How to Negotiate (or Cancel) Any Gym Membership 2026 — Scripts That Work

Updated March 2026 • 9 min read

Gyms are one of the hardest subscriptions to cancel in America. Many require in-person visits, certified mail, 30-60 day notice periods, or all three. They count on you being too busy or embarrassed to push through. Here are the exact strategies and scripts that work for every major gym chain.

Before You Cancel: Try Negotiating

Gyms would rather keep you at a lower rate than lose you entirely. Before canceling, try these negotiation tactics:

• Best time to negotiate: January (they're desperate for retention) and end of quarter (managers have targets)
• Mention competitors by name: "Planet Fitness is $10/month" puts pressure on higher-priced gyms
• Ask for annual fee waiver: The $40-50 annual "maintenance fee" is pure profit — many gyms will waive it to retain you
• Corporate rates: Ask if your employer has a corporate discount — many do, and gyms don't advertise them
• Downgrade instead of cancel: Most gyms have a cheaper tier you can drop to

The Universal Cancellation Template

Gym-Specific Cancellation Tips

• Planet Fitness: Cancel in person or via certified letter. No phone cancellation. Black Card ($24.99/mo) can cancel anytime; Classic ($10/mo) may have 12-month commitment.
• LA Fitness: Cancel in person or certified mail only. 5-day cancellation window for new members.
• Equinox: 45-day notice required. Email or visit. They WILL try to retain you with free months.
• 24 Hour Fitness: Online cancellation available through your account portal. 30-day notice.
• Anytime Fitness: In-person at home club or certified letter. 30-day notice. Franchise-dependent.
• Crunch Fitness: In-person or certified mail. Varies by franchise location.
• Gold's Gym: In-person or certified mail to home gym. 30-day notice standard.
• YMCA: Usually the easiest — most locations let you cancel by phone, email, or in person with no notice period.

Your Rights

• FTC Click-to-Cancel (federal): Cancellation must be as easy as sign-up — if you joined online, you should be able to cancel online
• State laws: Many states have specific gym membership laws — California, New York, and others limit contract terms and require specific cancellation processes
• Medical cancellation: Most states require gyms to cancel immediately (no notice period) with a doctor's note for medical inability to use the gym
• Relocation cancellation: If you move more than 25 miles from any gym location, most contracts allow immediate cancellation with proof of new address
• Credit card dispute: If a gym continues charging after proper cancellation, dispute the charges with your bank — include your certified mail receipt as proof