Hand and Stone vs The Now Massage
Hand and Stone vs The Now Massage: Hand and Stone costs $188K to $2.0M to open; The Now Massage costs $350K to $765K. Hand and Stone has 85 units, The Now Massage has 46. SBA loan history: Hand and Stone = 95 loans (2.1% default); The Now Massage = 50 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.
Hand and Stone vs The Now Massage: 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
Hand and Stone requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($188K vs $350K for The Now Massage), a 46% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $10K for Hand and Stone versus $60K for The Now Massage, Hand and Stone has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 8.5% for Hand and Stone and 7% for The Now Massage, giving The Now Massage the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Hand and Stone operates 85 units to The Now Massage's 46. Hand and Stone has been operating 22 years (founded 2004) versus 11 for The Now Massage (founded 2015), a 11-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Hand and Stone has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 95 7(a) approvals compared with 50 for The Now Massage.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 2.1% for Hand and Stone and 0.0% for The Now Massage, The Now Massage has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 55 (Moderate) for Hand and Stone and 64 (Moderate) for The Now Massage, giving The Now Massage the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 55/100 | 64/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 95 | 50 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 2.1% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $188K to $2.0M | $350K to $765K |
Franchise Fee | $10K | $60K |
Royalty Rate | 8.5% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 2.5% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 85 | 46 |
Franchised Units | 85 | 46 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2004 | 2015 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2017 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 9 yrs |
Headquarters | Trevose, PA | DANVILLE, CA |
Category | Other Personal Care Services | Other Personal Care Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Hand and Stone or The Now Massage?
Lower upfront capital required
Hand and Stone
Hand and Stone: $188K starting · The Now Massage: $350K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Hand and Stone
Hand and Stone: 95 SBA loans · The Now Massage: 50 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
The Now Massage
Hand and Stone: 2.1% · The Now Massage: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Hand and Stone
Hand and Stone: 85 units · The Now Massage: 46 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
The Now Massage
Hand and Stone: 8.5% · The Now Massage: 7%
More lender financing options
Hand and Stone
Hand and Stone: 33 unique lenders · The Now Massage: 17 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 Hand and Stone or The Now Massage?
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
Hand and Stone vs The Now Massage: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Hand and Stone and The Now Massage is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $188K to $2.0M.
Hand and Stone has 95 SBA loans on record and The Now Massage has 50. 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.
Hand and Stone vs The Now Massage, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Hand and Stone or The Now Massage?
How much does a Hand and Stone franchise cost compared to The Now Massage?
Can I finance Hand and Stone or The Now Massage with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Hand and Stone or The Now Massage?
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; 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