Franopolis
    AvsST

    Franchise opportunities compared

    Appell vs Sweetwater Technologies

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    AAppell2025 FDDSTSweetwater Technologies2025 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Appell

    $105,450

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

    Sweetwater Technologies

    Not available

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Appell

    Not available

    Sweetwater Technologies

    $2,500

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 13

    Royalty · Item 6

    Appell

    8%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    Sweetwater Technologies

    25%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2025 FDDs.
    • Only Sweetwater Technologies has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Appell

    $105,450
    Total Estimated Initial Investment: $105,450–$274,200
    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

    Sweetwater Technologies

    Not available
    No reviewed Item 7 total
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Appell

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Sweetwater Technologies

    $2,500
    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 13
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Appell

    8%
    Royalty: 8% of Gross Sales; National Accounts: 15%–20% of Gross Sales or $500/month, whichever is greater
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    Sweetwater Technologies

    25%
    Royalty Fee — 25% of Gross Sales collected for hourly services
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Appell

    1%
    Brand Fund Contribution: 1% of Gross Sales or $200/month, whichever is greater — 1%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Sweetwater Technologies

    3%
    Brand Fund Contributions — up to 3% of Gross Sales — 3%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Appell

    9
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 53

    Sweetwater Technologies

    5
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 44
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Appell

    +8
    Calculated: 1 at end of 2022 → 9 at end of 2024

    Sweetwater Technologies

    +4
    Calculated: 1 at end of 2022 → 5 at end of 2024
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Appell

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Sweetwater Technologies

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Appell

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Sweetwater Technologies

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Appell

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Sweetwater Technologies

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    AAppell

    No reviewed Item 19 figures

    STSweetwater Technologies
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Business 3
    3,801 acres
    other Chart A Franchised Business 3
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 42
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Business 1
    $232,363
    other Chart A Franchised Business 1
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 42
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Business 2
    $106,850
    other Chart A Franchised Business 2
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 42
    +2 more groups in the full report

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Appell vs Sweetwater Technologies: common questions

    How do Appell and Sweetwater Technologies royalties compare?
    Appell: 8% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10); Sweetwater Technologies: 25% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Appell or Sweetwater Technologies?
    Appell: 9 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 53); Sweetwater Technologies: 5 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 44). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Appell and Sweetwater Technologies disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Appell has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file; Sweetwater Technologies has reviewed Item 19 figures for 5 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    A

    Full Appell report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    ST

    Full Sweetwater Technologies report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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    FDD glossary

    Plain-language meaning of each Item