- Franchise 500 Rank
-
N/R Not ranked last year
- Initial investment
-
$150K - $389K
- Units as of 2019
-
6,019 10% over 3 years
Company Overview
As more people became interested in natural foods and better nutrition, Shakarian opened stores in other states and changed the company's name to General Nutrition Centers (GNC). GNC also began producing its own vitamin and mineral supplements, foods, drinks and cosmetics. They started franchising in 1988. With company and franchised stores throughout the U.S. and worldwide, GNC now focuses on vitamins and nutritional supplements.
About GNC Franchising
| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Related Categories | Vitamin Stores, Miscellaneous Health Products |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Parent Company | General Nutrition Inc. |
| Leadership | Ken Martindale, CEO |
| Corporate Address |
300 6th Ave., 4th Fl. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 |
| Social | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram |
Business Overview
| Franchising Since | 1988 (36 years) |
|---|---|
| # of employees at HQ | 600 |
| Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: |
| # of Units | 6,019 (as of 2019) |
|
|
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a GNC Franchising franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
|
Initial Franchise Fee
|
$40,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$149,722 - $388,630 |
|
Net Worth Requirement
|
$330,000 - $1,000,000 |
|
Cash Requirement
|
$130,000 - $1,000,000 |
|
Veteran Incentives
|
50% off first-store franchise fee |
|
Royalty Fee
|
6% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
3% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
10 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
| In-House Financing | GNC Franchising offers in-house financing to cover the following: accounts receivable |
|---|---|
| Third Party Financing | GNC Franchising has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, payroll |
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
| On-The-Job Training | 80 hours |
|---|---|
| Classroom Training | 40 hours |
| Ongoing Support |
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
| Marketing Support |
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App
|
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
| Is absentee ownership allowed? | No |
|---|---|
|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
|
No |
|
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
| # of employees required to run | 3-4 |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where GNC Franchising landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.
Related Franchises
Are you eager to see what else is out there? Browse franchises that are similar to GNC Franchising.
Related Franchise Content
Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.
School of Rock Taps Latin America Master Franchisor for United Kingdom Expansion
The music educator is taking a new step in its international expansion with a master franchise agreement in the UK — and a familiar face is leading the venture.
Know The Franchise Ownership Costs Before You Leap
From initial investments to royalty fees to legal costs, take stock of these numbers before it's too late.
What Franchising Can Teach The NFL About The Impact of Private Equity
The NFL is smart to take a thoughtful approach before approving institutional capital's investment in teams.
Use These 3 Steps to Find The Perfect Franchise Opportunity For You
Once you've decided to buy, here are three steps for finding the franchise that's right for you.
For Small Business Week, President Biden Sided With Labor Bosses Over More Than 5,300 Franchise Owners
With the president's veto of a bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would have overturned the expansion of the joint employer rule, the Biden Administration showed that it cares more about special interests than small business owners.
McDonald's Introduces a New Dessert Inspired By 'Grandmacore' Trend
McDonald's will launch the "Grandma McFlurry," a limited-time dessert blending syrup, vanilla ice cream and candy pieces, as a tribute to comforting grandmotherly treats — and a nod to a TikTok trend.