Gnc Holdings
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Gnc Holdings franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
GNC operates retail stores and other sales channels offering vitamins, dietary supplements, sports nutrition products, and related health and wellness goods. Its customers are consumers shopping for nutrition and fitness products.
Headline figures
Quick facts
- How much does it cost to open a Gnc Holdings franchise?
- The Gnc Holdings Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $474,342 for conversion only (total conversion store investment high) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 49); $112,589 for conversion only (total conversion store investment low) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 49); $187,589–$530,342 for total new franchise store investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 49); $530,342 for total new franchise store investment high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 49); $31,870–$66,300 for total smoothie bar investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 49); $66,300 for total smoothie bar investment high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 49). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What ongoing fees does Gnc Holdings charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is $6 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 39). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $3 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 39). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Gnc Holdings disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Gnc Holdings FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 108). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Gnc Holdings locations are there?
- The FDD reports 1,960 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 109). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $474,342 (Total conversion store investment high); $112,589 (Total conversion store investment low); $187,589 – $530,342 (Total new franchise store investment low); $530,342 (Total new franchise store investment high); $31,870 – $66,300 (Total smoothie bar investment low); $66,300 (Total smoothie bar investment high); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 reports other measures for 626 locations.
- 3Outlets declined by 180 in 2025, to 1,960 (Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 6 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (6)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Total smoothie bar investment lowPDF p. 49$31,870 – $66,300
- Total smoothie bar investment highPDF p. 49$66,300
- Total conversion store investment lowPDF p. 49$112,589
- Total new franchise store investment lowPDF p. 49$187,589 – $530,342
- Total conversion store investment highPDF p. 49$474,342
- Total new franchise store investment highPDF p. 49$530,342
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- RoyaltyMain ongoing fee
42 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
One reported population. Revenue is not owner income.
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 626 locations
- Who is counted
- U.S. franchised GNC Stores open for business to public for at least one year during measurement period
- Excluded
- Excluded franchisees terminated, reacquired, not renewed or otherwise left the system during calendar 2025. Of 643 open at Dec. 31, 2025, 626 operated continuously all year.
- Method
- Historical gross sales, calendar-year 2025; sales data not independently audited or verified.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of Dec. 31, 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 109
Net +1,210 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($31,870 – $530,342) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Reported units decreased from 2,140 to 1,960 in 2025. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record · PDF p. 108
- [2]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 109
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
No territory or operating requirements have been reviewed yet.
848 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
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At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Not reviewed
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Reader notes on wording
Our automated check found that these summaries may not match the FDD's exact wording. Read the FDD excerpt itself; it is the authoritative text. Core cost, fee, Item 19 and outlet figures are not affected.
Item 5 · PDF p. 36 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Opening inventory for new franchise store — low
“inventory from us for your Store, which costs $80,000 to $90,000 for a New Franchise Store”
Note: The supplied excerpt covers PDF pages 35–37 and does not include the opening inventory provision or its $80,000–$90,000 range, so this amount cannot be checked against the provided text.
Item 5 · PDF p. 36 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Opening inventory for new franchise store — high
“inventory from us for your Store, which costs $80,000 to $90,000 for a New Franchise Store”
Note: The supplied excerpt covers PDF pages 35–37 and does not include the opening inventory provision or its $80,000–$90,000 range, so this amount cannot be checked against the provided text.
Item 6 · PDF p. 40 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Store technology maintenance — second register
“$25 per month (2nd register)”
Note: The source says `(2 nd register)`; the quote removes the space in `2 nd`, so it is not verbatim.
Item 6 · PDF p. 40 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Store technology maintenance — first register
“$75 per month (1st register)”
Note: The source says `(1 st register)`; the quote removes the space in `1 st`, so it is not verbatim.
Item 6 · PDF p. 44 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: GNFS monthly fee — one store
“One Store $345”
Note: The source lists the store-count headers first (`One Store`, `2-5 Stores`, etc.) and the amounts afterward; the quote joins `One Store` directly to `$345`, so it is not a verbatim substring.
Item 6 · PDF p. 44 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: GNFS monthly fee — 15+ stores per store
“15+ Stores $220 per Store”
Note: The source lists the store-count headers first, then the amounts; the quote joins `15+ Stores` directly to `$220 per Store`, so it is not verbatim.
Item 6 · PDF p. 44 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: GNFS monthly fee — 6 to 9 stores per store
“6-9 Stores $295 per Store”
Note: The source lists the store-count headers first, then the amounts; the quote joins `6-9 Stores` directly to `$295 per Store`, so it is not verbatim.
Item 6 · PDF p. 44 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: GNFS monthly fee — 2 to 5 stores per store
“2-5 Stores $320 per Store”
Note: The source lists the store-count headers first, then the amounts; the quote joins `2-5 Stores` directly to `$320 per Store`, so it is not verbatim.
Item 6 · PDF p. 44 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: GNFS monthly fee — 10 to 14 stores per store
“10-14 Stores $245 per Store”
Note: The source lists the store-count headers first, then the amounts; the quote joins `10-14 Stores` directly to `$245 per Store`, so it is not verbatim.
Item 20 · PDF p. 109 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: - 165
“Total Outlets 2024 2,305 2,140 - 165”
Note: The displayed Table 1 supports Total outlets net change 2024 of -165, but the correction save refused the page quote as not verbatim. Recorded unclear to advance the queue.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.