ADPADP
duction to GNC, Visions and 2.25 Pittsburgh, PA or Values, Getting to Know GNC, virtually Business Insurance, Office Organization, and Information Security Credit and Collections, ADP, and 1.0 Pittsbu
From the filings
HQ-led decisions
GNC SDGNC
FitnessGNC SDGNC requires every Store to buy its POS system and iPad from the franchisor, its current sole approved supplier for both — a corporate-level software decision. The 2025 FDD covers 2,140 stores, 703 of them franchised, under parent Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Total units
2,140
703 franchised
Unit growth YoY
-6.267%
vs prior filing
AUV
$476K
Item 19, 2024
Royalty
6%
of gross sales
Ad fund
3%
national + local
Initial fee
$20K
per unit
Investment range
$196K–$521K
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Item 19
Claims
from the filing
Ongoing fee load
What the operator pays every month
The recurring percentage of gross sales named in this filing, before rent, labour or any technology fee.
9%of gross sales (FY2025)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
Systems named in Item 11 of this filing. None is recorded as mandated here, which is not the same as the filing mandating nothing. Read Item 11 before treating the category as open.
AurusAurus
Register System 1.0 Pittsburgh, PA or virtually Space Planning .5 Pittsburgh, PA or virtually P&L Overview, Margin 2.0 Pittsburgh, PA or Calculations, Business Planning, virtually Aurus, Onbase Store
Uber EatsUber
itionally, our products, including GNC Brand Supplements, are sold on various other virtual marketplaces, including, but not limited toWalmart.com, SamsClub.com, Tik Tok Shop, and Uber Eats. These Int
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
20 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 6 explicit no's; 8 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee shall record all Gross Sales immediately at the time of sale and at the actual price charged to the customer on POS Systems approved by Franchisor which have a sealed and continuous tape which cumulates and consecutively numbers all purchases.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor may require Franchisee to purchase any or all items exclusively from Franchisor, in Franchisor’s sole discretion.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor reserves the right to change, add or discontinue use of any Proprietary Mark, or to introduce additional or substitute Proprietary Marks for use in identifying the System and the Franchised Business.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
142862071Item 8
The following is our revenue derived from required purchases and leases by franchisees in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024: $140,673,390 from the sale of inventory products; $253,111 from the sale of equipment, fixtures and graphics and construction fees; $1,438,800 from POS communication fees; and $1,496,770…
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
We reserve the right to enter into arrangements from which we or our affiliates may receive payments, rebates, discounts or other amounts from suppliers, manufacturers or other parties based upon purchases or leases by franchisees and to use any payments, rebates, discounts or other amounts received by us from…
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
100Item 8
We estimate that your ongoing required purchases or leases required to operate the franchised business will represent approximately 100% of your total purchases or leases.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 8
We may impose a charge to test or inspect the products and the proposed suppliers’ facilities.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you desire to purchase any items from a then-unapproved supplier, you may submit to us a written request for approval.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
to the premises operated hereunder (including changing the telephone number and changing the color scheme and/or other distinctive design features) immediately upon termination or expiration of this Agreement as may be necessary to distinguish the appearance of said premises from that of GNC Stores under the System
Franchise management
Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee agrees to participate in any customer satisfaction program established by Franchisor, as may be supplemented, modified or changed by Franchisor, in Franchisor’s sole discretion, from time to time.
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee shall permit Franchisor and its agents to enter upon the Store premises at any reasonable time, with or without advance notice, for the purpose of conducting inspections, auditing Franchisee’s books and records and evaluating Franchisee’s operations.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 14
We may revise the contents of the Manuals from time to time, and you must operate the franchise in accordance with each new or changed policy, standard and procedure.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee must receive written approval from Franchisor for the site for Franchisee’s Store.
Marketing
Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee agrees to comply with and honor any customer loyalty and/or rewards programs that Franchisor currently has in place or may otherwise adopt from time to time in Franchisor’s sole discretion.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
You must purchase or lease all equipment, inventory, fixtures, signage, and other products and materials required for the operation of your Store from us or suppliers (including distributors, manufacturers, and other sources) which we approve.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
You must purchase from us a POS and peripherals and iPad & peripherals.
