Which costs less to open, MassageLuXe or The Shade Group?

MassageLuXe: $575,600 – $835,300 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19); The Shade Group: $295,250 – $482,300 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Shade Group. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.

How do MassageLuXe and The Shade Group royalties compare?

MassageLuXe: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15); The Shade Group: 8% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.

Which has more locations, MassageLuXe or The Shade Group?

MassageLuXe: 104 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 58); The Shade Group: 0 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.

Do MassageLuXe and The Shade Group disclose financial performance (Item 19)?

MassageLuXe has reviewed Item 19 figures for 21 location groups; The Shade Group makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

Franchise opportunities compared

MassageLuXe vs The Shade Group

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.

MassageLuXe2026 FDD

The Shade Group2026 FDD

Initial investment · Item 7

MassageLuXe

$575,600 – $835,300

2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19

The Shade Group

$295,250 – $482,300

2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22

Initial franchise fee · Item 5

MassageLuXe

$42,500

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 13

The Shade Group

$49,500

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

Royalty · Item 6

MassageLuXe

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15

The Shade Group

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

Before you compare

Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
Only MassageLuXe has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

Financial commitment

Disclosure

MassageLuXe

The Shade Group

Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

MassageLuXe

$575,600 – $835,300

Total 18 — $575600

2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19

The Shade Group

$295,250 – $482,300

Total single-unit investment range

2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22

Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

MassageLuXe

$42,500

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 13

The Shade Group

$49,500

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

Royalty (Item 6)

MassageLuXe

Royalty You — 6%

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15

The Shade Group

Continuing royalty rate

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

MassageLuXe

$15,000

Start - Up Marketing — $15000

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

The Shade Group

Brand fund maximum rate — 2%

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

System scale & health

Disclosure

MassageLuXe

The Shade Group

Total outlets (Item 20)

MassageLuXe

104

Outlets at end of 2025

2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 58

The Shade Group

Outlets at end of 2025

2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54

Net outlet change (Item 20)

MassageLuXe

+18

Calculated: 86 at end of 2023 → 104 at end of 2025

The Shade Group

Not available

Only one year reported

Outlet exits (Item 20)

MassageLuXe

Not available

No complete exit records for a year

The Shade Group

Not available

No complete exit records for a year

Franchising since (Item 1)

MassageLuXe

2008

From a verified franchisor listing

The Shade Group

Not available

Not in reviewed records

Franchisor founded (Item 1)

MassageLuXe

Not available

Not in reviewed records

The Shade Group

Not available

Not in reviewed records

Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

MassageLuXe

Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All90 full-year spas Q1

22 count

other Table19.1 All90 full-year spas Q1

2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 40

Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All90 full-year spas Q2

22 count

other Table19.1 All90 full-year spas Q2

2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 40

Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All90 full-year spas Q3

$774,920

other Table19.1 All90 full-year spas Q3

2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 40

+18 more groups in the full report

The Shade Group

Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

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.

MassageLuXe vs The Shade Group: common questions

Which costs less to open, MassageLuXe or The Shade Group?: MassageLuXe: $575,600 – $835,300 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19); The Shade Group: $295,250 – $482,300 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Shade Group. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
How do MassageLuXe and The Shade Group royalties compare?: MassageLuXe: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15); The Shade Group: 8% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
Which has more locations, MassageLuXe or The Shade Group?: MassageLuXe: 104 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 58); The Shade Group: 0 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
Do MassageLuXe and The Shade Group disclose financial performance (Item 19)?: MassageLuXe has reviewed Item 19 figures for 21 location groups; The Shade Group makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. 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