Originally Posted by Holly

My ex used to have one of those. He only deals with Gold's now, but in all honesty, they're all the same: Gold's, Powerhouse, World.

They have a basic set of requirements to carry the name/franchise, but each and every one will vary greatly based on how much money/effort the owner puts into it. You'd be surprised how many people build these places and have never trained or worked out. They have no clue what kind of equipment to put in or what their members will want.

Ask for a free week pass and then check out the equipment and set up. That should give you some idea before you sign anything. $120 a year is still very good, for any place. Be sure to read your contract carefully and also check for a sign-up fee.