Franchise brand comparison
iCRYO vs SWTHZ
Compared on figures each brand discloses in its own Franchise Disclosure Document — 2023 for iCRYO, 2026 for SWTHZ. Investment, fees, and Item 19 gross sales, with the sample size behind every average.
Short answer
Neither brand gives a buyer much to underwrite. SWTHZ discloses $573,762 average gross sales across just 13 locations, and the 2023 iCRYO FDD we reviewed carried no financial performance representation we could use at all. iCRYO enters cheaper at the low end — $474,500 against $631,798 — and carries the lighter ongoing load at 6% royalty plus a 1% brand fund, against SWTHZ's 6–8% stepped royalty plus 3%. With this little disclosed performance on either side, the decision should rest on the current FDDs you request directly, validation calls with existing franchisees in comparable markets, and territory availability — not on the figures here. Note too that the documents are three years apart, so they are not describing the same moment in either brand's history.
Side by side
| Measure | iCRYO | SWTHZ |
|---|---|---|
| Concept category | Recovery & wellness | Recovery & wellness |
| FDD year | 2023 | 2026 |
| Total investment (Item 7) | $474,500–$1,205,000midpoint $839,750 | $631,798–$1,314,102midpoint $972,950 |
| Initial franchise fee | $49,500 | $45,000 |
| Royalty | 6% | 6–8% by studio age |
| Brand fund | 1% | 3% |
| Local advertising | None disclosed separately | None disclosed separately |
| Average gross sales (Item 19) | Not disclosedno comparable figure in the 2023 FDD reviewed | $573,76213 units — franchised locations open all of FY2024 |
| Median gross sales | Not disclosed | $556,226 |
| Top quartile | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Bottom quartile | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Revenue ÷ investment | — | 0.59x |
| Quartile spread | — | — |
Bolded figures mark the stronger side of a row where both brands disclose a comparable number — lower investment, higher revenue, higher return on capital, narrower quartile spread. A brand that discloses nothing is never marked as losing a row: an undisclosed figure is an unknown, not a poor result.
What the numbers mean
Investment is Item 7, the franchisor's own estimate of everything needed to open. iCRYO discloses a total initial investment of $474,500 to $1,205,000 in its 2023 FDD, a midpoint of $839,750, with an initial franchise fee of $49,500. SWTHZ discloses a total initial investment of $631,798 to $1,314,102 in its 2026 FDD, a midpoint of $972,950, with an initial franchise fee of $45,000.
Revenue is Item 19, and the unit count matters as much as the figure. iCRYO discloses no Item 19 figure we can use (no comparable figure in the 2023 FDD reviewed). SWTHZ reports average gross sales of $573,762 and a median of $556,226 across 13 units (franchised locations open all of FY2024).
Full review
iCRYO
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2023 FDD.
Full review
SWTHZ
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2026 FDD.
Frequently asked
- iCRYO vs SWTHZ: which is the better franchise?
- Neither brand gives a buyer much to underwrite. SWTHZ discloses $573,762 average gross sales across just 13 locations, and the 2023 iCRYO FDD we reviewed carried no financial performance representation we could use at all. iCRYO enters cheaper at the low end — $474,500 against $631,798 — and carries the lighter ongoing load at 6% royalty plus a 1% brand fund, against SWTHZ's 6–8% stepped royalty plus 3%. With this little disclosed performance on either side, the decision should rest on the current FDDs you request directly, validation calls with existing franchisees in comparable markets, and territory availability — not on the figures here. Note too that the documents are three years apart, so they are not describing the same moment in either brand's history.
- How much does a iCRYO franchise cost compared to SWTHZ?
- iCRYO discloses a total initial investment of $474,500 to $1,205,000 in its 2023 FDD, a midpoint of $839,750, with an initial franchise fee of $49,500. SWTHZ discloses a total initial investment of $631,798 to $1,314,102 in its 2026 FDD, a midpoint of $972,950, with an initial franchise fee of $45,000.
- Does iCRYO or SWTHZ generate more revenue?
- iCRYO discloses no Item 19 figure we can use (no comparable figure in the 2023 FDD reviewed). SWTHZ reports average gross sales of $573,762 and a median of $556,226 across 13 units (franchised locations open all of FY2024). These are gross sales, not profit, and the number of units behind each average decides how much it tells you.
- What are the ongoing fees for iCRYO and SWTHZ?
- iCRYO charges a royalty of 6% and a brand fund contribution of 1%. SWTHZ charges a royalty of 6–8% by studio age and a brand fund contribution of 3%.
Other comparisons
Before you rely on any of this
FDDs are filed annually and figures move. Request the current document from each franchisor and read Items 5, 6, 7 and 19 yourself — this is a summary to orient you, not a substitute for the disclosure or for your own advisors. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or compensated by either brand; see our disclosure policy.
Compare every brand at once in the sortable cost comparison table, or run these figures against your own assumptions in the ROI & payback calculator.