Startup costs from franchise filings
How much does it cost to open a waxing studio?
Opening a waxing studio costs $339,945 to $646,195, going by the 3 waxing 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 $143,325 to $290,220. 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
- $339,945 to $646,195
- Lowest to highest filed
- $331,600 to $776,950
- Filings compared
- 3 brands
Read from Minnesota's franchise registry on October 16, 2026. Build your own budget ยท Download every line (CSV)
By brand
What 3 waxing 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Wax CenterFDD issued Apr 2026 | $331,600 to $776,950 | $36,000 to $45,000 | $147,000 to $386,000 | about 1,400 sq ft, 5 to 6 rooms |
| Radiant WaxingFDD issued Mar 2025 | $387,788 to $554,947 | $50,000 | $143,325 to $238,350 | 1,200 to 1,800 sq ft |
| Waxing the CityFDD issued Mar 2026 | $339,945 to $646,195 | $42,500 | $114,200 to $290,220 | 1,200 to 2,000 sq ft, 4 to 6 rooms |
By cost
Where the money goes when you open a waxing 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. | $143,325 to $290,220 | 3 |
| Furniture, fixtures and equipmentChairs, stations, shampoo units, treatment beds or devices, reception and waiting furniture. | $39,405 to $59,809 | 3 |
| SignageExterior sign and interior graphics. | $13,020 to $23,000 | 3 |
| Computers, POS and softwarePoint of sale, computers, phones, music and security systems, software set-up. | $13,084 to $31,412 | 3 |
| Opening supplies and retail stockBackbar and service supplies, linens, sanitation, retail products for the shelf. | $23,400 to $31,600 | 3 |
| Grand opening marketingPre-opening and launch advertising, promotions and events. | $20,000 to $25,000 | 3 |
| Rent and deposits before openingSecurity deposit, rent before opening, utility deposits. | $6,700 to $13,650 | 3 |
| Professional fees, permits and licensesArchitect and design, legal and accounting, building permits, business and establishment licenses. | $13,000 to $31,590 | 3 |
| InsuranceFirst premiums or deposits for liability, property and workers' compensation cover. | $2,550 to $2,850 | 3 |
| Working capital (first months)Cash to cover payroll, rent and bills until the business pays for itself, usually the first three months. | $34,600 to $75,000 | 3 |
| Other opening costsTravel, utilities set-up, uniforms and costs the filing does not put elsewhere. | $4,270 to $7,100 | 1 |
| Franchise feeFranchisees only. The one-time fee paid to the franchisor for the right to open. | $42,500 to $45,000 | 3 |
| Franchise training and travelFranchisees only. Travel and living costs to attend the franchisor's training. | $3,200 to $4,600 | 3 |
Your budget
Budget a waxing 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 3 filed waxing 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.
$143,325 to $290,220median of 3 filings
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Chairs, stations, shampoo units, treatment beds or devices, reception and waiting furniture.
$39,405 to $59,809median of 3 filings
Signage
Exterior sign and interior graphics.
$13,020 to $23,000median of 3 filings
Computers, POS and software
Point of sale, computers, phones, music and security systems, software set-up.
$13,084 to $31,412median of 3 filings
Opening supplies and retail stock
Backbar and service supplies, linens, sanitation, retail products for the shelf.
$23,400 to $31,600median of 3 filings
Grand opening marketing
Pre-opening and launch advertising, promotions and events.
$20,000 to $25,000median of 3 filings
Rent and deposits before opening
Security deposit, rent before opening, utility deposits.
$6,700 to $13,650median of 3 filings
Professional fees, permits and licenses
Architect and design, legal and accounting, building permits, business and establishment licenses.
$13,000 to $31,590median of 3 filings
Insurance
First premiums or deposits for liability, property and workers' compensation cover.
$2,550 to $2,850median of 3 filings
Working capital (first months)
Cash to cover payroll, rent and bills until the business pays for itself, usually the first three months.
$34,600 to $75,000median of 3 filings
Other opening costs
Travel, utilities set-up, uniforms and costs the filing does not put elsewhere.
$4,270 to $7,100median of 1 filing
Your startup budget
$313,600
Franchised waxing studio units disclose a median of $339,945 to $646,195, franchise fee included.
Reading the filings
What these numbers mean for a waxing studio
- Waxing studios are built around private treatment rooms (Waxing the City plans four to six in 1,200 to 2,000 sq ft), and the build-out is the largest cost at $143,325 to $290,220.
- Wax, supplies and retail stock make a bigger opening line than in a hair salon: $23,400 to $31,600 at the median.
- An esthetician starting alone can open far smaller: one room in a salon suite, a wax heater, a treatment bed and supplies, plus the state license.
Questions
Opening a waxing studio: costs, answered
How much does it cost to open a waxing studio?
What is the biggest startup cost for a waxing studio?
How much working capital do you need to open a waxing studio?
Is it cheaper to open a waxing 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 waxing 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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