GNC vs UPTOWN CHEAPSKATE
Compare franchise fees, investment range, royalties, SBA lending performance, unit growth, and Item 19 transparency with a permanent shareable URL.
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GNC
Retail
Investment
$188K to $507K
Franchise fee
$20,000
Item 19 status
Revenue Only
Units
750
UPTOWN CHEAPSKATE
Retail
Investment
$328K to $597K
Franchise fee
$25,000
Item 19 status
Cost Data Only
Units
25
Lower entry cost
Leans left
Based on minimum initial investment.
Better disclosed economics
Even
Uses Item 19 availability and transparency status.
Lower SBA default risk
Leans left
Treat low-loan brands carefully, sample size matters.
| Metric | GNC | UPTOWN CHEAPSKATE |
|---|---|---|
Franchise Fee | $20,000 | $25,000 |
Min Investment | $188K | $328K |
Max Investment | $507K | $597K |
Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 5.0% |
Ad Fund Rate | 3.0% | 0.5% |
Total Ongoing Burden Royalty plus ad fund when available. | 9.0% | 5.5% |
Median Revenue (Item 19) | $444K | $712K |
Cash-on-Cash Return Estimated when revenue and margin assumptions are available. | 3.8% | 10.0% |
Payback Period | 26.1 yrs | 10.0 yrs |
Revenue per Dollar Invested | 1.28x | 1.54x |
Franchised Units | 750 | 25 |
1-Year Net Unit Change | N/A | 4 |
Net Unit Growth Rate | N/A | 66.7% |
Net Closure Rate Net closure proxy based on disclosed unit change. | N/A | N/A |
SBA Default Rate | 0.0% | 7.3% |
SBA Loan Count Use this to judge whether SBA default data is statistically meaningful. | 14 | 106 |
Average SBA Loan Size | $159K | $423K |
Item 19 Status | Revenue Only | Cost Data Only |
Has Item 19 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Quality Score | 90 | 100 |
What stands out
- • GNC opens at $188K to $507K, while UPTOWN CHEAPSKATE ranges from $328K to $597K.
- • GNC shows an Item 19 disclosure; UPTOWN CHEAPSKATE shows an Item 19 disclosure.
- • GNC has 750 franchised units versus 25 for UPTOWN CHEAPSKATE.
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Last updated: April 2026