How much does a Waxing the City franchise cost?
A new U.S. Waxing Studio requires an estimated initial investment of $339,945 to $646,195 under the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. The low estimate assumes a leased 1,200-square-foot studio with four treatment rooms; the high estimate assumes a leased 2,000-square-foot studio with six treatment rooms. The range includes $34,600 to $84,660 of Additional Funds and Working Capital for the first three months.
2026 FDD, Item 7, single Waxing Studio, pp. 20–23. The disclosed total includes the standard $42,500 Initial Franchise Fee and $136,042 to $170,242 payable to Waxing the City Franchisor LLC or its affiliates. It does not include land acquisition, a freestanding building, financing charges, interest, or debt service.
- Legal franchisor
- Waxing the City Franchisor LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary within Purpose Brands Holdings, LLC.
- Disclosure basis
- Franchise Disclosure Document issued March 31, 2026; Items 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 17.
- Formats analyzed
- Single Waxing Studio and Area Development Agreement for three, five, or more Waxing Studios.
- Information checked
- July 17, 2026. The franchisor does not publish a matching 2026 FDD on its public franchise-controlled website, so FDD Item and page references below are unlinked.
The brand’s official U.S. franchise information confirms that Waxing the City remains offered as a studio franchise. Its current public financial page contains older investment figures, so the March 31, 2026 FDD is the controlling source for the cost ranges in this article.
Which cost figures matter most before you budget?
The total investment, Initial Franchise Fee, Additional Funds, ongoing Royalty Fee, and financial qualification thresholds answer different questions. They should not be treated as interchangeable amounts.
Where does the initial investment go?
Premises and construction are the largest sources of variation. The 2026 FDD estimates Leasehold Improvements at $114,200 to $277,720, a spread of $163,520 between the low and high studio assumptions.
Bars show each disclosed low-to-high range on a common $0 to $280,000 scale.
Interpretation: Leasehold Improvements create substantially more range variation than technology, signage, or FF&E. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 20–22. Values are official ranges, not derived averages.
Premises, design, and equipment
| Item 7 category | 2026 range | When paid | FDD reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leasehold Improvements | $114,200–$277,720 | Varied times before opening | Item 7, p. 20 |
| Three Months’ Rent and Security Deposit | $18,200–$30,300 | Monthly | Item 7, p. 20 |
| Construction Management Fees | $0–$12,500 | Before opening | Item 7, pp. 20–21 |
| Architect/Design Fees | $11,085–$21,530 | At the time of design | Item 7, pp. 20–22 |
| Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment | $39,405–$59,809 | At varied times | Item 7, pp. 20–22 |
| Interior and Exterior Signage | $16,500–$34,800 | Before opening | Item 7, pp. 20–22 |
Fees, opening inventory, marketing, and working capital
| Item 7 category | 2026 range | When paid | FDD reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $42,500 | Upon signing the Franchise Agreement | Item 7, p. 20 |
| Travel and Living Expenses While Training | $1,395–$2,640 | As incurred during training | Item 7, pp. 20–21 |
| Office Supplies | $3,500–$4,500 | At varied times | Item 7, p. 20 |
| Technology Package and Licenses | $13,084–$25,806 | Before opening | Item 7, pp. 20–22 |
| Initial Retail Inventory | $5,578–$6,108 | At delivery | Item 7, pp. 20–22 |
| Initial Waxing Supply Inventory | $8,078–$8,372 | At delivery | Item 7, pp. 20–22 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $25,000 | Before opening and during the ramp-up period | Item 7, pp. 20–22 |
| Insurance | $2,550–$2,850 | At varied times | Item 7, p. 20 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | $4,270–$7,100 | At varied times | Item 7, pp. 20–22 |
| Additional Funds and Working Capital for First Three Months | $34,600–$84,660 | As incurred | Item 7, pp. 21–23 |
What is paid to the franchisor before opening?
The standard Initial Franchise Fee is $42,500 and is due in full when the Franchise Agreement is signed. It is fully earned when paid and nonrefundable. Item 5 also discloses reduced fees of $38,250 for an eligible veteran, $37,500 for an eligible existing franchisee, and $33,750 for an eligible existing franchisee who also meets the veteran requirements. These programs can be modified or terminated.
- Initial supplies and products
- $13,656 to $14,480 for the required initial waxing supplies and retail-product package, paid before operating and nonrefundable.
- Furniture, fixtures, and equipment
- $39,405 to $59,809 for required build-out components purchased from the franchisor or its affiliate; the amount varies with room count and optional items.
- Technology package
- $13,084 to $25,806 for the two packages offered through ProVision; Item 7 permits variation when required technology is sourced from another approved vendor.
- Grand Opening and Ramp Up Plan
- A minimum $25,000 spend. If the minimum is not met, the franchisor may collect the shortfall for the General Advertising and Marketing Fund or execute the plan.
- Additional Compliance Drawing
- $250 for each drawing beyond the first, due when invoiced. The designated architectural vendor separately prepares Construction Documents.
How does an Area Development Agreement change the cash commitment?
An Area Development Agreement creates a separate upfront Development Fee for at least three Waxing Studios. The 2026 FDD shows $97,500 for three studios and $150,000 for five studios for a new franchisee. The fee is due in full when the Area Development Agreement is signed, is nonrefundable, and replaces the Initial Franchise Fees that otherwise would have been paid for the committed studios.
The development fee is not the total cost of opening multiple studios
Item 7’s $97,500 to $150,000 Area Development Agreement total covers the Development Fee only. It is in addition to the per-studio investment, except that the Development Fee replaces the Initial Franchise Fee for those studios. A separate Franchise Agreement is signed for the first studio when the Area Development Agreement is signed.
