General Nutrition Center vs Hand and Stone
General Nutrition Center vs Hand and Stone: General Nutrition Center costs $48K to $250K to open; Hand and Stone costs $188K to $2.0M. General Nutrition Center has 174 units, Hand and Stone has 85. SBA loan history: General Nutrition Center = 210 loans (11.0% default); Hand and Stone = 95 loans (2.1% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
General Nutrition Center vs Hand and Stone: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
General Nutrition Center requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($48K vs $188K for Hand and Stone), a 75% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $59K for General Nutrition Center versus $10K for Hand and Stone, Hand and Stone has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, General Nutrition Center operates 174 units to Hand and Stone's 85, roughly 2× the system size. General Nutrition Center has been operating 91 years (founded 1935) versus 22 for Hand and Stone (founded 2004), a 69-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
General Nutrition Center has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 210 7(a) approvals compared with 95 for Hand and Stone.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 11.0% for General Nutrition Center and 2.1% for Hand and Stone, Hand and Stone has the cleaner SBA loss record by 8.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 34 (Fair) for General Nutrition Center and 55 (Moderate) for Hand and Stone, giving Hand and Stone the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 34/100 | 55/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 210 | 95 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 11.0% | 2.1% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $48K to $250K | $188K to $2.0M |
Franchise Fee | $59K | $10K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 8.5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2.5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 174 | 85 |
Franchised Units | 174 | 85 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1935 | 2004 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | HOUSTON, TX | Trevose, PA |
Category | Other Personal Care Services | Other Personal Care Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, General Nutrition Center or Hand and Stone?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
General Nutrition Center: $48K starting · Hand and Stone: $188K starting
More SBA lender confidence
General Nutrition Center
General Nutrition Center: 210 SBA loans · Hand and Stone: 95 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Hand and Stone
General Nutrition Center: 11.0% · Hand and Stone: 2.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
General Nutrition Center: 174 units · Hand and Stone: 85 units
More lender financing options
General Nutrition Center
General Nutrition Center: 86 unique lenders · Hand and Stone: 33 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
General Nutrition Center vs Hand and Stone: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing General Nutrition Center and Hand and Stone is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $48K to $2.0M.
General Nutrition Center has 210 SBA loans on record and Hand and Stone has 95. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
General Nutrition Center vs Hand and Stone, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, General Nutrition Center or Hand and Stone?
How much does a General Nutrition Center franchise cost compared to Hand and Stone?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, General Nutrition Center or Hand and Stone?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman