Max Muscle vs Planet Nutrition
Max Muscle vs Planet Nutrition: Max Muscle costs $115K–$281K to open; Planet Nutrition costs $150K–$225K. Max Muscle has 40 units, Planet Nutrition has 2. SBA loan history: Max Muscle = 63 loans (27.0% default); Planet Nutrition = 3 loans (33.3% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Max Muscle vs Planet Nutrition — 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
Max Muscle requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($115K vs $150K for Planet Nutrition), a 24% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for Max Muscle versus $15K for Planet Nutrition — Planet Nutrition has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 2% for Max Muscle and 5% for Planet Nutrition, giving Max Muscle the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Max Muscle operates 40 units to Planet Nutrition's 2 — roughly 20× the system size. Max Muscle has been operating 35 years (founded 1991) versus 26 for Planet Nutrition (founded 2000) — a 9-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Max Muscle has the deeper SBA lending track record with 63 historical 7(a) approvals versus 3 for Planet Nutrition. Max Muscle's peak SBA year was 2007 (13 loans); Planet Nutrition's peak was 2023 (1 loans). Planet Nutrition's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Max Muscle concentrates in CA (11 SBA-funded units) while Planet Nutrition leads in LA (2) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Max Muscle deals is $138K vs $118K for Planet Nutrition — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 27.0% for Max Muscle and 33.3% for Planet Nutrition — Max Muscle has the cleaner historical loss profile by 6.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 25 (Fair) for Max Muscle and 31 (Fair) for Planet Nutrition, giving Planet Nutrition the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 25/100 | 31/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 63 | 3 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 27.0% | 33.3% |
Peer Tier | established | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $115K – $281K | $150K – $225K |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $15K |
Royalty Rate | 2% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 6% | N/A |
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 | 40 | 2 |
Franchised Units | 40 | 2 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1991 | 2000 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Sioux Falls, CA | Lafayette, LA |
Category | Food Supplement Stores | Food Supplement Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2020 | N/A |
Which Is Better — Max Muscle or Planet Nutrition?
Lower upfront capital required
Max Muscle
Max Muscle: $115K starting · Planet Nutrition: $150K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Max Muscle
Max Muscle: 63 SBA loans · Planet Nutrition: 3 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Max Muscle
Max Muscle: 27.0% · Planet Nutrition: 33.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Max Muscle
Max Muscle: 40 units · Planet Nutrition: 2 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Max Muscle
Max Muscle: 2% · Planet Nutrition: 5%
More lender financing options
Max Muscle
Max Muscle: 29 unique lenders · Planet Nutrition: 3 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
Max Muscle vs Planet Nutrition: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Max Muscle and Planet Nutrition is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $115K to $281K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Max Muscle with 63 SBA loans and Planet Nutrition with 3. 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.