Franchise opportunities compared
Merle Norman Cosmetics vs Sugaring LA
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
Merle Norman Cosmetics
$47,870 – $262,938
2026 FDD · Item 7Sugaring LA
$313,250 – $431,500
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 18Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Merle Norman Cosmetics
$0.00
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14Sugaring LA
$60,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11Royalty · Item 6
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Not available
Sugaring LA
6%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12Before you compare
- Merle Norman Cosmetics figures come from its 2026 FDD and Sugaring LA figures from its 2025 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 Sugaring LA has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LAMerle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LA
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LA
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LA
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LA
System scale & health
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LAMerle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LA
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LA
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LA
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LA
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Sugaring LA
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Merle Norman CosmeticsNot disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation
Sugaring LAItem 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.
Merle Norman Cosmetics vs Sugaring LA: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Merle Norman Cosmetics or Sugaring LA?
- Merle Norman Cosmetics: $47,870 – $262,938 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Sugaring LA: $313,250 – $431,500 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 18). 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, Merle Norman Cosmetics or Sugaring LA?
- Merle Norman Cosmetics: 757 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 44); Sugaring LA: 8 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 49). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Merle Norman Cosmetics and Sugaring LA disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Merle Norman Cosmetics makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Sugaring LA has reviewed Item 19 figures for 4 location groups. 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 Merle Norman Cosmetics report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

Full Sugaring LA report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure



