Franchise brand comparison
The Joint Chiropractic vs StretchLab
Compared on figures each brand discloses in its own Franchise Disclosure Document — 2025 for The Joint Chiropractic, 2025 for StretchLab. Investment, fees, and Item 19 gross sales, with the sample size behind every average.
Short answer
The two lowest-cost entries we have reviewed, and closer than they look. The Joint's midpoint is $394,125 against StretchLab's $439,622, and The Joint discloses marginally higher average gross sales — $569,571 against $556,263 — on a far larger sample, 785 clinics against 417 studios. Capital efficiency favors The Joint at 1.45x against 1.27x, and its fee load is lighter: 7% with a $700-a-month floor plus up to 3%, against StretchLab's 8% plus 2% plus a local advertising floor of $1,500 a month or 2%. The decisive difference is not in any of those numbers. The Joint requires a licensed chiropractor and many states restrict who may own a clinic, so a passive or semi-absentee buyer may simply be ineligible. StretchLab has no licensure gate — flexologists are trained in-house — which makes it the more accessible option for an owner who will not be practicing.
Side by side
| Measure | The Joint Chiropractic | StretchLab |
|---|---|---|
| Concept category | Chiropractic | Fitness & movement |
| FDD year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Total investment (Item 7) | $245,250–$543,000midpoint $394,125 | $269,019–$610,224midpoint $439,622 |
| Initial franchise fee | $39,900 | $65,000 |
| Royalty | 7% (min $700/mo) | 8% |
| Brand fund | up to 3% | 2% |
| Local advertising | None disclosed separately | greater of $1,500/mo or 2% |
| Average gross sales (Item 19) | $569,571785 units — franchised clinics reporting every month of FY2024 | $556,263417 units — qualified studios, FY2024 |
| Median gross sales | $527,787 | Not disclosed |
| Top quartile | $913,466 | $842,342 |
| Bottom quartile | $303,525 | $312,680 |
| Revenue ÷ investment | 1.45x | 1.27x |
| Quartile spread | 3.0x | 2.7x |
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. The Joint Chiropractic discloses a total initial investment of $245,250 to $543,000 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $394,125, with an initial franchise fee of $39,900. StretchLab discloses a total initial investment of $269,019 to $610,224 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $439,622, with an initial franchise fee of $65,000.
Revenue is Item 19, and the unit count matters as much as the figure. The Joint Chiropractic reports average gross sales of $569,571 and a median of $527,787 across 785 units (franchised clinics reporting every month of FY2024). StretchLab reports average gross sales of $556,263 across 417 units (qualified studios, FY2024).
Return on capital divides disclosed average sales by the midpoint investment. The Joint Chiropractic returns 1.45x and StretchLab returns 1.27x. 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.
Quartile spread divides top-quartile revenue by bottom-quartile: 3.0x for The Joint Chiropractic and 2.7x for StretchLab. It is the number brand marketing never leads with, because it measures how much of your outcome depends on site selection and operating skill rather than on which brand you sign.
Full review
The Joint Chiropractic
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2025 FDD.
Full review
StretchLab
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2025 FDD.
Frequently asked
- The Joint Chiropractic vs StretchLab: which is the better franchise?
- The two lowest-cost entries we have reviewed, and closer than they look. The Joint's midpoint is $394,125 against StretchLab's $439,622, and The Joint discloses marginally higher average gross sales — $569,571 against $556,263 — on a far larger sample, 785 clinics against 417 studios. Capital efficiency favors The Joint at 1.45x against 1.27x, and its fee load is lighter: 7% with a $700-a-month floor plus up to 3%, against StretchLab's 8% plus 2% plus a local advertising floor of $1,500 a month or 2%. The decisive difference is not in any of those numbers. The Joint requires a licensed chiropractor and many states restrict who may own a clinic, so a passive or semi-absentee buyer may simply be ineligible. StretchLab has no licensure gate — flexologists are trained in-house — which makes it the more accessible option for an owner who will not be practicing.
- How much does a The Joint Chiropractic franchise cost compared to StretchLab?
- The Joint Chiropractic discloses a total initial investment of $245,250 to $543,000 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $394,125, with an initial franchise fee of $39,900. StretchLab discloses a total initial investment of $269,019 to $610,224 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $439,622, with an initial franchise fee of $65,000.
- Does The Joint Chiropractic or StretchLab generate more revenue?
- The Joint Chiropractic reports average gross sales of $569,571 and a median of $527,787 across 785 units (franchised clinics reporting every month of FY2024). StretchLab reports average gross sales of $556,263 across 417 units (qualified studios, 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 The Joint Chiropractic and StretchLab?
- The Joint Chiropractic charges a royalty of 7% (min $700/mo) and a brand fund contribution of up to 3%. StretchLab charges a royalty of 8% and a brand fund contribution of 2%, plus a local advertising obligation of greater of $1,500/mo or 2%.
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.