Franchise opportunities compared
The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men) vs Waxing the City
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.
Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men): 12, Waxing the City: 13). Different groups are not directly comparable.
| Disclosure |  The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men) |  Waxing the City |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commitment | ||
| Estimated initial investment (Item 7) | $207,000 Total initial investment — $207,000 to $352,600 2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14 | $339,945 Note 13) $34,600 $84,660 As incurred Varied times Vendors or third parties TOTAL (Note 14) — 339945 2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27 |
| Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5) | $40,000 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10 | $42,500 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15 |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 5% · table Royalty — base rate 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10 | 6% · Note 2) Greater of (a) the Minimum Royalty Fee ($100/week), or (b) — 6 te Remarks Royalty Fee 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18 |
| Brand / advertising fund (Item 6) | 2% Advertising fund fee — up to 2% — 2% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10 | 2% deducted from collections. General Advertising and Marketing Fund Contributions Currently — 2 — 2% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18 |
| System scale & health | ||
| Total outlets (Item 20) | 50 Outlets at end of 2024 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 37 | 334 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 64 |
| Net outlet change (Item 20) | −1 Calculated: 51 at end of 2022 → 50 at end of 2024 | +34 Calculated: 300 at end of 2023 → 334 at end of 2025 |
| Outlet exits (Item 20) | Not available No complete exit records for a year | Not available No complete exit records for a year |
| Franchising since (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | 2010 From a verified franchisor listing |
| Franchisor founded (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Performance (Item 19) | ||
| Financial performance (Item 19), by location group | Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top 25% of 34 eligible salons; met/exceeded counts use the 34-salon population 9 percent other Percentage meeting/exceeding average · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 34 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top 50% of 34 eligible salons; met/exceeded counts use the 34-salon population $599,632 other annual gross sales · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 34 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top 75% of 34 eligible salons; met/exceeded counts use the 34-salon population $539,709 other annual gross sales · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 34 +9 more groups in the full report | Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Second quartile of138 full-year Studios; Total revenue 46 percent other Second quartile Total revenue met/exceeded percent · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 61 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All138 of138 full-year Studios; Total revenue $478,025 other All138 Total revenue Average Total Gross Revenues · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 61 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Third quartile of138 full-year Studios; Total revenue 54 percent other Third quartile Total revenue met/exceeded percent · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 61 +10 more groups in the full report |
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.
The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men) vs Waxing the City: common questions
- Which costs less to open, The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men) or Waxing the City?
- The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men): $207,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14); Waxing the City: $339,945 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men). Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men) and Waxing the City royalties compare?
- The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men): 5% · table (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10); Waxing the City: 6% · Note 2) Greater of (a) the Minimum Royalty Fee ($100/week), or (b) — 6 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men) or Waxing the City?
- The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men): 50 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 37); Waxing the City: 334 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 64). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men) and Waxing the City disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- The Barbershop (A Hair Salon for Men) has reviewed Item 19 figures for 12 location groups; Waxing the City has reviewed Item 19 figures for 13 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.