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LEMON TREE
Lemon Tree franchises operate retail salons offering affordable hair care services and other related services for all members of a customer's family. Franchisees own and operate a single Lemon Tree Family Salon using the franchisor's proprietary marks, distinctive trade dress, service techniques, operating procedures, and standards within a designated territory. The business model targets families seeking budget-friendly, comprehensive hair care solutions.
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Franchise Costs
6% royalty (greater of 6% or $75/wk) + $120/wk brand fund + $150/mo software + $100/mo digital marketing + up to $95/mo quality review + $144/yr technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 31 franchised outlets open for at least one full year as of December 31, 2023
* Average gross revenue was calculated as a weighted average of the mean gross revenue across the four quartiles: (8 units * $571,156 + 8 units * $352,476 + 8 units * $262,310 + 7 units * $171,866) / 31 total units = $344,858.00. Median gross revenue was calculated as a weighted average of the median gross revenue across the four quartiles: (8 units * $561,369 + 8 units * $348,158 + 8 units * $257,870 + 7 units * $186,742) / 31 total units = $343,431.29. Best guess profit range was estimated by subtracting the estimated total annual operating expenses from the weighted average gross revenue. Operating expenses considered were Salon Payroll, Salon Supplies, Salon Rent, Salon Insurance, and Salon Utilities. Annual figures were derived by multiplying monthly expenses by 12 and weekly expenses by 52. Estimated Annual Payroll: Weighted average weekly payroll was calculated from provided percentages and midpoints: (45.2% * $1,500 + 25.8% * $2,500.5 + 12.9% * $3,500.5 + 16.1% * $4,500.5) = $2,499.27. Annual payroll = $2,499.27 * 52 = $129,962.25. Estimated Annual Supplies: Weighted average weekly supplies was calculated from provided percentages and midpoints: (38.7% * $250 + 45.2% * $750.5 + 16.1% * $1,125.5) = $617.18. Annual supplies = $617.18 * 52 = $32,093.44. For Salon Rent, Salon Insurance, and Salon Utilities, the sum of explicitly stated percentages was less than 100%. The remaining percentage was allocated to unquantified 'or greater' ranges to create a low and high estimate for annual expenses: - To estimate 'best_guess_profit_high' (lower expenses): The remaining percentage for rent (6.4%) was assumed to be in the $5001-$6000 range (midpoint $5,500/month). For insurance (9.7%), it was assumed to be in the $4001-$4500 range (midpoint $4,250/year). For utilities (6.4%), it was assumed to be in the $1251+ range (midpoint $1,375/month). - Estimated Annual Rent (low): $39,276.00 - Estimated Annual Insurance (low): $3,250.50 - Estimated Annual Utilities (low): $10,305.00 - Total Annual Expenses (low estimate for high profit): $129,962.25 + $32,093.44 + $39,276 + $3,250.50 + $10,305 = $214,887.19. - Best Guess Profit High = $344,858.00 - $214,887.19 = $129,970.81. - To estimate 'best_guess_profit_low' (higher expenses): The remaining percentage for rent (6.4%) was assumed to be in the $6001+ range (midpoint $6,500/month). For insurance (9.7%), it was assumed to be in the $6001+ range (midpoint $6,500/year). For utilities (6.4%), it was assumed to be in the $1251+ range (midpoint $1,500/month for a slightly higher estimate). - Estimated Annual Rent (high): $40,044.00 - Estimated Annual Insurance (high): $3,468.75 - Estimated Annual Utilities (high): $10,401.00 - Total Annual Expenses (high estimate for low profit): $129,962.25 + $32,093.44 + $40,044 + $3,468.75 + $10,401 = $215,969.44. - Best Guess Profit Low = $344,858.00 - $215,969.44 = $128,888.56.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $344,858
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Unlock financial performance dataLEMON TREE Franchise Analysis
In the competitive beauty salon sector, Lemon Tree stands out with its family-oriented approach, transforming everyday hair care into an accessible neighborhood staple since franchising began in 2009. Item 19 disclosures paint a picture of steady performance across its modest network, while a trail of SBA loans hints at franchisees leveraging government backing to get off the ground. What separates this budget-friendly brand from flashy competitors, and does its track record justify the leap for hands-on operators?
Item 7 outlines the initial investment ranging from $178,794 to $270,939, including a $35,000 franchise fee, with build-out and equipment driving most costs for these 1,500 sq ft salons. Ongoing fees stack up: 6% royalty (minimum $75/week), $120/week brand fund, $150/month software, $100/month digital marketing, up to $95/month quality review, and $144/year tech fee—totaling around 8-10% of sales in outflows. Item 19 shines here, reporting average gross revenues of $344,858 and median $343,431 across units, with estimated profits narrowing to $128,889-$129,971 after expenses, suggesting 37-38% margins that outperform many quick-service peers but demand volume from family traffic.
The system's health shows promise with 34 franchise locations (plus 12 corporate) growing 6% from 32 in 2022, 8 projected new units, just 1 transfer, and 9 SBA loans averaging $145,922—indicating accessible financing for qualified buyers. No major red flags in terminations, this mature concept targets underserved family markets in the Northeast from Parsippany, NJ headquarters. For buyers eyeing $130K take-home in a recession-resistant industry, scrutinize local demographics for family density and competition, plus validate Item 19 comps through franchisee validation.
Analysis based on the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How LEMON TREE Compares
Key Insights
- Lower investment than 83% of Beauty & Spa Services franchises
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
LEMON TREE Current | $179K – $271K | $35K | 6.0% | 34 |
| SPORTS CLIPS (SINGLE UNIT) | $237K – $581K | $30K | 6.0% | 1,702 |
| SUPERCUTS | $186K – $323K | $40K | 6.0% | 1,701 |
| DaVi Nails and Em Lash Studio | $61K – $144K | $65K | N/A | 400 |
| PALM BEACH TAN | $648K – $1.1M | $30K | 6.0% | 397 |
| DAVI NAILS | $57K – $125K | $65K | 0.0% | 387 |
Beauty & Spa Services Average 52 franchises | $413K – $743K | $48K | 6.2% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 52 Beauty & Spa Services franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2023)
Outlets by state across the United States
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for LEMON TREE franchisees (2018 – 2024)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
9 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
36 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
36 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a LEMON TREE franchise ranges from $178,794 to $270,939. This includes a franchise fee of $35,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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