AlphaGraphics vs GNC

Compare franchise fees, investment range, royalties, SBA lending performance, unit growth, and Item 19 transparency with a permanent shareable URL.

Share this page
https://fddiq.com/compare/alphagraphics-vs-gnc
AlphaGraphics
Retail
Investment
$296K to $379K
Franchise fee
$49,750
Item 19 status
Revenue Only
Units
5
GNC
Retail
Investment
$188K to $507K
Franchise fee
$20,000
Item 19 status
Revenue Only
Units
750
Lower entry cost
Leans right
Based on minimum initial investment.
Better disclosed economics
Even
Uses Item 19 availability and transparency status.
Lower SBA default risk
Leans right
Treat low-loan brands carefully, sample size matters.
MetricAlphaGraphicsGNC
Franchise Fee
$49,750$20,000
Min Investment
$296K$188K
Max Investment
$379K$507K
Royalty Rate
7.0%6.0%
Ad Fund Rate
2.5%3.0%
Total Ongoing Burden
Royalty plus ad fund when available.
9.5%9.0%
Median Revenue (Item 19)
$1.0M$444K
Cash-on-Cash Return
Estimated when revenue and margin assumptions are available.
7.6%3.8%
Payback Period
13.1 yrs26.1 yrs
Revenue per Dollar Invested
3.04x1.28x
Franchised Units
5750
1-Year Net Unit Change
-5N/A
Net Unit Growth Rate
-100.0%N/A
Net Closure Rate
Net closure proxy based on disclosed unit change.
50.0%N/A
SBA Default Rate
14.3%0.0%
SBA Loan Count
Use this to judge whether SBA default data is statistically meaningful.
11514
Average SBA Loan Size
$485K$159K
Item 19 Status
Revenue OnlyRevenue Only
Has Item 19
✓ Yes✓ Yes
Data Quality Score
10090

What stands out

  • AlphaGraphics opens at $296K to $379K, while GNC ranges from $188K to $507K.
  • AlphaGraphics shows an Item 19 disclosure; GNC shows an Item 19 disclosure.
  • AlphaGraphics has 5 franchised units versus 750 for GNC.

Turn this into a buy-side memo

Unlock full compare access, then order a deeper FDD report with litigation review, red flags, and an investment thesis you can share with partners or lenders.

Last updated: April 2026