Franopolis
    vs

    Franchise opportunities compared

    Aerus vs Gnc Holdings

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Aerus2026 FDDGnc Holdings2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Aerus

    $30,500 – $417,890

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 28

    Gnc Holdings

    $31,870 – $530,342

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Aerus

    $3,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 18

    Gnc Holdings

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Aerus

    8% · percent of Gross Sales

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 22

    Gnc Holdings

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 39

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Gnc Holdings discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Gnc Holdings has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Aerus

    $30,500 – $417,890
    Total Initial Investment - Standard Program
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 28

    Gnc Holdings

    $31,870 – $530,342
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Aerus

    $3,000
    Item 5 lists separate fees for Standard and Associate Programs.
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 18

    Gnc Holdings

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Aerus

    8% · percent of Gross Sales
    Royalty
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 22

    Gnc Holdings

    6%
    Royalty
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 39
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Aerus

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    Gnc Holdings

    3%
    National advertising fee — 3%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 39

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Aerus

    151
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62

    Gnc Holdings

    1,960
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 109
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Aerus

    −49
    Calculated: 200 at end of 2023 → 151 at end of 2025

    Gnc Holdings

    +1,210
    Calculated: 750 at end of 2023 → 1,960 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Aerus

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Gnc Holdings

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Aerus

    2002
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 10

    Gnc Holdings

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Aerus

    2001
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 10

    Gnc Holdings

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Aerus

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Gnc Holdings
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record
    259 stores
    other Stores at or above average
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 108

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Aerus vs Gnc Holdings: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Aerus or Gnc Holdings?
    Aerus: $30,500 – $417,890 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 28); Gnc Holdings: $31,870 – $530,342 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Aerus. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Aerus and Gnc Holdings royalties compare?
    Aerus: 8% · percent of Gross Sales (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 22); Gnc Holdings: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 39). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Aerus or Gnc Holdings?
    Aerus: 151 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62); Gnc Holdings: 1,960 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 109). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Aerus and Gnc Holdings disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Aerus makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Gnc Holdings has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full Aerus report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Gnc Holdings report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Compare Aerus with

    Compare Gnc Holdings with

    Add a third brand

    Compare up to four side by side

    Explore by brand

    Filter every published report

    FDD glossary

    Plain-language meaning of each Item