Max Muscle vs GNC Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Max Muscle vs GNC including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Max Muscle Franchise
GNC Franchise
Investment $114,600 - $281,300$149,722 - $388,630
Franchise Fee $75,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 3%6%
Advertising Fee -3%
Year Founded 19881935
Year Franchised 20011988
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Renewal Fee $1.5KCurrent franchise fee


Business Experience Requirements
 
Max Muscle Franchise
GNC Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Max Muscle Franchise
    GNC Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/YesYes/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    Max Muscle Franchise
    GNC Franchise
    Training -On-The-Job Training: 80 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours Additional Training: At corporate store
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingAd Templates National Media Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations 15% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 - 5

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 65% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    Max Muscle Franchise
    GNC Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About Max Muscle

    Joe Wells founded Max Muscle in 1991. Joe's success stems from his college degree in business and marketing combined with his long-standing passion for weight training and nutrition. After being introduced to amino acids for muscle recovery by the late Lyle Alzado, Joe's teammate on the L.A. Raiders, Joe was inspired to formulate one of the first low molecular amino acid formulas for athletes. His formula quickly became the #1 selling sports nutrition amino acid in the country. Today, Joe stands at the helm of the rapidly growing
    Max Muscle empire, a leader in the production of high quality sports nutrition products and the country's fastest growing sport nutrition retail chain. JOE WELLS AND SEAN GREENE - ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR, 1998 as VOTED BY THE ACADEMY OF BODYBUILDING FITNESS AND SPORTS FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE MADE IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY Sean Greene joined forces with Joe Wells as President of Max Muscle in 1994. Sean earned his bachelor's degree in exercise physiology with an emphasis in human nutrition and a minor in business management from the University of Florida. Also fueled by a passion for fitness and nutrition, Sean won numerous amateur bodybuilding titles and assisted top professors in exercise testing and cutting-edge research in exercise performance. Sean has also developed and implemented corporate wellness programs for many of San Diego's largest companies, including General Dynamics, and has trained with many top professional bodybuilders and athletes. A leader in the sports nutrition industry since 1991, Max Muscle produces and distributes its own line of popular high-quality sports nutrition supplements as well as a complete line of workout and casual wear for today's active consumer.
    Max Muscle products are marketed through the company's national network of stores, as well as through a broader distribution base world-wide. The Max Muscle brand has earned a reputation for producing and selling superior and reliable quality products within the sports nutrition industry.

    About GNC

    In 1935 David Shakarian began a wellbeing sustenance store in Pittsburgh called Lackzoom. It spent significant time in yogurt (which his dad had acquainted with the United States), additionally conveyed wellbeing nourishment items, for example, nectar and grains. Starting with $35 in receipts his first day, Shakarian extended to six Pittsburgh-territory stores in five years.

    As more individuals got to be distinctly keen on common nourishments and better sustenance, Shakarian opened stores in different states and changed the organization's name to General Nutrition Centers (GNC). GNC likewise started delivering its own vitamin and mineral supplements, sustenances, beverages and beautifiers. It began diversifying in 1988.

    With organization and diversified stores all through the United States and around the world, GNC now concentrates on vitamins and dietary supplements.The 'GNC Live Well' store design offers a full line of supplements in addition to fragrance based treatment, shower and spa items.

    Veteran Incentives  50% off first-store franchise fee
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    #195 in Franchise 500 for 2020.