Each paired bar uses the same $0 to $150,000 scale. Exact amounts appear inside each track.
Interpretation: Eligibility discounts reduce the Development Fee, but they do not reduce construction, equipment, inventory, rent, marketing, or working-capital categories for each studio. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5, pp. 9–10; Item 7, p. 23.
For commitments above five studios, the disclosed additional-location increments are $30,000 each for a new franchisee, $27,000 each for an eligible veteran, $25,000 each for an eligible existing franchisee, and $22,500 each for an eligible existing franchisee meeting the veteran requirements. Failure to develop a studio by the contractual deadline can trigger $10,000 in liquidated damages per undeveloped studio, subject to state law.
When is the money paid?
The required cash is not paid as one lump sum. It moves from agreement fees to premises,construction, inventory, marketing, and then recurring payments. Federal law generally requires delivery of the FDD at least 14 calendar days before a prospect signs a binding agreement or pays the franchisor or an affiliate; the FTC’s franchise buying guide explains this review period.
Which fees continue after the studio opens?
The recurring cost structure combines percentage fees, fixed fees, required local spending, and mandatory product purchases. The Royalty Fee is the greater of $100 per week or 6% of Gross Revenue; it is paid on the first Monday for the prior week. Gross Revenue includes gift-card and membership-package sales when sold, excludes specified refunds, credits, and remitted sales taxes, and does not deduct chargebacks.
| Ongoing obligation | Amount or basis | Timing | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | Greater of $100/week or 6% of Gross Revenue | Weekly | Minimum starts after opening or at 12 months, subject to the real-estate-team waiver. |
| General Advertising and Marketing Fund Contribution | Currently 2% of Gross Revenue; cap 3% | Monthly | Can increase on 60 days’ written notice. |
| Technology Fee | $799/month | Monthly by ACH | May increase 10% annually, compounded and cumulative. |
| Local Advertising | $1,500/month | After the ramp-up plan | Possible setup fee up to $350 if the franchisor conducts it. |
| Wax, service products, and promotional items | Typically $50,000–$77,000/year | Before shipment | Required sole-source and designated purchases vary with inventory levels. |
| Marketing Materials | $650–$1,200 in year one | As incurred | Required POP kits may ship automatically at the studio’s cost. |
| Conference Fee | $799 first ticket | At registration | Required for one studio; additional tickets are $499 early or $599 regular, subject to a $1,000 cap. |
| Re-Invention Program | $0.50/sq. ft./month | Monthly after opening | Recommended reserve; the franchisor may require the funds to be paid to it and held for remodeling. |
Item 8 states that required or specified purchases are expected to represent more than 90% of opening purchases and 70% to 90% of expenses after opening. Waxing the City Franchisor LLC and SEB Distribution are sole suppliers for specified wax, service-offering products, and retail products, while ProVision is the sole supplier of required mobile-device-management software and services included in the Technology Fee.
Which costs arise only after a specific event?
Renewal, transfer, relocation, noncompliance, training, and missed development obligations can create additional payments that are outside the initial Item 7 total.
The initial Franchise Agreement term is six years. An eligible franchisee may renew for an additional five-year period, but Item 17 requires a new agreement, the renewal fee, compliance, possession rights, any refreshing training, and an update or move to current standards. The Minnesota Department of Commerce franchise lookup is an official government tool for checking registration status and public filing records; registration is not approval or verification of the investment.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 12–19; Item 17, pp. 49–52.What do Additional Funds cover, and can the investment be financed?
The $34,600 to $84,660 Additional Funds and Working Capital amount is already included in the $339,945 to $646,195 total. It covers the first three months of operations and includes monthly royalties, General Advertising and Marketing Fund fees, Technology Fees, assumed credit-card processing fees equal to 2% of Gross Revenue, and wages and payroll for five to six Cerologists.
- Included elsewhere in Item 7
- Rent is not inside the Additional Funds line because Item 7 separately estimates three months’ rent and the security deposit.
- Not included in this line
- Taxes, other permitting or licensing fees, payroll taxes, and employee benefits are excluded from the Additional Funds estimate.
- Owner compensation
- The 2026 FDD does not state that owner compensation is included. A buyer should not assume this working-capital range funds personal living expenses.
- Debt costs
- Finance charges, lender fees, interest, and debt-service obligations are excluded from the total initial investment.
Waxing the City Franchisor LLC does not finance the investment itself. Item 10 discloses third-party arrangements with Geneva Capital, Guidant Financial, and United Leasing & Finance. The FDD describes equipment leases, retirement-fund business financing, SBA-loan assistance, unsecured financing, portfolio loans, and equipment financing. Every program is subject to underwriting, credit approval, collateral or guaranty requirements, fees, and then-current lender terms; a disclosed relationship is not guaranteed approval.
What should a buyer verify before relying on the range?
The official range is most sensitive to premises size, treatment-room count, leasehold work, landlord allowance, local labor and material pricing, signage, technology choices, and the amount of working capital required during the first three months. The most important unresolved figure is the site-specific build-out budget after lease terms and tenant-improvement allowances are known.
For a single Waxing Studio, the verified 2026 FDD range is $339,945 to $646,195. The standard Initial Franchise Fee is $42,500, while ongoing obligations include the greater of $100 per week or 6% of Gross Revenue, a current 2% General Advertising and Marketing Fund Contribution, a $799 monthly Technology Fee, and at least $1,500 per month of local advertising after the opening ramp-up period. Liquid capital and net worth are separate qualification tests, and the official public thresholds should be reconfirmed because the franchisor’s current web pages are not fully consistent.