F45 Mona Vale franchise hits the wall

An F45 gym in Sydney has quietly closed its doors, adding to an already long list of defunct franchises involved in the embattled fitness chain.

EXCLUSIVE

Another F45 gym has quietly closed down, adding to an already long list of defunct franchises in the embattled fitness chain.

News.com.au can reveal that F45 Mona Vale, on Sydney’s northern beaches has closed.

The gym announced the news to its members in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

“Hi Mona Family, Unfortunately we will be closing the studio until further notice. This is news we did not want was also a shock to staff.” [sic]

The franchise notified members it was closing via social media. Picture: Instagram.

It followed a post earlier the same day which read: “Unfortunately all of todays (sic) classes are cancelled. We will provide an update later today. We apologise for the late notice. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

Members took to Instagram to express their sadness over the closure.

“I can’t quite believe when I wake tomorrow morning I’m not going to be coming into the gym. It’s our happy place, our daily grind, the place we can let loose, dance the pain away and be ourselves. I have loved every single moment in that gym. You trainers are the best! And the community, that’s what I’ll miss the most. The laughs and encouragement were amazing. Thanks for the ride guys. LOVED IT,” wrote one.

“Can’t stand the thought of not going to our F45. It’s gym family. All fingers and toes are crossed that we will all be back soon,” wrote another.

“Oh this has made me so sad. I was thinking of coming back,” a former member wrote.

The Mona Vale gym traded next door to another gym. Picture: Google Maps.

Last Thursday, news.com.au revealed the closure of another F45, after the East Victoria Park franchise in Perth went into liquidation.

The decision was taken to put the Perth business into liquidation citing “concerns about the Company’s solvency”, according to the minutes of its general meeting lodged with ASIC.

“The Company could not, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business or continue to trade,” the minutes of the general meeting said.

Since its inception as one gym in Sydney’s Paddington in 2012, F45 grew to 2,247 franchises across 63 countries by March 2021.

It offers 45-minute high intensity interval training (HIIT) and benefited from being a first-mover in what was a burgeoning market, attracting investment from Hollywood A-lister Mark Wahlberg.

But problems began to emerge with the chain not long after it listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021.

F45 co-founder Rob Deutsch with actor Mark Wahlberg. Mr Deutsch recently re-emerged with a new fitness chain. Picture: Instagram / F45 Training

Co-founder Rob Deutsch, who wasn’t in favour of its listing plans, left the business in 2020, and since going public, the company has been plagued by poor financial performance and disputes with franchisees in a spectacular decline.

Over time, its franchisees suffered from a cannibalisation of their territories, with the chain allowing new franchises to open in proximity to existing ones, and competition from other HIIT gyms.

Mr Deutsch last week re-emerged as a partner in a new fitness chain, The Yard Gym, following the expiry of a non-compete arrangement that prevented him from operating in the fitness industry until this year.

Originally published as F45 Mona Vale franchise hits the wall