My Gym vs 9Round

My Gym offers the larger total addressable market with 166 total units and 162 franchisees, but that size advantage collapses the moment you look at growth trajectory. My Gym’s flat unit growth signals a mature, slow-expansion network — great for retention revenue if you’re already embedded, but brutal for new seat acquisition. No net-new doors opening means your pipeline is limited to replacement cycles and upsells within a stagnant base. The higher investment range and royalty rate suggest franchisees face tighter margins, which makes them more resistant to adding software unless you can prove immediate labor-cost reduction or revenue lift.

9Round is the sharper play despite its recent contraction. The -29% unit decline looks alarming on paper, but it’s primarily a post-Covid shakeout of undercapitalized operators; what remains are committed franchisees likely preparing the ground for a rebuild or corporate-led repopulation of territories. At a sub-$160K low-end investment and aggressive initial fee, new franchisees have faster break-even pressure — and that’s where POS, scheduling, and back-office automation become non-negotiable survival tools. The open procurement model is the killer advantage: as an approved supplier, you’re on the inside lane for system-wide adoption once a pilot sticks, without the rigid multi-vendor bidding gauntlet that My Gym’s standards-based model imposes. Pair that with a 2026 FDD and current filings, and 9Round signals operational urgency that aligns with fast software sales cycles.

The tradeoff is clear — you’re trading a stable, static base for a smaller but turnaround-timing opportunity where procurement access and franchisee pain converge. My Gym keeps the lights on; 9Round opens a window for land-grab expansion at the exact moment operators need efficiency tech.

Verdict: 9Round is the stronger software-sales opportunity right now because procurement openness, low entry cost driving automation demand, and turnaround momentum outweigh My Gym’s flat, less accessible network.