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    Pinot’s Palette vs The Hot Spot

    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.

    Pinot’s Palette2026 FDDThe Hot Spot2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Pinot’s Palette

    $119,000 – $259,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19

    The Hot Spot

    $82,600 – $156,200

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Pinot’s Palette

    $25,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14

    The Hot Spot

    $39,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8

    Royalty · Item 6

    Pinot’s Palette

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15

    The Hot Spot

    $100

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Pinot’s Palette: 8, The Hot Spot: 3). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Pinot’s Palette

    $119,000 – $259,000
    TOTAL — $119000
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19

    The Hot Spot

    $82,600 – $156,200
    Total initial investment lower endpoint
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Pinot’s Palette

    $25,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14

    The Hot Spot

    $39,500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Pinot’s Palette

    6%
    Royalty Fee — 6%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15

    The Hot Spot

    $100
    Continuing royalty monthly minimum in second operating year
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Pinot’s Palette

    2%
    System Advertising — 2% — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15

    The Hot Spot

    2%
    Brand Fund Contribution maximum 2% of Gross Revenue; current 1% — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 9

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Pinot’s Palette

    65
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 57

    The Hot Spot

    26
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 37
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Pinot’s Palette

    −4
    Calculated: 69 at end of 2023 → 65 at end of 2025

    The Hot Spot

    +23
    Calculated: 3 at end of 2023 → 26 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Pinot’s Palette

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The Hot Spot

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

    Pinot’s Palette

    2010
    From a verified franchisor listing

    The Hot Spot

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

    Pinot’s Palette

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Hot Spot

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Pinot’s Palette
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All qualifying outlets Top25%
    $1,213,749
    other All qualifying outlets Top25%
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 55
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All qualifying outlets Top75%
    $1,213,749
    other All qualifying outlets Top75%
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 55
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All qualifying outlets All studios
    $1,213,749
    other All qualifying outlets All studios
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 55
    +5 more groups in the full report
    The Hot Spot
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — TahoeCalifornia opened2010
    $89,019
    other TahoeCalifornia opened2010
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 34
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — LibertyCalifornia opened2012
    $1,222,713
    other LibertyCalifornia opened2012
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 35
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — SparksNevada opened2019
    $488,060
    other SparksNevada opened2019
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 36

    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.

    Pinot’s Palette vs The Hot Spot: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Pinot’s Palette or The Hot Spot?
    Pinot’s Palette: $119,000 – $259,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19); The Hot Spot: $82,600 – $156,200 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Hot Spot. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Pinot’s Palette and The Hot Spot royalties compare?
    Pinot’s Palette: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15); The Hot Spot: $100 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Pinot’s Palette or The Hot Spot?
    Pinot’s Palette: 65 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 57); The Hot Spot: 26 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 37). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Pinot’s Palette and The Hot Spot disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Pinot’s Palette has reviewed Item 19 figures for 8 location groups; The Hot Spot has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 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

    Full Pinot’s Palette report

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

    Full The Hot Spot report

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

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    Plain-language meaning of each Item