Franchise opportunities compared

    The Hot Spot vs The Picklr

    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

    The Hot Spot

    $82,600 – $156,200

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14

    The Picklr

    $1,252,400 – $2,077,300

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    The Hot Spot

    $39,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8

    The Picklr

    $420,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Royalty · Item 6

    The Hot Spot

    $100

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8

    The Picklr

    7%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (The Hot Spot: 3, The Picklr: 2). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    The Hot Spot

    $82,600 – $156,200
    Total initial investment lower endpoint
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14

    The Picklr

    $1,252,400 – $2,077,300
    irst 3 Months of Operations Third Parties TOTAL ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT ( 1 9 ) — 1252400
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    The Hot Spot

    $39,500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8

    The Picklr

    $420,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10
    Royalty (Item 6)

    The Hot Spot

    $100
    Continuing royalty monthly minimum in second operating year
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8

    The Picklr

    7%
    6 FDD 86581636;1 ITEM 6 OTHER FEES Type of Fee Amount Due Date Remarks Royalty Fee † — 7%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    The Hot Spot

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

    The Picklr

    2%
    ues until Picklr Franchise reaches a 65% membership level. National Marketing F ee † — 2% — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    The Hot Spot

    26
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 37

    The Picklr

    24
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 49
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    The Hot Spot

    +23
    Calculated: 3 at end of 2023 → 26 at end of 2025

    The Picklr

    +18
    Calculated: 6 at end of 2022 → 24 at end of 2024
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    The Hot Spot

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The Picklr

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

    The Hot Spot

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Picklr

    2023
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    The Hot Spot

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Picklr

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    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
    The Picklr
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 12Picklrfranchises≥onefullyear
    $938,176
    other Picklr Franchises Open at Least One Full Year
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 52
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Picklr franchises open at least one full year
    $498,014
    other Picklr Franchises Open at Least One Full Year
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 52

    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.

    The Hot Spot vs The Picklr: common questions

    Which costs less to open, The Hot Spot or The Picklr?
    The Hot Spot: $82,600 – $156,200 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14); The Picklr: $1,252,400 – $2,077,300 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16). 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 The Hot Spot and The Picklr royalties compare?
    The Hot Spot: $100 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8); The Picklr: 7% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, The Hot Spot or The Picklr?
    The Hot Spot: 26 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 37); The Picklr: 24 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 49). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do The Hot Spot and The Picklr disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    The Hot Spot has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 location groups; The Picklr has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 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

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