chocoZAP reaches 2,000 gyms, targets 50% franchised openings in FY2026

chocoZAP, the gym chain offering 24-hour access for a monthly fee of ¥3,000–¥3,999, reached 2,000 locations in July 2026. Alongside its growing network, its use of franchising is attracting attention. Reports say the chain plans to split new openings in the 2026 financial year equally between company-owned and franchised gyms.

Reaching 2,000 gyms and launching franchising

According to an article published by Business + IT on 5 October 2026, chocoZAP reached 2,000 locations in July 2026. The “convenience gym” concept, offering round-the-clock access for a monthly fee in the ¥3,000 range, has built a substantial network.

The article notes that the chain has more locations than the convenience store brands Ministop or Daily Yamazaki. However, this comparison illustrates the scale of its network, not relative sales, profitability or customer numbers at individual sites.

For the franchising community, the significance goes beyond the 2,000-location milestone. Another important development is that chocoZAP began opening franchised gyms in December 2025, bringing franchisees into its expansion model.

The brand’s established network and the new openings that franchisees will take on should be considered separately. The total of 2,000 locations cannot be treated as the number of franchised gyms or franchise owners.

The 50:50 split applies to new openings

According to the report, chocoZAP aims for an equal split between company-owned and franchised locations among new openings in the 2026 financial year. Rather than relying solely on company-owned expansion, it plans to make franchising a key part of its growth strategy.

The important point is that this target applies to new openings in FY2026. It does not mean that half of the entire network, including existing gyms, will be franchised. Nor is it an announcement that half of the existing company-owned gyms will be transferred to franchisees. The target split must also be distinguished from the actual mix of locations that eventually open.

For example, it would be incorrect to multiply the total of 2,000 locations by 50% and conclude that there are 1,000 franchised gyms. The total reflects the network’s size in July 2026, whereas the 50% figure is a target for new openings during the financial year.

Prospective franchisees should therefore look beyond the brand’s overall size and check both the period and the scope covered by each figure. This news combines a network milestone with a change in expansion policy, but the two are not the same measure.

Expanding the network while limiting the burden on head office

The article explains that deteriorating business performance had stalled network expansion from FY2025, while membership growth had also been sluggish. It reports that franchising is intended to increase the number of gyms while keeping the burden on head office as low as possible.

Viewed in isolation, the 2,000-location milestone might suggest that expansion had been consistently smooth. Yet the report also points to difficulties in growing both openings and membership as the network became larger. The introduction of franchising should be understood in that context.

A distinction must be made between reducing the franchisor’s expansion burden and the financial viability of a franchisee’s business. A model designed to ease the burden on head office does not, in itself, guarantee profits or investment recovery for individual franchisees.

For the franchising community, the key issue is how the franchisor and franchisees will share responsibility for network growth. When assessing the opportunity, prospective franchisees should look beyond opening targets and check, against the contract terms, the costs they will bear, their day-to-day operating responsibilities and the support provided by head office.

Separate network size from the decision to invest

The same article reports that Anytime Fitness was also expanding, reaching 1,282 locations at the end of July 2026. Continued growth at a brand with higher monthly fees than chocoZAP shows that price and location numbers alone cannot fully explain each brand’s performance.

However, this comparison does not establish which brand’s franchisees earn higher profits or which offers better locations for new gyms. A brand’s pricing and national network size provide useful context, but they are not the same as the information needed to assess an investment in an individual site.

The reported developments at chocoZAP are that it reached 2,000 locations in July 2026, began franchising in December 2025 and aims for a 50:50 split between company-owned and franchised openings in FY2026. As its expansion progresses, it will be essential to distinguish that target from the actual mix of new openings.

The practical takeaway is not to confuse total network size, plans for new openings and franchise-level financial viability. Anyone considering a franchise should examine the allocation of costs and the operational support available, as well as the scale of the brand.