People
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that its employees preserve good customer relations, comply with the requirements and specifications set forth in this Agreement or prescribed in the Manuals or otherwise in writing, and comply with such dress code as Franchisor may prescribe, including, but…
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
Currently, you must purchase a POS system and peripherals and iPad and peripherals from us.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We will have independent and unlimited access to this information and data (See Item 8).
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
We may require that you attend additional training programs or periodic refresher courses at such times and places as we designate while you are a franchisee.
The filing answers no to 6 questions
- Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?Franchise agreement
- Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?Item 11
- Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?Franchise agreement
- Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?Franchise agreement
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11
- Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?Franchise agreement
The vendor opportunity at GNC SDGNC
2,140 GNC SDGNC stores run under the 2025 FDD — 703 franchised and 1,437 company-owned — in the fitness segment, under parent Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding. The mapped franchised base concentrates in Texas (13 identified operators), Florida (8), and California (4). Franchised outlets fell 6.3% year over year. Item 19 of the FDD makes a financial performance representation.
Who controls software purchasing
Item 8 requires every Store to buy its POS system and peripherals, plus an iPad and peripherals, from the franchisor — currently the sole approved supplier of both — and most products are purchased through the franchisor's NutriMarket ordering platform. Item 11's own words add a hardware refresh obligation: franchisees must maintain and upgrade Store technology on a schedule the franchisor determines, estimated at every 3 to 5 years. CEO Michael Costello and EVP and CFO Oded Shein head the Item 2 officer roster, alongside EVP and COO Rodney Lastinger.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
Beyond the required POS and iPad system, Item 11 requires a Windows-based PC and printer from a third-party vendor — Apple-based products are not currently supported — with high-speed internet connectivity, and requires participation in the franchisor's Franchise Portal. The FDD also names ADP and Aurus under Item 11, and Uber Eats by Uber under Item 1.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 runs an approved-supplier list beyond the POS mandate: most inventory must come from the franchisor or its approved suppliers, and franchisees may propose an alternate supplier for approval. The royalty is 6% of sales on a 5-year initial term. Item 17 renewal requires proper notice, franchisor approval, a possible remodel, full compliance, and signing the then-current Franchise Agreement.
How to read the GNC SDGNC FDD
The viewer below holds the complete 2025 GNC SDGNC FDD. Item 8 covers the mandated POS and iPad purchase, and Item 11 the hardware refresh schedule. Talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of franchise systems like this one, sized and scored for software fit.
Questions vendors ask
GNC SDGNC, answered from the filing
The franchisor is currently the only approved supplier of the required POS system and iPad — a centralized purchasing decision. CEO Michael Costello and EVP and CFO Oded Shein anchor the buying center, under parent Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding.
Item 8 requires each Store to buy a POS system and peripherals plus an iPad and peripherals from the franchisor, its current sole approved supplier for both, and most products are ordered through the franchisor's NutriMarket platform. The FDD also names ADP and Aurus under Item 11, and Uber Eats by Uber under Item 1.
2,140 total stores — 703 franchised and 1,437 company-owned — in the fitness segment; franchised outlets fell 6.3% year over year.
An approved-supplier list: the franchisor is currently the sole supplier of the required POS and iPad system and most inventory, with franchisees able to propose an alternate supplier for approval on other categories.
The initial term is 5 years, and the franchisor sets a hardware refresh schedule roughly every 3 to 5 years — a recurring point to pitch a POS or iPad upgrade alongside the standard renewal cycle.
The embedded PDF viewer below holds GNC SDGNC's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document in full. Read Item 8 for the mandated POS purchase, then Item 11 for the hardware refresh schedule.
Source
Read the filing itself
Every number on this page traces back to this document. Read it in full, page by page. Buy the original PDF to download, search, and annotate it.
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FDD alert
Tell me when this brand refiles.
We’ll email you the moment GNC SDGNC files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
53 operators run 53 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Single-unit53
Top states by locations
| TX | 13 |
|---|---|
| FL | 8 |
| CA | 4 |
| NC | 3 |
| OH | 3 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind GNC SDGNC
unknown of harbin pharmaceutical group holding.
Related Fitness brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.