Franchise opportunities compared
Sun Tan City 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.
Initial investment · Item 7
Sun Tan City
$1,048,790 – $1,797,750
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22The Shade Group
$295,250 – $482,300
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Sun Tan City
Not available
The Shade Group
$49,500
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11Royalty · Item 6
Sun Tan City
8% · New — 8%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14The Shade Group
8%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Only Sun Tan City has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Sun Tan City
The Shade GroupSun Tan City
The Shade Group
Sun Tan City
The Shade Group
Sun Tan City
The Shade Group
Sun Tan City
The Shade Group
System scale & health
Sun Tan CityThe Shade GroupSun Tan City
The Shade Group
Sun Tan City
The Shade Group
Sun Tan City
The Shade Group
Sun Tan City
The Shade Group
Sun Tan City
The Shade Group
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Sun Tan CityThe Shade GroupNot 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.
Sun Tan City vs The Shade Group: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Sun Tan City or The Shade Group?
- Sun Tan City: $1,048,790 – $1,797,750 (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 Sun Tan City and The Shade Group royalties compare?
- Sun Tan City: 8% · New — 8% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14); 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, Sun Tan City or The Shade Group?
- Sun Tan City: 252 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 52); 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 Sun Tan City and The Shade Group disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Sun Tan City has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 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.
Keep researching
Full Sun Tan City 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
