Armstrong McCall vs Body Shop (The)
Armstrong McCall vs Body Shop (The): Armstrong McCall costs $75K to $500K to open; Body Shop (The) costs $114K to $284K. Armstrong McCall has 47 units, Body Shop (The) has 22. SBA loan history: Armstrong McCall = 56 loans (12.5% default); Body Shop (The) = 23 loans (0.0% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Armstrong McCall vs Body Shop (The): Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Armstrong McCall requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($75K vs $114K for Body Shop (The)), a 34% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Armstrong McCall operates 47 units to Body Shop (The)'s 22, roughly 2× the system size. Armstrong McCall has been operating 87 years (founded 1939) versus 39 for Body Shop (The) (founded 1987), a 48-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Armstrong McCall has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 56 7(a) approvals compared with 23 for Body Shop (The).
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 12.5% for Armstrong McCall and 0.0% for Body Shop (The), Body Shop (The) has the cleaner SBA loss record by 12.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 33 (Fair) for Armstrong McCall and 59 (Moderate) for Body Shop (The), giving Body Shop (The) the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 33/100 | 59/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 56 | 23 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 12.5% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $75K to $500K | $114K to $284K |
Franchise Fee | $34K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 47 | 22 |
Franchised Units | 47 | 22 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1939 | 1987 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Austin, TX | SAN FRANCISCO, CA |
Category | Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, | Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Armstrong McCall or Body Shop (The)?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Armstrong McCall: $75K starting · Body Shop (The): $114K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Armstrong McCall
Armstrong McCall: 56 SBA loans · Body Shop (The): 23 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Body Shop (The)
Armstrong McCall: 12.5% · Body Shop (The): 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Armstrong McCall: 47 units · Body Shop (The): 22 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Armstrong McCall
Armstrong McCall: 0% · Body Shop (The): 5%
More lender financing options
Armstrong McCall
Armstrong McCall: 33 unique lenders · Body Shop (The): 14 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
Need Funding for Armstrong McCall or Body Shop (The)?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
Armstrong McCall vs Body Shop (The): Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Armstrong McCall and Body Shop (The) is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $75K to $500K.
Armstrong McCall has 56 SBA loans on record and Body Shop (The) has 23. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Armstrong McCall vs Body Shop (The), Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Armstrong McCall or Body Shop (The)?
How much does a Armstrong McCall franchise cost compared to Body Shop (The)?
Can I finance Armstrong McCall or Body Shop (The) with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Armstrong McCall or Body Shop (The)?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman