How much does a Deka Lash franchise cost?
The August 6, 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document from DL Franchising, LLC d/b/a Deka Lash estimates $285,900 to $460,850 to open one Deka Lash studio. The FDD cover states that $82,600 of the single-studio total must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate. A separate Area Development Agreement range is $323,900 to $735,850 for rights covering two to ten outlets plus the initial studio; it does not include the cost of opening every later studio.
Basis: 2025 FDD, Item 7, Table 1, printed pages 23–26. The estimate covers a 750–1,250 square-foot studio with three to five beds and the first three months of operation. It includes Additional Funds of $6,000–$15,000, but excludes Royalty Fees, Brand Development Fees, depreciation, interest expense, and taxes.
Data basis: DL Franchising, LLC, 2025 U.S. Franchise Disclosure Document issued August 6, 2025; Items 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 17 and the Franchise Agreement cost provisions. Information checked July 20, 2026. The franchisor does not publish a matching 2025 FDD on its public site, so FDD citations below are unlinked by Item and printed page. The official Deka Lash U.S. franchise page is linked only for current public franchise information and financial qualifications.
The official franchise page displayed an Initial Investment of $222,800–$476,850 when checked July 20, 2026, while the verified August 6, 2025 FDD states $285,900–$460,850. This article uses the FDD range for the cost contract. A buyer should ask DL Franchising, LLC to reconcile the website figure with the current disclosure before relying on either amount.
Which figures should a prospective franchisee separate?
The Estimated Initial Investment, Initial Franchise Fee, Additional Funds, Area Development cost, and financial qualifications answer different questions. They should not be treated as interchangeable measures of cash required.
What is included in the $285,900–$460,850 single-studio range?
The 2025 FDD includes franchise payments, training travel, premises development, furniture and equipment, startup inventory, opening marketing, payroll, and 12 weeks of Additional Funds. The largest disclosed source of variation is Leasehold Improvements & Project Management at $75,000–$150,000.
Franchisor fees, training, and plans
These Item 7 costs are paid at signing or before opening. The three fixed payments to DL Franchising, LLC at signing total $69,100; that amount is a derived calculation from $59,900 + $5,450 + $3,750, not a separately labeled FDD estimate.
| Item 7 category | Low | High | Timing / payee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $59,900 | $59,900 | Upon Franchise Agreement; DL Franchising, LLC |
| Operations Onboarding & First Studio Opening Support Fee | $5,450 | $5,450 | Upon Franchise Agreement; DL Franchising, LLC |
| Initial Staff Training & Certification | $3,750 | $3,750 | Upon Franchise Agreement; DL Franchising, LLC |
| New Franchisee Training Travel, Meals & Lodging | $300 | $3,000 | Before opening; third-party vendors; estimate for two attendees |
| Design / Architectural Plans | $1,000 | $5,000 | Before opening; third-party vendors |
Source: 2025 FDD, Item 7, Table 1 and Notes 1–5, printed pages 23–24.
Premises, equipment, and required assets
The studio estimate assumes approximately 750–1,250 square feet and three to five beds. Leasehold Improvements depend on premises condition, geography, contractor capacity, material prices, and negotiated tenant-improvement allowances. Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment must follow Deka Lash specifications.
| Item 7 category | Low | High | Cost driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leasehold Improvements & Project Management | $75,000 | $150,000 | Condition, geography, contractors, materials, lease allowances |
| Rent & Security Deposits | $12,000 | $25,000 | First three months plus one-month security deposit |
| Signage | $5,000 | $10,000 | Local ordinances, landlord, and property restrictions |
| Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment | $60,000 | $86,000 | Number of beds and common-area furnishing |
| Flooring | $5,000 | $8,000 | 750-square-foot to 1,250-square-foot package |
| Computers and Hardware | $2,000 | $5,000 | Computer, internet, and at least two tablets |
| Start-up Supplies / Inventory | $13,500 | $25,000 | Higher end applies to approved Medspa services |
| Insurance & Permits | $3,250 | $7,500 | Coverage, licensing, and permitting requirements |
Source: 2025 FDD, Item 7, Table 1 and Notes 6–12 and 14, printed pages 23–26; Item 8, printed pages 27–30.
