The franchise segment in Spain managed to close 2022 positively despite the obstacles in the form of political and financial instability, the increase in the costs of supplies and raw materials, fuel and rental of premises, which marked a good part of the last year.
In general figures, at the end of 2022, a total of 1,395 franchise brands were operating in Spain, which represents an improvement of 1.5% compared to 2021, and a clear recovery in terms of 2020 when the number of franchise brands increased only 0.37%, according to the Barbadillo y Asociados Franchise Guide in Spain 2023.
A report that reaches its thirtieth edition and that does so stating the robustness of a sector that, however, is no stranger to the crises that have hit the sector in recent years and that have resulted in the closure of franchised businesses. A fact that at the brand level is masked by the debut of new brands, but which is reflected in the total number of franchised businesses in operation, which at the end of last year was 71,145 establishments, a number that represents a slight reduction of 0 .2% compared to the 71,300 of 2021.
With which, in 2022 the Spanish market would have witnessed the creation of more franchise brands, although the total volume of the sector would have suffered a slight decrease.
Fitness, sixth main segment
By sectors of activity, the hotel industry in its various subsectors (themed restaurants, generic restaurants, fast food, tapas bars, cafeterias, etc.) remains the largest group by number of operating networks with 256 brands, which is equivalent to 18.4% of the total.
Behind them are the specialized services sectors (8.1% of the total); textile, fashion and accessories (8%); that of aesthetics and beauty (7.4%), that of specialized products (6.7%); that of health, well-being and fitness (6.5%), that of teaching-training (5.3%) and that of food (5%).
In this way, the franchise of fitness clubs and gyms ranks as the sixth with the greatest weight within the Spanish franchise.
Fitness is the sixth sector by number of operating franchises in Spain. Source: Franchise Guide of Spain 2023.
Madrid, epicenter of the franchise
Regarding the distribution of the brands by autonomous communities, the same position is maintained as in 2021, with four communities standing out from the rest: Madrid with 406 (29.1%), Catalonia with 266 (19%), Andalusia with 153 (11%) and C. Valenciana with 151 (10.8%).
The distribution of the twelve with the most implementation of banners, according to the address for the purposes of this publication, are the following:
- Madrid 29.1%
- Catalonia 19.0%
- Andalusia 11.0%
- Valencia 10.8%
- Galician 4.3%
- Extremadura 3.7%
- Aragon 3.0%
- Basque 2.8%
- Castilla León 2.8%
- Castile-La Mancha 2.4%
- Murcia 2.4%
- Asturias 1.5%
an immature industry
Regarding the level of maturity of franchises in the Spanish market, the guide contemplates that the level of consolidation of a franchise network is reached from 25 units. Criterion that would reach 27.6% of current franchises in Spain.
30% would have between 5 and 25 units, while an outstanding 42.7% do not reach 5 units.
investment required
Regarding the investment required to start a franchise, the number of franchises whose initial investment is less than 65,000 euros is 56% of the total, slightly more than 27% those that require between 60,000 and 120,000 euros. 14% require between 120,000 and 300,000 euros and only 3% exceed 300,000 euros.
In the case of fitness, the average initial investment to open a gym franchise is around 256,000 euros, according to the report on the Fitness Franchise, published by CMDsport in number 455 of its digital magazine.
Good prospects for fitness franchises
According to Luisa Masuet, president of the Spanish Association of Franchisors (AEF), the forecasts for this 2023 is that the franchise sector will maintain its growth, driven by factors such as “innovation, digitization, the incorporation of new lines of business and online sales channels, as well as the restructuring to operate in smaller formats”.
Among the segments that the Association predicts will experience the greatest growth this year, Masuet names gyms, along with the food, hospitality, storage, real estate and vehicle workshops sectors.
