2026 FDD Issued Apr 23, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS)
European Wax Center Franchise Cost (2026)
An European Wax Center franchise costs an estimated $331,600 – $776,950 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $45,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Standard Wax Center (5-6 Suites). Item 6 lists royalty fee: 6% of Gross Sales, subject to the conditions below. This record has unresolved source-review issues and was published provisionally before independent verification was complete.
Read the source-review hold before using these figures.
- Total investment
- $332K – $777KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $45KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 6% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 3% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about European Wax Center
Closures now outnumber openings. Item 20 shows 12 franchised openings in 2025 against 32 closures, a reversal from the system's earlier expansion, leaving 1,042 franchised centers in a system that is almost entirely franchised.
Item 19 is broad and split by quartile. The $902,437 average covers every franchised center open the full year, and centers past the FDD's maturity mark averaged more than the system as a whole. The printed median for all centers cannot be right, since it sits above the second quartile's highest center, so this page leaves it out.
Supplies are tied to the franchisor and other charges recur. An affiliate is the only approved supplier of the wax and branded skin-care products, and Item 6 adds auto-shipment programs billed monthly, a mandatory search-marketing program and a monthly technology fee alongside a royalty of 6% of Gross Sales and a marketing contribution of 3% of Gross Sales.
Opening takes longer than it used to. Item 11 says the average time to open now runs past a year because target markets have filled in, and the term starts at opening or the first anniversary of signing, whichever comes first.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for European Wax Center?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $45,000 for European Wax Center. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 18-19): $45,000 for a new franchisee, or $36,000 for an existing franchisee (Item 7 uses $36,000 as its low estimate), paid by wire at signing. A Development Agreement for three or more centers costs $72,000 to $207,000, the full fee for the first center plus an $18,000 deposit for each of the next nine. You must also buy a start-up package of products and supplies ($18,000 to $21,000), refundable unopened if the franchisor terminates before opening. A POS set-up fee may be due to Zenoti.
Source: European Wax Center 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 18.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for European Wax Center, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing.
How much does it cost to open an European Wax Center franchise? (Item 7)
Source: European Wax Center 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 26.
Item 7 of European Wax Center’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one standard wax center (5-6 suites) at $331,600 – $776,950. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise Fee | $36,000 | $45,000 |
| Start-up Package | $18,000 | $21,000 |
| IT Platform Set-up Fee | $0 | $350 |
| Start-up Marketing Package | $3,500 | $6,000 |
| Real Estate/Rent | $6,700 | $10,000 |
| Utility Deposits | $0 | $500 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $147,000 | $386,000 |
| Architectural and Engineering Fees | $6,000 | $18,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment | $18,000 | $74,000 |
| POS System; Other Computer, Telephone, and Surveillance Camera Systems; Network Security; and Installation | $11,000 | $41,000 |
| Insurance | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Office Supplies | $400 | $600 |
| Additional Equipment and Supplies | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Training Expenses | $5,000 | $7,500 |
| Signage and Digital Displays | $6,000 | $23,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $12,000 | $35,000 |
| Licenses & Permits | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Legal & Accounting | $6,000 | $12,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $45,000 | $75,000 |
| Total | $331,600 | $776,950 |
Item 7 (PDF pages 26-31) prints $331,600 to $776,950 for a 5- or 6-suite center; its 19 lines add to that total, with the existing-franchisee fee of $36,000 as the low estimate. Leasehold improvements are the largest line. A Development Agreement prints $72,000 to $207,000 in development fees.
What ongoing royalties and fees does European Wax Center charge? (Item 6)
Source: European Wax Center 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 20.
Item 6 of European Wax Center’s 2026 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 6% of Gross Sales | Every period | 6% of Gross Sales, collected weekly. During a cure period for a late successor-term renewal it can rise to 150% and then 200% of the standard rate (note A). (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Marketing Fund Contribution | 3% of Gross Sales | Every period | 3% of Gross Sales, paid monthly to the affiliate EWC MFund, LLC; it combines the former 1% fund and 2% local advertising obligation (note B). (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| IT Network/Cyber Security Insurance Fee | $100 per year | Every period | Currently $100 a year for cyber insurance the franchisor procures; the program may be cancelled. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Technology & Security Fee | $310 per month | Every period | $310 per month for the IT platform; subject to change each year. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Local SEO/SEM Program | $275 per month | Every period | Currently $275 per month for mandatory search engine optimization and marketing through third parties. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Audit Expenses | Varies | When it applies | All audit costs if you underreported amounts owed by 3% or more. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Late Fees | Varies | When it applies | 1.5% per month (18% a year) or the legal maximum, whichever is less. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Electronic Depository Transfer Account Fees | Varies | When it applies | $50 for the first insufficient-funds event and $250 for each later one within 12 months; $100 to change accounts. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Approval of Products or Suppliers | Varies | When it applies | Reasonable evaluation costs for a product or supplier you request. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Insurance Policies | Varies | When it applies | Unpaid premiums plus expenses if the franchisor obtains coverage for you. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Breaches/Self Help | Varies | When it applies | Reasonable costs plus up to 10% for overhead if the franchisor cures a default. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Administrative Fee | Varies | When it applies | $500 per failure to meet a system standard, and up to $500 for each later one in 12 months. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Transfer Fee/Transfer Processing Fee | Varies | When it applies | 20% of the then-current Franchise Fee (currently $9,000, or $7,200 for existing franchisees); $2,500 to an entity you control; $1,500 for an ownership change under 50%; plus a $1,000 processing fee credited if the transfer occurs. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| System Modifications | Varies | When it applies | Reasonable costs of adapting to system changes such as new equipment or software. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Customer Service Fee | Varies | When it applies | Costs of handling your customers' service issues. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Site Inspections | $1,000 | When it applies | $1,000 for each extra site inspection after plans fail to conform. