Franchise opportunities compared

    Hammer & Nails vs The Shade

    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.

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Hammer & Nails

    $694,300 – $944,045

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    The Shade

    $295,250 – $482,300

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Hammer & Nails

    $60,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    The Shade

    $49,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Royalty · Item 6

    Hammer & Nails

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    The Shade

    8%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Hammer & Nails and The Shade disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Hammer & Nails has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Hammer & Nails

    $694,300 – $944,045
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    The Shade

    $295,250 – $482,300
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Hammer & Nails

    $60,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    The Shade

    $49,500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Hammer & Nails

    6%
    Royalty rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    The Shade

    8%
    Continuing royalty rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Hammer & Nails

    2%
    Brand Development Fund — maximum rate — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    The Shade

    2%
    Brand Fund contribution maximum — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Hammer & Nails

    59
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62

    The Shade

    0
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Hammer & Nails

    +28
    Calculated: 31 at end of 2023 → 59 at end of 2025

    The Shade

    +0
    Calculated: 0 at end of 2023 → 0 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Hammer & Nails

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The Shade

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

    Hammer & Nails

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Shade

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

    Hammer & Nails

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Shade

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Hammer & Nails
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Operational Franchise Outlets during 2025
    100 percent
    other Table 4 service mix share of total gross sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 58
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Operational Franchise Outlets open for the full respective Calendar Year
    $1,845,735
    other Table 1 operational franchise outlet gross sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 56
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Operational Franchise Outlets open for the full 2023 Calendar Year
    $818,793
    other Table 1 operational franchise outlet gross sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 56
    +5 more groups in the full report
    TSThe Shade

    No reviewed Item 19 figures

    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.

    Hammer & Nails vs The Shade: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Hammer & Nails or The Shade?
    Hammer & Nails: $694,300 – $944,045 (2026 FDD · Item 7); The Shade: $295,250 – $482,300 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Shade. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Hammer & Nails and The Shade royalties compare?
    Hammer & Nails: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); The Shade: 8% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Hammer & Nails or The Shade?
    Hammer & Nails: 59 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62); The Shade: 0 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Hammer & Nails and The Shade disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Hammer & Nails has reviewed Item 19 figures for 8 location groups; The Shade has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file. 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

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