Franchise opportunities compared
The Shade 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.
Initial investment · Item 7
The Shade
$295,250 – $482,300
2026 FDD · Item 7Waxing the City
$339,945
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27Initial franchise fee · Item 5
The Shade
$49,500
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12Waxing the City
$42,500
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15Royalty · Item 6
The Shade
8%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14Waxing the City
6% · Note 2) Greater of (a) the Minimum Royalty Fee ($100/week), or (b) — 6
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- The Shade discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only Waxing the City has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Waxing the CityThe Shade
Waxing the City
The Shade
Waxing the City
The Shade
Waxing the City
The Shade
Waxing the City
System scale & health
Waxing the CityThe Shade
Waxing the City
The Shade
Waxing the City
The Shade
Waxing the City
The Shade
Waxing the City
The Shade
Waxing the City
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
No reviewed Item 19 figures
Waxing the CityItem 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 Shade vs Waxing the City: common questions
- Which costs less to open, The Shade or Waxing the City?
- The Shade: $295,250 – $482,300 (2026 FDD · Item 7); 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 Shade. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do The Shade and Waxing the City royalties compare?
- The Shade: 8% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14); 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 Shade or Waxing the City?
- The Shade: 0 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54); Waxing the City: 167 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 64). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do The Shade and Waxing the City disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- The Shade has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file; 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.
Keep researching
Full The Shade report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Waxing the City report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
