2026 FDD Issued Jul 30, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Checked Nov 2, 2026
GNC Franchise Cost (2026)
A GNC franchise costs an estimated $187,589 – $530,342 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $20,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: New Franchise Store. Item 6 lists royalty: 6% of Gross Sales, subject to the conditions below.
- Total investment
- $188K – $530KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $20KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 6% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 3% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Units (2025)
- 1,960Item 20 source and scope
- Franchise exit rate
- 8.2% / yrCalculated 3-year average; definition and source
What stands out about GNC
Non-renewal is the main way franchised stores leave. Item 20 shows non-renewals rising in each year it covers and becoming the largest exit category, ahead of terminations, as the franchised count fell to 643 by the end of 2025. With a term of only 5 years, renewal comes up often, and the franchisor can require a remodel as a condition of renewing. A buyer can ask former owners, listed in the FDD, why they did not renew.
The franchisor is also the main supplier. Item 5 says it is currently the only approved source for the equipment, fixtures, signage and most opening inventory of a standard store, and Item 7 shows it is paid for construction and project management as well. That puts much of the build-out cost, and the ongoing inventory margin, with the franchisor rather than independent vendors.
Company-owned stores make up most of the system and outnumber franchised ones by a wide margin, and that base has also been shrinking. Franchised stores in Item 19 averaged $484,104 in gross sales, with fewer than half reaching the average. Ongoing percentage charges total 9% of sales, and the advertising portion can be changed on short notice.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for GNC?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $20,000 for GNC. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 33-35): the initial franchise fee for a New Franchise Store or Conversion Store is $20,000 for a new franchisee and $15,000 for an existing franchisee or a qualifying employee; honorably discharged veterans also pay $15,000. Adding a GNC Smoothie Bar costs $1,000. The fee may be reduced if the term is shortened to match a lease, and in 2025 some fees were prorated for that reason. A Development Agreement (minimum two stores) adds a development rights fee. The franchisor may require a $2,500 security deposit. The franchisor is currently the only approved supplier of equipment, fixtures, signage and most inventory for a standard store, and is paid for construction, project management and opening inventory. The fee is refundable only if the franchisee dies before opening.
Source: GNC 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 33.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for GNC, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing.
How much does it cost to open a GNC franchise? (Item 7)
Source: GNC 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 44.
Item 7 of GNC’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one new franchise store at $187,589 – $530,342. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Security Deposit | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Equipment – POS & Peripherals and iPad & Peripherals | $3,500 | $7,000 |
| Equipment – Computer (PC) and Printer | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Signage | $8,500 | $20,000 |
| Fixtures | $7,500 | $48,000 |
| Construction and Other Store Costs | $35,000 | $250,000 |
| Pre-Construction Architectural and Engineering Consulting Fees | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Project Management Fee | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $80,000 | $90,000 |
| Utility Security Deposits | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Business and Worker's Compensation Insurance | $2,370 | $11,800 |
| Training Expenses | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| Rent/Leasehold Space – 1 Month | $1,219 | $19,042 |
| Additional Funds – 3 Months | $10,000 | $30,000 |
| Total | $187,589 | $530,342 |
Other formats
| Format | Total investment |
|---|---|
| Conversion Store | $112,589 – $474,342 |
| Smoothie Bar Addition | $31,870 – $66,300 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 5 retail records without a source-review hold is $485,900.
Item 7 (PDF pages 44-46) prints $187,589 to $530,342 for a New Franchise Store; its 16 lines add to that total. Equipment, fixtures, signage, construction, project management and most opening inventory are paid to the franchisor. Rent is one month, and additional funds cover three months. A Conversion Store prints $112,589 to $474,342, and adding a Smoothie Bar $31,870 to $66,300.
What ongoing royalties and fees does GNC charge? (Item 6)
Source: GNC 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 36.
Item 6 of GNC’s 2026 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 6% of Gross Sales | Every period | 6% of total gross sales, paid monthly. (Item 6, PDF p. 36) |
| National Advertising | 3% of Gross Sales | Every period | Currently 3% of total gross sales, paid monthly; the franchisor may raise or lower it on 30 days' written notice (note 3). (Item 6, PDF p. 36) |
| Transfer Fee – Franchise Agreement | Varies | When it applies | Up to the then-current undiscounted initial franchise fee for a new store; $1,000 for a transfer to your own entity or an immediate family member; $2,500 for a transfer of less than 50% ownership. May be reduced for a distressed store (note 4). (Item 6, PDF p. 36) |
| Transfer Fee – Development Agreement | $10,000 | When it applies | $10,000 on a permitted assignment of the Development Agreement. (Item 6, PDF p. 36) |
| Franchise Store Relocation Fee | Varies | When it applies | $10,000 or a greater amount the franchisor sets to cover its costs, if it approves a relocation after an act of God or extreme hardship; may be waived. (Item 6, PDF p. 36) |
| Remodeling | $25,000 – $150,000 | When it applies | $25,000 to $150,000, no more than once every 5 years if the franchisor requires it, and possibly at signing for a Conversion Store or when buying an existing store (note 5). (Item 6, PDF p. 37) |
| Insurance Reimbursement Fee | $500 | When it applies | Up to $500 per occurrence, plus the premium, if the franchisor buys required insurance you failed to obtain (note 6). (Item 6, PDF p. 37) |
| Late Payment Charges | Varies | When it applies | 1.5% interest per month on overdue amounts. (Item 6, PDF p. 37) |
| Insufficient Funds Fee | $30 | When it applies | $30 per returned payment. (Item 6, PDF p. 37) |
| Store Technology Maintenance | $75 per month | Every period | $75 per month for the first register and $25 per month for a second; re-evaluated each year (note 7). (Item 6, PDF p. 37) |
