Modern Acupuncture vs The Tox
Modern Acupuncture vs The Tox: Modern Acupuncture costs $111K to $403K to open; The Tox costs $258K to $449K. Modern Acupuncture has 21 units, The Tox has 6. SBA loan history: Modern Acupuncture = 25 loans (12.0% default); The Tox = 7 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.
Modern Acupuncture vs The Tox: 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
Modern Acupuncture requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($111K vs $258K for The Tox), a 57% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Modern Acupuncture versus $50K for The Tox, Modern Acupuncture has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Modern Acupuncture and 8% for The Tox, giving Modern Acupuncture the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Modern Acupuncture operates 21 units to The Tox's 6, roughly 4× the system size. Modern Acupuncture has been operating 10 years (founded 2016) versus 7 for The Tox (founded 2019), a 3-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Modern Acupuncture has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 25 7(a) approvals compared with 7 for The Tox. Modern Acupuncture's peak SBA year was 2018 (14 loans); The Tox's peak was 2025 (5 loans). The Tox's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Modern Acupuncture has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 8. The Tox leads in OH, with 2. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Modern Acupuncture deals is $296K vs $301K for The Tox, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 12.0% for Modern Acupuncture and 0.0% for The Tox, The Tox has the cleaner SBA loss record by 12.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 40 (Fair) for Modern Acupuncture and 65 (Strong) for The Tox, giving The Tox the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 40/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 25 | 7 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 12.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $111K to $403K | $258K to $449K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 8% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 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 | 21 | 6 |
Franchised Units | 21 | 6 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2016 | 2019 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2021 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 5 yrs |
Headquarters | SAN DIEGO, CA | Vero Beach, FL |
Category | Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners | Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Modern Acupuncture or The Tox?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Modern Acupuncture: $111K starting · The Tox: $258K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Modern Acupuncture
Modern Acupuncture: 25 SBA loans · The Tox: 7 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
The Tox
Modern Acupuncture: 12.0% · The Tox: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Modern Acupuncture: 21 units · The Tox: 6 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Modern Acupuncture
Modern Acupuncture: 7% · The Tox: 8%
More lender financing options
Modern Acupuncture
Modern Acupuncture: 8 unique lenders · The Tox: 3 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.
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About These Franchises
Modern Acupuncture vs The Tox: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Modern Acupuncture and The Tox is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $111K to $449K.
Modern Acupuncture has 25 SBA loans on record and The Tox has 7. 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.
Modern Acupuncture vs The Tox, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Modern Acupuncture or The Tox?
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Can I finance Modern Acupuncture or The Tox with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Modern Acupuncture or The Tox?
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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