidden 90-day contracts, $34 cancellation fees, surprise annual fees up to $89, and 30-day notice requirements never disclosed at sign-up
- ▸The low-cost, high-volume model leads to chronic overcrowding during peak hours — members report long waits for equipment and deteriorating facilities including broken lockers and depleted supplies
Sources
Also owned by Leonard Green & Partners
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crunch Fitness owned by private equity?
Yes. Crunch Fitness is currently owned by Leonard Green & Partners, which acquired it in 2025. The PE growth machine that keeps getting flipped between private equity firms.
What happened to Crunch Fitness after the acquisition?
Members report being charged hundreds of dollars after cancellation — one customer was billed an additional $300 post-cancellation, another was re-enrolled and charged monthly without authorization five months after canceling Crunch holds 1.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot with 78% negative reviews — the most common complaints center on unauthorized charges, hidden fees, and cancellation runarounds
Who owns Crunch Fitness?
Crunch Fitness is owned by Leonard Green & Partners, which acquired it in 2025.