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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Palm Beach Tan® 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.

    Palm Beach Tan®2026 FDDThe Shade Group2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Palm Beach Tan®

    $755,390 – $1,263,712

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22

    The Shade Group

    $295,250 – $482,300

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Palm Beach Tan®

    $30,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    The Shade Group

    $49,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Royalty · Item 6

    Palm Beach Tan®

    4% · percentage of Gross Sales; 4% for months 1-12, 5% for months 13-24, and 6% thereafter

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    The Shade Group

    8%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Only Palm Beach Tan® has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Palm Beach Tan®

    $755,390 – $1,263,712
    TOTAL
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22

    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)

    Palm Beach Tan®

    $30,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    The Shade Group

    $49,500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Palm Beach Tan®

    4% · percentage of Gross Sales; 4% for months 1-12, 5% for months 13-24, and 6% thereafter
    Royalty Fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    The Shade Group

    8%
    Continuing royalty rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Palm Beach Tan®

    2% of percentage of gross sales
    Advertising Fund
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    The Shade Group

    2%
    Brand fund maximum rate — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Palm Beach Tan®

    634
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 66

    The Shade Group

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

    Palm Beach Tan®

    −21
    Calculated: 655 at end of 2023 → 634 at end of 2025

    The Shade Group

    Not available
    Only one year reported
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Palm Beach Tan®

    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)

    Palm Beach Tan®

    2001 for Palm Beach Tan locations; 2026 for Palm Beach Tan • Wellness locations
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 10

    The Shade Group

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

    Palm Beach Tan®

    2001
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 10

    The Shade Group

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Palm Beach Tan®
    Franchised (314 locations) — revenue
    $504,916
    median Total Revenues
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 64
    Franchised (324 locations) — revenue
    $549,415
    mean Total Revenues
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 64
    Company-owned (310 locations) — revenue — 310 Company-Owned Sample Locations -- comprised of 23 company-owned locations o…
    $524,160
    mean Total Revenues
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 61
    +1 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.

    Palm Beach Tan® vs The Shade Group: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Palm Beach Tan® or The Shade Group?
    Palm Beach Tan®: $755,390 – $1,263,712 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22); 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 Palm Beach Tan® and The Shade Group royalties compare?
    Palm Beach Tan®: 4% · percentage of Gross Sales; 4% for months 1-12, 5% for months 13-24, and 6% thereafter (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16); 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, Palm Beach Tan® or The Shade Group?
    Palm Beach Tan®: 634 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 66); 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 Palm Beach Tan® and The Shade Group disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Palm Beach Tan® has reviewed Item 19 figures for 4 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

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    Full Palm Beach Tan® report

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

    Full The Shade Group report

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

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