Franchise brand comparison
Perspire Sauna Studio vs SWTHZ
Compared on figures each brand discloses in its own Franchise Disclosure Document — 2025 for Perspire Sauna Studio, 2026 for SWTHZ. Investment, fees, and Item 19 gross sales, with the sample size behind every average.
Short answer
Perspire is the cheaper build by about $195,000 at the midpoint and discloses lower average sales — $506,200 against SWTHZ's $573,762 — but on a sample of 44 studios against 13, which makes Perspire's the more meaningful figure by a wide margin. Capital efficiency slightly favors Perspire at 0.65x against 0.59x; both are weak, and both reflect how much equipment a recovery buildout absorbs. The fee structures differ in shape rather than weight: Perspire charges 7% with a $600-a-month floor plus a 2% brand fund, while SWTHZ steps its royalty from 6% to 8% by studio age and takes 3%. These are closely competing infrared and contrast-therapy concepts chasing the same member, so in practice territory availability in your market is likely to settle this before the numbers do.
Side by side
| Measure | Perspire Sauna Studio | SWTHZ |
|---|---|---|
| Concept category | Recovery & wellness | Recovery & wellness |
| FDD year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Total investment (Item 7) | $565,538–$989,638midpoint $777,588 | $631,798–$1,314,102midpoint $972,950 |
| Initial franchise fee | $50,000 | $45,000 |
| Royalty | 7% (min $600/mo) | 6–8% by studio age |
| Brand fund | 2% | 3% |
| Local advertising | None disclosed separately | None disclosed separately |
| Average gross sales (Item 19) | $506,20044 units — franchised studios, FY2024 | $573,76213 units — franchised locations open all of FY2024 |
| Median gross sales | $490,518 | $556,226 |
| Top quartile | $733,618 | Not disclosed |
| Bottom quartile | $351,893 | Not disclosed |
| Revenue ÷ investment | 0.65x | 0.59x |
| Quartile spread | 2.1x | — |
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. Perspire Sauna Studio discloses a total initial investment of $565,538 to $989,638 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $777,588, with an initial franchise fee of $50,000. 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. Perspire Sauna Studio reports average gross sales of $506,200 and a median of $490,518 across 44 units (franchised studios, FY2024). SWTHZ reports average gross sales of $573,762 and a median of $556,226 across 13 units (franchised locations open all of FY2024).
Return on capital divides disclosed average sales by the midpoint investment. Perspire Sauna Studio returns 0.65x and SWTHZ returns 0.59x. This measures capital efficiency, not profit — it says how much annual revenue each dollar of build-out buys, and says nothing about the margin either concept actually runs.
Full review
Perspire Sauna Studio
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2025 FDD.
Full review
SWTHZ
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2026 FDD.
Frequently asked
- Perspire Sauna Studio vs SWTHZ: which is the better franchise?
- Perspire is the cheaper build by about $195,000 at the midpoint and discloses lower average sales — $506,200 against SWTHZ's $573,762 — but on a sample of 44 studios against 13, which makes Perspire's the more meaningful figure by a wide margin. Capital efficiency slightly favors Perspire at 0.65x against 0.59x; both are weak, and both reflect how much equipment a recovery buildout absorbs. The fee structures differ in shape rather than weight: Perspire charges 7% with a $600-a-month floor plus a 2% brand fund, while SWTHZ steps its royalty from 6% to 8% by studio age and takes 3%. These are closely competing infrared and contrast-therapy concepts chasing the same member, so in practice territory availability in your market is likely to settle this before the numbers do.
- How much does a Perspire Sauna Studio franchise cost compared to SWTHZ?
- Perspire Sauna Studio discloses a total initial investment of $565,538 to $989,638 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $777,588, with an initial franchise fee of $50,000. 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 Perspire Sauna Studio or SWTHZ generate more revenue?
- Perspire Sauna Studio reports average gross sales of $506,200 and a median of $490,518 across 44 units (franchised studios, FY2024). 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 Perspire Sauna Studio and SWTHZ?
- Perspire Sauna Studio charges a royalty of 7% (min $600/mo) and a brand fund contribution of 2%. 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.