Merle Norman Cosmetics franchise
A cosmetics studio selling skincare and makeup and providing product demonstrations. At the end of 2025 there were 757 Merle Norman Cosmetics locations in the US, all franchised.
- Cost to open
- $134K–$263K
- Franchise fee
- $0
- Royalty
- Product purchases and service fees
- Locations, 2025
- 757−101 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- SBA loans
- Not on the SBA Franchise Directory
From MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS INC’s 2026 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
How much a Merle Norman Cosmetics franchise costs
Opening New studio costs an estimated $134,470 to $262,938. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS INC, 2026 filing, page 18
Merle Norman Cosmetics franchise fee
The franchise fee is $0. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS INC, 2026 filing, page 14
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | No percentage royalty is listed; studio owners purchase branded products and pay applicable software and support charges. |
|---|
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS INC, 2026 filing, page 15
Sales and earnings
No figures Merle Norman Cosmetics does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS INC, 2026 filing, page 43
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 831 (−27) | 0 | 40 |
| 2024 | 797 (−34) | 0 | 39 |
| 2025 | 757 (−40) | 0 | 44 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
Source: MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS INC, 2026 filing, page 44
How Merle Norman Cosmetics compares
Of the 89 retail franchises on this site, Merle Norman Cosmetics is the 28th cheapest to open and the 10th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Merle Norman Cosmetics | Typical retail |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $134K | $191K |
| Closed or left per year | 5% | 5% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −11.8% | +4.8% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 67 of 89 |
Typical is the median across the 89 brands in retail franchises.