| Network Connection | $233 – $265 per month | Every period | $233 per month for Standard or $265 per month for Premium. (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Credit Card Processing (EMV, Secure) | $16 per month | Every period | $16 per month. (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Financial Services (GNFS) | Varies | When it applies | $345 per month for one store, with lower per-store rates for more stores ($220 at 15 or more); required for new franchise operators for the first 12 months and includes the annual inventory. A service charge of up to 10% applies when financial information is late (note 8). (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Franchise Renewal | $12,500 | When it applies | $12,500 on or before expiration; may be less if the term is shortened to match a lease, and a remodel may be required (note 9). (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Audit | Varies | When it applies | All audit costs if an audit discloses an understatement of 3% or more in any gross sales report. (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Sublease Rent | Varies | When it applies | Rent and costs under a sublease, only if you sublease the store premises from the franchisor (note 10). (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Non-Compliance Fee – Renewal Notice | Varies | When it applies | Up to $1,000 if you fail to give timely notice of whether you will renew. (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Damages or expenses the franchisor is held liable for in connection with your franchise. (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Attorneys' Fees and Costs | Varies | When it applies | Payable only if you do not comply with the Franchise Agreement. (Item 6, PDF p. 39) |
| Liquidated Damages | Varies | When it applies | On termination for your default: the greater of your average monthly royalty over the prior 2 years or prior 12 months, multiplied by the months left in the term (note 11). (Item 6, PDF p. 39) |
| Default Cure Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to $1,000 per occurrence for the administrative costs of managing a default (note 12). (Item 6, PDF p. 39) |
| Annual Inventory Fee | $540 per year | When it applies | $540 a year if the franchisor requires and conducts a physical inventory and you are not in GNFS; a cancellation fee may apply (note 13). (Item 6, PDF p. 39) |
| Non-Compliance Management Fee | Varies | When it applies | 25% of total gross sales while the franchisor operates a store whose franchisee is in default, on top of other fees (note 14). (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| Operating Management Fee | Varies | When it applies | $2,000 per week if the franchisor operates the store after the franchisee's death or disability until a transfer (note 15). (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| Securities Offering Fee | $5,000 | When it applies | $5,000 for each proposed securities offering reviewed (note 16). (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
Start with the recorded GNC inputs, then enter your own operating costs and sales assumptions. The result is a scenario, not an FDD profit forecast.
GNC startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
Item 19 does not supply an average or median sales figure suitable for this model, so we do not estimate annual fees in dollars. For every $100 of sales, an owner pays 9% in percentage fees , plus $3,888 – $4,272 a year in fixed fees. Estimate it with your own sales figure · Estimate your payback for GNC.
Item 20: GNC franchised outlet history
Source: GNC 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 112.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 643 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 1,317 outlets. Our calculated average annual franchised exit rate is 8.2% across the 3 reported years, using the definition below.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 774 | 12 | 36 | 750 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 750 | 22 | 69 | 703 | 9.2% |
| 2025 | 703 | 16 | 76 | 643 | 10.8% |
Franchised units went from 774 to 643 over 3 years (-131).
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables. Compare GNC’s exit rate with other brands.
7 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 Table 3 (PDF page 112) totals match Table 1 (PDF page 106). Company-owned stores, which include 20 in Puerto Rico, outnumber franchised stores by a wide margin. Non-renewals are the largest franchised exit category and rose each year. Relocated outlets are not shown as closings and openings.
How much do GNC franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: GNC 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 105.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Gross Sales of franchised Stores of $484,104 (January 1 to December 31, 2025, 626 of 643 franchised U.S. GNC Stores that operated continuously all year; 259 (41%) were at or above the average). GNC’s Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees such as the royalty (6% of Gross Sales) come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
See every GNC Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Estimate your payback for GNC using Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How long is the GNC franchise agreement term?
Source: GNC 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 87.
The standard GNC franchise agreement runs 5 years, with renewal terms of 5 years.
Item 17 (PDF pages 87-88): the term starts on the store opening date and ends on its 5th anniversary, and may be shortened to match a shorter lease. It does not renew automatically; if you meet the conditions, including remodeling if required, you may renew for additional consecutive 5-year terms.
How long does it take to open a GNC franchise? (Item 11)
Source: GNC 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 73.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the Franchise Agreement or making the first payment for the franchise to opening: approximately 180-240 days.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to GNC’s $187,589 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Retail. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- Wild Birds Unlimited $232K – $376K Retail
- Great Clips $188K – $420K Beauty & Personal Care
- Supercuts $186K – $323K Beauty & Personal Care
- Woof Gang Bakery $191K – $560K Source review pending Provisional publication Pet Services
- Huntington Learning Center $192K – $341K Education & Tutoring
- Valvoline Instant Oil Change $192K – $3.48M Source review pending Automotive
Compare other retail franchises
Sources
GNC Holdings, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued July 30, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 33
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 36
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 44
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 104
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 112
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 87
Page references for GNC use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- November 2, 2026: Source check completed against the recorded FDD.
- November 2, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued July 30, 2026).
- November 2, 2026: Cleared the October 31 source hold after an independent check of the July 30, 2026 Minnesota Clean FDD: cover, Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Item 6 now lists all 25 table rows (the draft had 9). Corrected the franchising start year to 1987. Added the opening time, renewal terms and Item 7, Item 19 and Item 20 notes. Rewrote the analysis.