Launch spending and the first 12 weeks
The final Item 7 group covers opening marketing, professional setup costs, utilities, payroll, and working capital. Payroll assumes four full-time Lash Artists for 12 weeks and the franchisee acting as Studio Manager; hiring a manager or onboarding a medical professional can increase costs beyond the disclosed payroll range.
| Item 7 category | Low | High | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Opening / Marketing | $9,000 | $12,000 | Three months pre-opening plus three months after opening |
| Professional Fees | $1,250 | $3,750 | Entity setup, licensing, lease review, legal and accounting |
| Utilities | $500 | $1,500 | Setup and three months of service |
| Payroll | $23,000 | $35,000 | Four full-time Lash Artists over 12 weeks |
| Additional Funds | $6,000 | $15,000 | 12 weeks of software, Technology Fee, and miscellaneous working capital |
| Official Item 7 total | $285,900 | $460,850 | All Table 1 categories; official total controls |
Source: 2025 FDD, Item 7, Table 1 and Notes 13 and 15–20, printed pages 23–26.
Additional Funds are already included in the Item 7 total. They cover 12 weeks of specified software licenses, the Technology Fee, and miscellaneous working capital. Adding $6,000–$15,000 again would double-count this category. Owner compensation is not listed as an included component; payroll assumes the owner acts as Studio Manager.
Medspa inventory wording also needs confirmation. Item 7 lists Start-up Supplies / Inventory at $13,500–$25,000 and says approved Medspa studios are toward the high end, around $20,000–$25,000. Item 5 describes $20,000–$25,000 as an “additional” Medspa amount on top of approximately $13,500. Because those statements do not reconcile cleanly, a Medspa-approved buyer should obtain a written inventory quote rather than assume the Item 7 high amount covers the entire package.
Both bars use a $0–$750,000 scale. The Area Development bar is not the cost of opening every committed outlet; it covers the development rights and the first studio.
Interpretation: the wider Area Development range reflects the difference between two and ten territory rights, but later studio openings remain outside the total. Source: 2025 FDD, Item 7, Tables 1 and 2, printed pages 23–27. Bar positions are derived from official low and high amounts.
When is the money paid?
Cash obligations begin when the Franchise Agreement is executed, continue through site development and ordering, and then move into monthly or semi-monthly operating fees. The FDD does not say the entire Item 7 total is paid in one transaction.
At Franchise Agreement signing
The standard first studio pays the $59,900 Initial Franchise Fee, $5,450 Operations Onboarding & First Studio Opening Support Fee, and $3,750 Initial Staff Training & Certification Fee. These three non-refundable payments equal $69,100 by arithmetic from Item 7.
During site approval, lease, and construction
Design, architectural plans, deposits, rent, Leasehold Improvements, signage, flooring, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, computers, insurance, permits, and professional fees are paid as arranged or incurred. DL Franchising, LLC must approve the site before the lease is signed.
When inventory and launch services are ordered
The opening package is paid when ordered and is non-refundable. Standard Start-up Supplies / Inventory begin around $13,500; approved Medspa services move the category toward $20,000–$25,000. Grand Opening / Marketing spending begins before opening.
From signing, opening, and the initial operating period
The Technology Fee is $199 per month from signing through opening and $399 per month after opening. Item 7 includes payroll, utilities, and Additional Funds for the first 12 weeks. Royalty and Brand Development payments are collected according to the Operations Manual, currently semi-monthly.
Sources: 2025 FDD, Items 5 and 7, printed pages 13–15 and 23–26; Franchise Agreement §§4.3–4.12.
Which fees continue after opening?
