Quick Verdict · who it fits
Merle Norman fits first-time franchise buyers looking for a mature wellness concept.
The numbers a buyer needs first — straight from the filing.
Initial investment (Item 7)
$48K - $263K
System size (Item 20)
757 +4
Agreement term
10 yrs
Years in business
52+ yrs
Item 3 litigation
None disclosed
Model Merle Norman's costs in the investment calculator → Prefilled from this filing — startup cost, cash flow and break-even.
Buyer qualifications
✓Financing available•No exclusive territory✓Semi-absentee eligible✓No bankruptcy disclosed✓No Item 3 litigation
Data extracted from the 2026 FDD filed with state regulators. Fees and terms may have changed since filing — request the current FDD from the franchisor before deciding. Not legal, financial, or investment advice. Full disclaimer.
Free AI summary — the first read on the filing.
797
Total units open
5
Units opened last year
35
Units closed last year
-34
Net unit growth
What our analysis flagged across the 2026 filing.
5
Risks to review
4
Strengths identified
5
Questions to ask
How Merle Norman ranks against 96 Health & Beauty peers we've analyzed.
Initial investment
3rd pct · of 96 peers
System size
92nd pct · of 96 peers
Health & Beauty industry averages
Avg investment
$399K - $749K
Avg franchise fee
$47K
Avg system size
223
Franchises analyzed
96
Closest concepts by category and investment.
| Brand | Item 19 | Fee | Investment | Royalty | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merle Norman | None | — | $48K - $263K | — | 757 |
| Lemon Tree DevelopmentSimilar price | Disclosed | $35K | $185K - $278K | 6% | 36 |
| Great ClipsBiggest system | Disclosed | $20K | $188K - $420K | 6% | 4,441 |
| MiniluxeTop-rated in category | Disclosed | $50K | $558K - $990K | 6% | 2 |
Not sure Merle Norman is the one?
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Free explainers to go deeper before you sign.
Merle Norman requires a total initial investment range of $47,870–$262,938, per the most recent FDD on file.
Merle Norman is franchised by Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc., the franchisor entity of record on its Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 1 of the FDD discloses the franchisor's corporate history, parents, and predecessors.
No. Merle Norman does not include a financial performance representation in its FDD. Prospective buyers should rely on validation calls with existing franchisees and benchmark against industry medians.
As of their 2026 FDD, Merle Norman has 757 total locations, with 4 new locations opened in the most recent reporting year. This information comes from Item 20 of the FDD.
No. Merle Norman does not grant exclusive territory rights under Item 12. The franchisor retains the right to operate or grant additional units inside or adjacent to your trade area.
Per the FDD, Merle Norman discloses an initial agreement term of 10 years. Review Items 10 and 17 for the full renewal and termination provisions.
This page is part of VetMyFranchise. View all pages: llms.txt · llms-full.txt