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Conference/Ongoing Training | Varies | When it applies | Up to $950 per person for required national conferences (about every 18 months) for you and your Center Manager, payable whether or not you attend, plus expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Additional Launch Support | Varies | When it applies | Currently $7,500 per trainer for a 6-day launch or re-launch, including travel. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Additional Training | Varies | When it applies | Currently $350 per day per associate plus expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Additional Operations Assistance | Varies | When it applies | Currently $350 per day per trainer plus expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | All costs of claims related to your center, and of curing your lease defaults. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Fees Associated with Programs, Systems and Initiatives | Varies | When it applies | Reasonable costs and possible administrative fees for required programs and initiatives (note H). (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Breach of Privacy or Data Protection Laws | Varies | When it applies | All costs from your failure to comply with data protection laws. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Release of Mechanics' and Labor Liens | Varies | When it applies | Costs of releasing contractors' liens on your location. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Change of Designated Area Fee | Varies | When it applies | Legal and administrative costs, up to $1,000 per change. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Relocation Assistance | Varies | When it applies | Reasonable costs of an approved relocation. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| European Wax Center Products and Supplies | Varies | When it applies | Wholesale prices plus taxes and delivery; the affiliate EWC Distributor LLC is the only approved supplier of the wax and branded products. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Clearing House Operations | Varies | When it applies | Debits and credits for gift cards, Wax Passes and rewards redeemed at other centers (note I). (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Imagery Auto-Shipment Program | Varies | When it applies | Actual cost of posters and imagery plus shipping, typically $300 to $500 per month. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Other Auto-Shipment Programs | Varies | When it applies | Actual cost of auto-shipped products plus shipping and taxes, typically $300 to $2,500 per month; an administrative fee may apply. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Successor Term Fee | $5,000 | When it applies | $5,000 when you sign the successor agreement for a second 10-year term. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Additional Successor Term Option | Varies | When it applies | 50% of the then-current Franchise Fee if you buy an option for a third 10-year term. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
This fee schedule cannot be reduced to the calculator’s simple sales-based formula. Enter your own assumptions and check them against the Item 6 terms.
European Wax Center startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
A source check placed this record on review hold. Automatic fee estimates are withheld until the outstanding issues are resolved. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: European Wax Center franchised outlet history
Source: European Wax Center 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 82.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 1,042 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 5 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 938 | 107 | 7 | 1,038 | — |
| 2024 | 1,038 | 43 | 20 | 1,062 | — |
| 2025 | 1,062 | 12 | 32 | 1,042 | — |
Calculated outlet totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld because this record has not cleared the current Item 20 source checks. The table retains the outlet counts printed in Item 20. Read the unresolved source issues.
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables.
51 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 Table 3 (PDF page 82) prints 2024 as start 1,038, opened 43, ceased 20, end 1,062; the footnote says the end count includes one company-owned center converted to a franchise, which Table 4 (PDF page 83) shows as sold. 2023 and 2025 add up. Table 5 lists 47 franchise agreements signed but not opened and 17 projected openings.
How much do European Wax Center franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: European Wax Center 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 75.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Gross Sales, all reporting franchised centers of $902,437 (Fiscal 2025 (ended January 3, 2026), 1,028 of 1,042 franchised centers open all year; 449 (43.7%) above the average). European Wax Center’s Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
Read the source-review hold before using this figure.
See every European Wax Center Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Payback calculator (enter your own assumptions) Check any inputs against this record’s Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret European Wax Center’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the European Wax Center franchise agreement term?
Source: European Wax Center 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 62.
The standard European Wax Center franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 10 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 62): 10 years starting at opening or the first anniversary of signing, whichever comes first, with one successor term of 10 years if you meet the conditions; an option for a third term costs 50% of the then-current fee.
How long does it take to open an European Wax Center franchise? (Item 11)
Source: European Wax Center 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 48.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the Franchise Agreement (the franchisor says 6 to 7 months is possible if a site is approved within 120 days) to opening: roughly 12 to 18 months on average.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to European Wax Center’s $331,600 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Beauty & Personal Care. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- Waxing the City $340K – $646K Beauty & Personal Care
- Floyd's 99 Barbershop $400K – $773K Beauty & Personal Care
- Crave Cookies $328K – $735K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
- Hand and Stone $321K – $865K Health & Wellness
- Play It Again Sports $346K – $460K Retail
- FS8 $349K – $841K Fitness
Compare other beauty & personal care franchises
Sources
EWC Franchisor LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 23, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 18
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 20
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 26
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 75
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 82
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 62
Page references for European Wax Center use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- November 3, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.
- November 3, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued April 23, 2026).
- November 3, 2026: Rechecked against the April 23, 2026 Minnesota FDD: Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Item 6 now lists all 32 rows (the draft had 5). The franchise fee is now the standard $45,000, with the existing-franchisee price in notes. Removed an impossible all-center median from Item 19 and added mature-center figures. Moved franchisor details into standard fields, added the opening time and rewrote the analysis. The Item 20 footnoted gap remains and is disclosed.
- November 2, 2026: Provisional publication approved per owner directive: Owner directed on November 2, 2026 that every remaining batch 6 brand go live, including brands whose FDDs print conflicting figures. Each record was rechecked against its FDD on November 3, 2026; the unresolved source conflicts remain disclosed and the record is not marked verified.