The core continuing obligations combine percentage fees, minimum dollar amounts, fixed technology and vendor charges, and a monthly Local Marketing Requirement. A percentage-based fee should not be converted into an annual dollar estimate without verified Gross Studio Sales.
| Ongoing obligation | Amount or basis | Timing | Important condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | Greater of 6% of Gross Studio Sales or $600 per month; Item 6 states a $1,000 monthly minimum after the first year | Currently semi-monthly | Gross Studio Sales definition is broad; sales tax is excluded |
| Brand Development Fee | Greater of 3% of Gross Studio Sales or $500 per month after the first year | Currently semi-monthly | Paid into the Brand Development Fund |
| Technology Fee | $199 per month before opening; $399 per month after opening | Monthly | May change once per calendar year for added software costs |
| Computer & Software Fees | Currently $259 per month | Monthly to vendors | Optional add-ons may increase the amount |
| Minimum Local Marketing Requirement | At least $2,000 per month | As billed locally | Unspent required balance may be redirected to the Brand Development Fund |
| Customer Service Center Fee | Presently $600 per month | Monthly | Current participation is required; amount may change |
| Music and Media Licensing Fee | Currently $35 per month | Monthly to vendor | May vary with vendor pricing |
| Business Listing & Promotion Fee | Up to $400 per month | On demand | Credited against the Local Marketing Requirement |
Source: 2025 FDD, Item 6, printed pages 15–22.
Item 6 says the Royalty Fee minimum increases to $1,000 per month after the first year of operations, while Franchise Agreement §4.6 says the increase occurs after the second year. The execution copy should be checked for the controlling timing. The first-unit Royalty Start Date in §4.6 is 12 months after signing, regardless of the actual opening date; second and later Area Development units begin when the first paid product, service, or membership is sold.
This chart excludes percentage components and does not add the bars. The common scale runs from $0 to the $2,000 monthly Local Marketing Requirement.
Interpretation: the Local Marketing Requirement is the largest disclosed monthly dollar threshold, but the Royalty Fee and Brand Development Fee may exceed their minimums because each uses a percentage-of-Gross-Studio-Sales alternative. Source: 2025 FDD, Item 6, printed pages 15–22. Bar lengths are derived from official monthly amounts on a $2,000 scale.
What other recurring charges can arise?
Other scheduled operating obligations include a Convention fee currently set at $750 per ownership group for up to two attendees, plus $375 for each additional attendee and all travel, lodging, meals, entertainment, wages, and salary. The fee is currently collected in 24 semi-monthly payments. A Secret Shopper Fee is currently $90 per quarter per studio, plus reimbursement for the service purchased by the shopper.
Which fees apply only after a specific event?
Item 6 contains substantial event-triggered charges that do not belong in the opening total because they depend on delay, transfer, renewal, default, inspection, training, or another later circumstance.
Renewal: $3,500 when entering a new Franchise Agreement after the original term, plus any required retraining at the franchisee’s expense. Item 17 states the initial term is 10 years.
Transfer: $10,000 for a complete transfer or majority-interest transfer, plus applicable broker fees. A separate Prospect Generation Fee equals the franchisor’s actual costs when the buyer came through its lead sources.
Opening delay: $500 per month or partial month beyond the 365-day opening deadline, for up to 12 months.
Area Development delay: $500 per month per territory according to each development deadline.
Late payment: the lesser of 18% annually or the maximum lawful rate, plus a $100 Late Fee per occurrence under the stated timing rules.
Credit-card payment: up to 3.75% of the total charge as a Payment Convenience Fee.
Audit or inspection: audit cost plus any shortfall when the audit finds an underpayment of 2% or more; Quality Control Inspection costs can include transportation, meals, lodging, and employee wages.
Compliance breach: $500 for a first breach, $1,000 for a second, and $2,500 for a third and later breach, plus actual legal fees and costs when the contract permits reimbursement.
Additional training: on-site Lash Artist training is $400 per trainer per day plus travel, lodging, and per diem; other training fees and employee wages may apply.
Unauthorized or unreported payment: Item 6 is internally inconsistent, showing $750 in the Amount column and $500 in the remarks. The current agreement should be used to verify the charge before any budget is set.
Sources: 2025 FDD, Item 6, printed pages 17–22; Item 17, printed pages 49–51.
How does the multi-unit cost structure differ?
The Area Development range is a different contract, not a larger version of the single-studio total. It combines an Area Development Fee for two to ten territories with the cost of opening the first studio, while excluding the cost to open the second and later studios.
