Loading FDD preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
1,700+ FDDs structured for franchise professionals
We extract fees, Item 19 financials, franchisee contacts, SBA default rates, litigation, and outlet data from every FDD — so you can compare brands in minutes, not months. Used by multi-unit operators, consultants, and franchise development teams.
WAXING THE CITY
Waxing the City offers franchises for Waxing Studios that provide a premium studio experience focused on body and facial waxing services for men and women, along with related products and services such as skincare, eyelash extensions, beauty, and brow enhancements. Franchisees operate under the Waxing the City trademark and proprietary System, which includes standardized training, operations, memberships, and must remain open 7 days a week, with the franchisor retaining rights to modify offerings. The business model targets the competitive hair removal and beauty enhancement market, serving the general public seeking professional waxing and aesthetic services.
Loading preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 2% ad fund + $799/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 138 franchised Waxing Studios open and operating for the entire 12 month period ended December 31, 2025
* Average Gross Revenue for all studios and for top/bottom quartiles were extracted directly from Section A - Total Gross Revenues table. Median Gross Revenue was also extracted directly from the same table. No profit or expense data was provided, as explicitly stated in the 'GENERAL INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO ALL OF ITEM 19' section. A weighted average calculation using the quartile data confirmed the overall average for all 138 studios.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $478,025
Unlock financial performance data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock financial performance dataWAXING THE CITY Franchise Analysis
In the bustling personal care services niche, Waxing the City stands out with its Item 19 disclosure of revenue data that punches above its weight for a waxing-focused brand. Yet terminations and a measured growth trajectory raise questions about system stability—does this franchise wax on profitability or strip away margins? Dive into the FDD metrics to see if it's a smooth investment glide path.
Item 7 lays out the financial entry: total initial investment ranges from $339,945 to $646,195, with a $42,500 franchise fee covering training and site selection support. Ongoing fees per Item 6 include a 6% royalty on gross sales, 2% brand fund contribution, and a flat $799 monthly technology fee—positioning ongoing costs at around 8% plus fixed tech expenses. Item 19 reveals average gross revenue of $478,025 and median $457,222 for studios, suggesting solid top-line performance in a market demanding premium waxing, skincare, and brow services; at these levels, after fees and typical operating costs, EBITDA could hit 15-20% for efficient operators, though no profit figures are provided.
System health shows promise with 167 locations up 11% from 151 in 2024, plus 13 projected new units, but 15 terminations and 9 transfers signal moderate churn—better than high-failure concepts but worth scrutinizing FDD Item 20 for trends. Financing shines: 117 SBA loans averaging $327,419 with just a 6.8% default rate, indicating banks view Waxing the City as low-risk since 2010 franchising. For beauty investors eyeing $400K+ revenue potential without food/service volatility, this FDD paints a viable path, especially in underserved markets, but scale cautiously given the 7-day operations mandate.
Analysis based on the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How WAXING THE CITY Compares
Key Insights
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Personal Care Services
- Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Personal Care Services
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
WAXING THE CITY Current | $340K – $646K | $43K | 6.0% | 168 |
| COST CUTTERS | $184K – $336K | $40K | 5.0% | 911 |
| COMFORT KEEPERS | $120K – $191K | $55K | 5.0% | 619 |
| REGAL NAILS SALON & SPA | $173K – $722K | $25K | N/A | 513 |
| PALM BEACH TAN | $639K – $1.0M | $30K | 6.0% | 398 |
| HOUSE OF COLOUR | $32K – $71K | $30K | 4.0% | 342 |
Personal Care Services Average 20 franchises | $416K – $808K | $41K | 5.9% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 20 Personal Care Services franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2026)
Outlets by state across the United States
+24 more states
Unlock location growth data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for WAXING THE CITY franchisees (2013 – 2025)
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.
117 SBA loans on record
Unlock SBA loan history with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
206 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
206 Contacts Available
Unlock all WAXING THE CITY franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
CEC Entertainment, Inc. (where Thomas Leverton was CEO) filed Chapter 11 in June 2020 and was discharged in December 2020. Shift Technologies, Inc. (where Oded Shein was CFO) filed Chapter 11 in October 2023 and its plan was confirmed in September 2024.
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Unlock due diligence reports with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a WAXING THE CITY franchise ranges from $339,945 to $646,195. This includes a franchise fee of $42,500. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
More Services Franchises
THE UPS STORE (TRADITIONAL)
Services
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
Services
JACKSON HEWITT TAX SERVICE
Services
SERVPRO (UNIT)
Services
VCS BUSINESS
Services
SIGNAL 88 SECURITY
Services