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2024 Franchise 500 Rank
#43 Ranked #32 last year
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Initial investment
$364K - $642K
Units as of 2024
1,058 Increase 30.9% over 3 years

European Wax Center Franchise

Many of the most successful franchises provide high-quality services to a target group of customers. That’s what European Wax Center delivers daily, offering lifestyle beauty services from wax specialists to customers across 41 states.

European Wax Center is a popular, fast-growing organization with over 550 centers nationwide. It’s based in Plano, Texas, and is one of the most successful franchises of its type in America. 

Read on if you’ve ever wanted to enter the franchise industry as a business owner. This article will break down what it takes to start an EWC franchise.

Why should you start a European Wax Center franchise?

European Wax Center is a wax services organization that provides European-style wax and other beautification services. It’s an incredibly fast-growing brand that offers a unique company culture and multiple franchise opportunities.

Millions of customers admire this lifestyle beauty brand right now, particularly because of its Comfort Wax service and 4 Steps to Gorgeous process. 

This business model has made EWC a powerful brand in the lifestyle beauty industry — one of the most significant benefits for new franchisees. You won't have to build a loyal customer base from scratch.

On top of that, European Wax Center allows franchisees to sell a proprietary collection of products and solutions, like skincare products and pampering presents. 

However, there are plenty of other reasons to start a business relationship with this franchisor, including:

  • A growing customer base. This brand was initially founded in 2004 and started franchising in 2006. Over the years, it has expanded thanks to franchising.
  • European Wax Center enables franchisees to open multiple locations. 65% of current brand franchise owners have multiple locations, resulting in additional revenue for those entrepreneurs.
  • European Wax Center provides extensive support and training resources, so franchise owners will have what it takes to succeed in this competitive industry.
  • European Wax Center's reputation is growing — it has been recognized as one of the top franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine, New Beauty Magazine and other industry professionals.
  • European Wax Center emphasizes a team spirit and commitment to excellence. If you’ve ever wanted to lead an organization where the team feels like family, this could be your perfect opportunity.
  • European Wax Center provides the chance to be a hands-on business owner. On the flip side, if you are looking for absentee ownership, this is not the right business opportunity to pursue.

This franchise business allows you to start your own beauty salon, hair removal and body waxing business. It has reasonable cash requirements and lets you bring the wonders of beautiful skin to your customers.

Does European Wax Center grant franchisees exclusive territory?  

European Wax Center does not, unfortunately, offer exclusive territories to franchisees. As a result, you will have to keep potential competition from other franchisees in mind. EWC reserves the right to sign other franchisees to the same general territory. 

You could compete for the same overall customer base. However, you can offset this by focusing on customer loyalty and rewarding longtime customers for sticking with your salon.

European Wax Center will help you examine your local market and find the best area to set down retail roots. 

With this assistance, you should be able to find the perfect spot to launch a wax center of your very own without opening yourself up to too much competitive risk.

Related: Modern Acupuncture Showing Signs of Huge Growth

What support resources does European Wax Center offer its franchisees? 

Don't worry about not receiving corporate support after opening your European Wax Center store. EWC provides many support resources for new and existing franchisees, ensuring that everyone has what they need to thrive in the market.

This all begins with site selection and lease negotiation. When looking for the perfect site for your store, EWC corporate will help out from the get-go. If you need assistance negotiating the lease with the current landholder, EWC will assist.

After you choose a site, European Wax Center will help build your store, staff it and guide you through the grand opening experience. An excellent grand opening is critical to accumulating an initial customer base in your local area, so EWC corporate wants to ensure yours goes smoothly.

Even into the future, EWC corporate provides tons of other support resources, like online support lines, access to meetings and conventions and access to a proprietary newsletter and franchisee intranet platform. With these tools, you can network with fellow franchisees and the franchisor.

Afterward, EWC corporate will provide you with the tools and materials to master marketing immediately. These include ad templates, so you can start making persuasive and compelling advertisements directly, even if you don’t have any graphic design experience. 

These ad templates will be tailored to your regional advertising goals based on what people in your local area want or need from a beautification clinic.

European Wax Center also provides online marketing and development support, web development support, social media and email marketing assistance. With SEO guidance, your website will be findable and attractive to all the online seekers in your market.

Once your European Wax Center location is up and running, you can use the brand’s proprietary loyalty program and app to keep people returning for more. All in all, you won’t feel like you are alone when you become a European Wax Center franchisee.

Related: 2023 Fastest-Growing Franchises Ranking

How much does starting a European Wax Center franchise cost? 

To start a European Wax Center franchise, you must know its costs. Firstly, you’ll need to pay an initial franchise fee of $45,000. 

On top of that, European Wax Center requires most franchisees to have a net worth of $1 million, $500,000 of which needs to be liquid cash (this can sometimes be a little lower depending on your projected expenses). 

You can expect your initial investment to range between $300,000 and $550,000. Royalty fees are 6%, while ongoing ad royalty fees are 3%. 

Those are far from the highest you can find in the franchising space. Of course, the franchise disclosure document (FDD) will include the specific figures.

Each franchise agreement is signed for 10 years and is renewable or open to renegotiation when those tenures are up. If your European Wax Center location does very well, you may be able to negotiate a lower royalty fee rate or other monetary benefits.

Does EWC provide any financial aid? 

European Wax Center doesn’t offer in-house financing but has extensive resources with third-party financing sources. 

These can help you cover many initial expenses associated with launching your franchise, like the franchise fee, equipment and inventory costs and payroll costs as they accumulate. Thus, starting an EWC franchise could be more financially accessible than it seems.

Related: Why Personal Care Franchising is a Red Hot Opportunity

What training is required to open a European Wax Center franchise?

European Wax Center also provides comprehensive training resources for all new franchise owners. These include 35 hours of classroom training and 124 hours of on-the-job training.

The classroom training is excellent for new entrepreneurs who need to learn more about the ropes of business ownership. The on-the-job training is much more intense and robust. It incorporates 40 training sessions during which new franchisees will learn what it takes to successfully run a wax center and beautification facility.

Since this franchisor requires franchise owners to be involved in the day-to-day operation of their locations, you’ll learn how to provide waxing services to your customers. Furthermore, you’ll learn salesmanship techniques to sell additional products to your patrons as they arrive for appointments.

On top of that, European Wax Center’s corporate headquarters will teach you how to train your staff so you can build up your wax center and staff it with the best people possible. 

These training materials remain available after you complete them initially, and you can provide your new employees with online training opportunities and learning modules as needed.

Related: How the Lash Lounge Franchise Extended its Business

Start a European Wax Center franchise today

Now you know what it takes to start a European Wax Center franchise. With this information, you’ll be well-equipped and ready to succeed in your business endeavors. 

Check out Entrepreneur’s other articles for more information about European Wax Center and other franchise opportunities.

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Company Overview

About European Wax Center

Industry Personal-Care Businesses
Related Categories Waxing, Miscellaneous Personal-Care Businesses, Salon & Spa Services
Founded 2004
Parent Company European Wax Center Inc.
Leadership David Willis, CEO
Corporate Address 5830 Granite Pkwy.
Plano, TX 75024
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok

Business Overview

Franchising Since 2006 (18 years)
# of employees at HQ 126
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.

# of Units 1,058 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a European Wax Center franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$45,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$363,600 - $641,950
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$1,000,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$500,000
Royalty Fee Information Circle
6%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
3%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
10 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing European Wax Center has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 83 hours
Classroom Training 63 hours
Ongoing Support
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
# of employees required to run 12
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where European Wax Center landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

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The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022