Franchise opportunities compared
Medspa Institute of America vs Merle Norman Cosmetics
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Initial investment · Item 7
Medspa Institute of America
$101,600 – $200,000
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15Merle Norman Cosmetics
$47,870 – $262,938
2026 FDD · Item 7Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Medspa Institute of America
$45,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11Merle Norman Cosmetics
$0.00
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14Royalty · Item 6
Medspa Institute of America
7%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12Merle Norman Cosmetics
Not available
Before you compare
- Medspa Institute of America figures come from its 2025 FDD and Merle Norman Cosmetics figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
- Merle Norman Cosmetics discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only neither brand has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Merle Norman CosmeticsMedspa Institute of America
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Medspa Institute of America
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Medspa Institute of America
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Medspa Institute of America
Merle Norman Cosmetics
System scale & health
Merle Norman CosmeticsMedspa Institute of America
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Medspa Institute of America
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Medspa Institute of America
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Medspa Institute of America
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Medspa Institute of America
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation
Merle Norman CosmeticsNot disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation
Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
Medspa Institute of America vs Merle Norman Cosmetics: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Medspa Institute of America or Merle Norman Cosmetics?
- Medspa Institute of America: $101,600 – $200,000 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15); Merle Norman Cosmetics: $47,870 – $262,938 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Merle Norman Cosmetics. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- Which has more locations, Medspa Institute of America or Merle Norman Cosmetics?
- Medspa Institute of America: 1 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34); Merle Norman Cosmetics: 757 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 44). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Medspa Institute of America and Merle Norman Cosmetics disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Medspa Institute of America makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Merle Norman Cosmetics makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching
Full Medspa Institute of America report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Merle Norman Cosmetics report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
