General Nutrition Center vs Hollywood Tans
General Nutrition Center vs Hollywood Tans: General Nutrition Center costs $48K–$250K to open; Hollywood Tans costs $50K–$360K. General Nutrition Center has 174 units, Hollywood Tans has 110. SBA loan history: General Nutrition Center = 210 loans (11.0% default); Hollywood Tans = 159 loans (20.1% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
General Nutrition Center vs Hollywood Tans: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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 $50K for Hollywood Tans), a 4% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $59K for General Nutrition Center versus $50K for Hollywood Tans, Hollywood Tans has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, General Nutrition Center operates 174 units to Hollywood Tans's 110. General Nutrition Center has been operating 91 years (founded 1935) versus 32 for Hollywood Tans (founded 1994), a 59-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 historical 7(a) approvals versus 159 for Hollywood Tans. General Nutrition Center's peak SBA year was 1997 (22 loans); Hollywood Tans's peak was 2001 (39 loans). Hollywood Tans's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, General Nutrition Center concentrates in TX (35 SBA-funded units) while Hollywood Tans leads in NJ (42). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded General Nutrition Center deals is $172K vs $213K for Hollywood Tans, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 11.0% for General Nutrition Center and 20.1% for Hollywood Tans, General Nutrition Center has the cleaner historical loss profile by 9.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 34 (Fair) for General Nutrition Center and 24 (Fair) for Hollywood Tans, giving General Nutrition Center the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 34/100 | 24/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 210 | 159 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 11.0% | 20.1% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $48K – $250K | $50K – $360K |
Franchise Fee | $59K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $300K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 174 | 110 |
Franchised Units | 174 | 110 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1935 | 1994 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | HOUSTON, TX | ASTON (ASTON MILLS), PA |
Category | Other Personal Care Services | Other Personal Care Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, General Nutrition Center or Hollywood Tans?
Lower upfront capital required
General Nutrition Center
General Nutrition Center: $48K starting · Hollywood Tans: $50K starting
More SBA lender confidence
General Nutrition Center
General Nutrition Center: 210 SBA loans · Hollywood Tans: 159 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
General Nutrition Center
General Nutrition Center: 11.0% · Hollywood Tans: 20.1%
Larger system & brand presence
General Nutrition Center
General Nutrition Center: 174 units · Hollywood Tans: 110 units
More lender financing options
General Nutrition Center
General Nutrition Center: 86 unique lenders · Hollywood Tans: 25 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 Hollywood Tans: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing General Nutrition Center and Hollywood Tans is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $48K to $360K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, General Nutrition Center with 210 SBA loans and Hollywood Tans with 159. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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 Hollywood Tans, Frequently Asked Questions
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