Franchise Lenders Share Fiscal Considerations For Scaling Operations
Lenders at the Fitness Finance Growth Conference discuss trends and considerations for franchising expansion.
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At the 2026 Fitness Finance Growth Conference, key lenders shared insights on lending trends specific to the fitness industry. With an upward trajectory in fitness franchising, attendees learned about recession-resistant categories and the importance of historical revenue trends for securing financing. Lenders expressed eagerness to fund well-performing franchisees looking to scale operations.
Why It Matters
This suggests a strengthening financial landscape for franchisees in the fitness sector, indicating that financing may be more accessible for those looking to expand. As competition increases, franchisees may leverage these insights to enhance relationships with lenders, impacting their growth strategy.
During the 2026 Fitness Finance & Growth Conference held in Chicago, industry lenders discussed their fiscal considerations for helping franchise operators in the fitness sector scale their businesses. Key speakers included Marisol Cruz, COO of Business Finance Depot, Huntley Munn from Live Oak Bank, Shye Tzadok of Mitsubishi HC Capital America, and Carolyn Collins from Dext Capital. The fitness industry, viewed as ‘recession resistant’ according to Tzadok, is experiencing notable growth, leading to an increase in loan signings from franchisees eager to open new units or expand existing ones.
Tzadok emphasized the unique position of fitness brands by contrasting them with other sectors like Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), which face more volatility due to fluctuating ingredient costs. He noted, “In QSRs, there are a lot of fads and choices, but then beef is up one day or chicken is up one day. You don’t have that in the fitness space.” This stability among fitness operators has prompted lenders to seek out good franchise operators for funding opportunities.