Area Development cost architecture
DL Franchising, LLC offers this path at its discretion to qualified candidates with a proven record of successful and compliant ownership.
Excluded: the premises, equipment, inventory, payroll, marketing, and working capital required to open every second and subsequent studio. Each later studio is also governed by the then-current Franchise Agreement, which may contain different terms.
Source: 2025 FDD, Items 5 and 7, printed pages 13–14 and 26–27.
Does Deka Lash finance the initial investment?
The 2025 FDD does not disclose franchisor financing for a new franchisee’s first unit. After a franchisee has been in the system for at least 24 months, DL Franchising, LLC may finance 50% of the $38,000 Initial Franchise Fee for additional unit rights, subject to available funds and creditworthiness.
| Financing term | 2025 FDD disclosure | Buyer implication |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible use | Additional unit rights after at least 24 months | Not first-unit startup financing |
| Down payment | 50% | $19,000 on a $38,000 fee |
| Amount financed | 50% | $19,000 in the FDD example |
| Interest and term | 10% APR for 60 months | Approximate disclosed payment of $404 per month |
| Security | Personal Guaranty; entity owners also guarantee | Approval is not assured |
Source: 2025 FDD, Item 10, printed pages 31–32.
The Item 5 veteran incentive is a 25% discount on the Initial Franchise Fee for the first Franchise Agreement signed by an honorably discharged U.S. military veteran purchasing through VetFran. The discount does not reduce Leasehold Improvements, equipment, inventory, payroll, Additional Funds, or continuing fees.
Which obligations can push costs beyond the opening range?
Item 8 requires designated hardware, software, furniture, equipment, Deka-labeled products, eyelash extensions, skincare products, supplies, inventory, music and media services, and the Customer Service Center. DL Products, LLC is currently the only approved supplier of eyelash-extension-related and Deka-labeled products.
Cost implication: the 2025 FDD estimates required purchases at approximately 30%–55% of goods and services used to establish a franchise and approximately 25%–30% of operating costs. These are supplier-restriction proportions, not extra line items to add to Item 7 and not a forecast of total annual spending.
The Franchise Agreement also permits DL Franchising, LLC to require a remodel at the franchisee’s cost, although a full remodel cannot be required more than once every 10 years. Changes to artwork, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and specifications can require earlier replacement or additions at the franchisee’s sole expense. No fixed remodel amount is disclosed.
Obtain the execution copy of Item 6 and Franchise Agreement §4.6 to resolve the Royalty Fee minimum timing conflict.
Ask for a written reconciliation between the 2025 FDD investment range and the different range displayed on the official franchise page.
Price the actual approved site, tenant-improvement allowance, contractor bids, signage rules, and 750–1,250 square-foot configuration.
Confirm whether Medspa services are approved and identify professional-entity, Managed Service Agreement, licensing, medical-provider, and inventory costs that the standard range may not fully capture.
Verify current DL Products, LLC pricing, shipping, installation, software subscriptions, Customer Service Center charges, and required insurance premiums.
For Area Development, obtain a studio-by-studio capital plan because the published range includes only the first opening.
What capital question remains after reading the FDD?
The verified 2025 cost contract is $285,900–$460,850 for one studio and $323,900–$735,850 for an Area Development Agreement covering two to ten rights plus the first studio. The primary range drivers are Leasehold Improvements, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, payroll, rent and deposits, and Medspa-related inventory. The $100,000 Minimum Liquid Capital and $500,000 Minimum Net Capital shown on the official franchise page are qualification thresholds, not substitutes for the Item 7 investment.
The unresolved budgeting issue is the buyer’s actual site-and-format package: lease economics, construction scope, number of beds, Medspa approval, local licensing, required suppliers, and later multi-unit openings can all change the cash schedule. Those amounts should be reconciled against the current execution FDD and agreements before any payment is made. Under the FTC Franchise Rule, a prospect must receive the disclosure document before signing or paying; the FTC consumer franchise guide explains how to review Items 5, 6, and 7, and the FTC’s FDD review guidance covers supplier restrictions and renewal or transfer terms.