General Nutrition Centers

Franchise Concept: Vitamin and nutrition stores
Actively seeking Franchisee's in: All US Regions, Canada

General Nutrition Centers

A leading provider of health enhancement supplies, GNC has been around since 1935. It was then that the first store opened up in Pittsburgh, PA, by David Shakarian. He started off selling yogurt products and other healthy foods, and in six months already had enough money to move the store to a better location. Wiped out by a flood the next year, the store took a while to get back on its feet. But by hanging on through the fifties, Shakarian was able to capitalize on the increased health awareness brought about by the counterculture generation. It was at this point that he named his store General Nutrition Center (GNC). In addition to healthy foods and drinks, GNC started producing its own line of cosmetics and vitamin-mineral supplements. By the beginning of the 1980\'s, GNC had more than 1,000 stores open throughout the nation.

Today, GNC boasts nearly 5,000 stores in the United States alone, with nearly 1,500 developed franchise sites inside of the country. Outside of the United States, GNC is proud to serve over 35 countries with at least 800 different store locations. Another development that has proved vastly successful is GNC\'s affiliation with Rite Aid which allows it to set up shop within the Rite Aid location. Currently, there are over 1,000 such arrangements inside the United States. Yet along with the rapid expansion of this successful enterprise, one of the lasting characteristics of GNC is its commitment to quality. With nearly 70 years of existence and a proven business strategy, GNC has developed a highly sensitive customer response system, and is therefore the leading supplier of a wide variety of health enhancement products today.

The advantages to becoming a franchisee of GNC are limitless. First of all, a lot of the work involved in opening up a new business has already been done for those who choose to go the GNC way. That\'s because, for nearly 70 years the company has been developing its customer\'s trust and dedication. In addition, it has engaged in recent and highly profitable expansion. For the franchisee, these factors make the GNC storefront a highly valuable business ownership option.

Another one of the desirable aspects of a GNC franchise is the proven method of management that is applied to the operations of each franchise location. By providing ample support and training from headquarters, GNC is committed to the success of its franchisees. Indeed, it is worth noting that a leading magazine for people interested in starting up with ownership has consistently proclaimed GNC to be the top franchise for retail. In addition to this, the company has been independently dubbed the best franchise in America. By providing comprehensive support in the areas of site selection, construction and centralized system of cash register management, the support of GNC is there in the crucial time of opening. Furthermore, GNC is there to continually support its franchisees after the grand opening. Help comes in the form of easily accessible consulting resources, conventions, training, marketing and essential rate reduction planning for everyday business needs. The cost of a GNC franchise is said to range from about $130,000 to $182,000.

Franchise Information

Financial & Terms

Minimum Net Worth
Equity/Liquid Capital
Min Total Investment	$132,700 to $182,000
Initial Franchise Fee
Ongoing Royalty
Advertising Fee

Contact Information

Address	General Nutrition Centers, 300 Sixth Ave., Pittsburgh PA 15222-2514
Sales Contact

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