Startup costs from franchise filings
How much does it cost to open a massage studio?
Opening a massage studio costs $545,695 to $850,015, going by the 4 massage franchises whose current disclosure documents are on file in Minnesota: those are the medians of their low and high estimates for one new location, from the franchise fee to the first months of working capital. The biggest single cost is build-out and construction, typically $317,250 to $450,869. An owner opening independently pays no franchise fee and can often spend less on the space, which the budget below lets you test line by line.
- Typical range
- $545,695 to $850,015
- Lowest to highest filed
- $320,891 to $1,046,506
- Filings compared
- 4 brands
Read from Minnesota's franchise registry on October 16, 2026. Build your own budget ยท Download every line (CSV)
By brand
What 4 massage franchises say it costs to open
Item 7 of each franchise disclosure document, the legally required estimate of the initial investment for one new location, low and high.
| Brand | Total initial investment | Franchise fee | Build-out | Unit described |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elements MassageFDD issued Mar 2025 | $515,789 to $729,603 | $40,000 | $250,000 to $365,000 | 1,700 to 2,200 sq ft |
| Hand and StoneFDD issued Apr 2026 | $320,891 to $864,729 | $39,600 to $49,500 | $132,310 to $423,538 | 2,200 to 3,200 sq ft |
| Massage EnvyFDD issued Apr 2026 | $695,870 to $1,046,506 | $28,000 to $45,000 | $405,000 to $551,000 | 2,300 to 2,800 sq ft |
| MassageLuXeFDD issued Apr 2026 | $575,600 to $835,300 | $32,500 to $42,500 | $384,500 to $478,200 | 2,200 to 2,800 sq ft, 7 to 10 rooms |
By cost
Where the money goes when you open a massage studio
The median low and high of each kind of cost across these brands. A brand that folds a cost into another line is left out of that line's median, so the lines are a checklist, not a sum.
| Cost | Median low to high | Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Build-out and constructionLeasehold improvements, plumbing, electrical, flooring, lighting and finishes, less any landlord allowance. | $317,250 to $450,869 | 4 |
| Furniture, fixtures and equipmentChairs, stations, shampoo units, treatment beds or devices, reception and waiting furniture. | $37,600 to $98,156 | 3 |
| SignageExterior sign and interior graphics. | $6,650 to $15,100 | 4 |
| Computers, POS and softwarePoint of sale, computers, phones, music and security systems, software set-up. | $28,522 to $32,972 | 4 |
| Opening supplies and retail stockBackbar and service supplies, linens, sanitation, retail products for the shelf. | $23,731 to $39,500 | 4 |
| Grand opening marketingPre-opening and launch advertising, promotions and events. | $16,865 to $17,500 | 4 |
| Rent and deposits before openingSecurity deposit, rent before opening, utility deposits. | $11,107 to $20,588 | 4 |
| Professional fees, permits and licensesArchitect and design, legal and accounting, building permits, business and establishment licenses. | $15,595 to $43,669 | 4 |
| InsuranceFirst premiums or deposits for liability, property and workers' compensation cover. | $2,475 to $6,875 | 4 |
| Working capital (first months)Cash to cover payroll, rent and bills until the business pays for itself, usually the first three months. | $42,275 to $97,500 | 4 |
| Other opening costsTravel, utilities set-up, uniforms and costs the filing does not put elsewhere. | $8,700 to $12,800 | 1 |
| Franchise feeFranchisees only. The one-time fee paid to the franchisor for the right to open. | $36,050 to $43,750 | 4 |
| Franchise training and travelFranchisees only. Travel and living costs to attend the franchisor's training. | $2,850 to $5,000 | 3 |
Your budget
Budget a massage studio of your own
Start from the filed medians, without the franchise fee or the franchisor's training travel, and replace each line with your own quotes.
Each line starts at the middle of the brands' low estimates across 4 filed massage studio disclosures, with franchise-only costs left out. Replace any figure with your own quote; switching the business or the starting point resets the lines.
Build-out and construction
Leasehold improvements, plumbing, electrical, flooring, lighting and finishes, less any landlord allowance.
$317,250 to $450,869median of 4 filings
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Chairs, stations, shampoo units, treatment beds or devices, reception and waiting furniture.
$37,600 to $98,156median of 3 filings
Signage
Exterior sign and interior graphics.
$6,650 to $15,100median of 4 filings
Computers, POS and software
Point of sale, computers, phones, music and security systems, software set-up.
$28,522 to $32,972median of 4 filings
Opening supplies and retail stock
Backbar and service supplies, linens, sanitation, retail products for the shelf.
$23,731 to $39,500median of 4 filings
Grand opening marketing
Pre-opening and launch advertising, promotions and events.
$16,865 to $17,500median of 4 filings
Rent and deposits before opening
Security deposit, rent before opening, utility deposits.
$11,107 to $20,588median of 4 filings
Professional fees, permits and licenses
Architect and design, legal and accounting, building permits, business and establishment licenses.
$15,595 to $43,669median of 4 filings
Insurance
First premiums or deposits for liability, property and workers' compensation cover.
$2,475 to $6,875median of 4 filings
Working capital (first months)
Cash to cover payroll, rent and bills until the business pays for itself, usually the first three months.
$42,275 to $97,500median of 4 filings
Other opening costs
Travel, utilities set-up, uniforms and costs the filing does not put elsewhere.
$8,700 to $12,800median of 1 filing
Your startup budget
$510,900
Franchised massage studio units disclose a median of $545,695 to $850,015, franchise fee included.
Reading the filings
What these numbers mean for a massage studio
- Massage franchises open large units, about 1,700 to 3,200 sq ft, because every therapist works in a private room.
- They also budget more working capital than most trades, $42,275 to $97,500 at the median: a membership business takes months to fill its rooms.
- A therapist starting alone can begin with a single room in a shared space or a salon suite, a table, linens and a state massage license, and grow from there.
Questions
Opening a massage studio: costs, answered
How much does it cost to open a massage studio?
What is the biggest startup cost for a massage studio?
How much working capital do you need to open a massage studio?
Is it cheaper to open a massage studio without a franchise?
Plan the rest
Before you sign a lease
- Write it up with the salon business plan template
- Find a name and a free domain for a massage studio
- See what the business could pay you once it is open
- Check what salons keep after costs, from Census data
Startup costs for other beauty businesses
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