How much does a Merle Norman franchise cost?
Opening a Merle Norman franchise takes a total initial investment of $134,470 to $262,938, according to the brand's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. That FDD makes no Item 19 financial performance representation, so it discloses no earnings figures at all.
Merle Norman franchises Merle Norman Studios. Category: Retail.
Item 7
What it costs to open a Merle Norman franchise
The franchisor's own estimated initial investment, as disclosed in its 2026 FDD. The total is $134,470 to $262,938. Each line below carries the FDD page it was read from.
Where the money goes
The largest costs are Construction ($20,790 to $96,000), Working Capital, Deposits, Insurance, and Advertising ($46,200 to $63,525), and Initial Package of Inventory and Supplies ($24,861 to $46,926). Together they make up about 79% of the high-end estimate.
Our arithmetic from the Item 7 table below.
| Expenditure | Low | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Package of Inventory and Supplies2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $24,861 | $46,926 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Millwork Fixtures2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $23,025 | $26,308 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Acrylic Organizers2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $4,231 | $5,121 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Tables & Chairs2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $1,160 | $1,160 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Graphics2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $350 | $620 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Mirrors2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $350 | $500 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Merchandising Pieces2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $653 | $738 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Flooring2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $3,200 | $5,300 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Lighting2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $1,850 | $2,600 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Interactive Play Table2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $2,500 | $2,500 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Digital Compu Stick2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $0 | $250 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Exterior Signage2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $3,500 | $6,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Construction2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $20,790 | $96,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Computer (hardware/ | $1,800 | $5,390 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Working Capital, Deposits, Insurance, and Advertising2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $46,200 | $63,525 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
| Total estimated initial investment2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 | $134,470 | $262,938 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10 |
Source Merle Norman, 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-14.
Item 19
What Merle Norman franchisees actually report earning
This brand's FDD publishes no Item 19.
MNC does not make any representations about a franchisee's financial performance or the past financial performance of company-owned or franchised outlets. We also do not authorize our employees or representatives to make any such representations either orally or in writing. If you are purchasing an existing outlet, however, we may provide you with the actual records of that outlet. If you receive any other financial performance information or projections of your future income, you should report it to the franchisor’s management by contacting Travis Richards, Executive Vice President Franchising, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc., 9130 Bellanca Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90045, (310) 337-2200, the Federal Trade Commission, and the appropriate state regulatory agencies.
Source Merle Norman, 2026 FDD, Item 19, p. 35, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-14.
Item 20
How many Merle Norman outlets there are, and how many closed
Merle Norman ended 2025 with 757 franchised outlets and no company-owned outlets. In that year 4 franchised outlets opened and 44 left the system.
Three years at a glance
From 2023 through 2025, Merle Norman opened 22 franchised outlets and 123 outlets left the system. That is a net loss of 101, from 858 to 757 franchised outlets. Of the outlets that left, 7 were terminated and 116 closed for other reasons.
On average, about 4.9% of franchised outlets left the system each year, roughly 1 in 20.
Our arithmetic from the FDD's Item 20 table below. "Left the system" counts every outlet the franchisor reports as terminated, not renewed, bought back, or closed for other reasons.
| Year | Start | Opened | Terminated | Non-renewed | Reacquired | Ceased, other | End | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 797 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 757 | 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 44 |
| 2024 | 831 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 797 | 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 44 |
| 2023 | 858 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 831 | 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 44 |
Source Merle Norman, 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 44, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-14.
Compare
How Merle Norman compares with other Retail franchises
Measured against the 39 Retail franchises on this site, using each brand's own FDD.
- Cost to open. The middle of Merle Norman's estimated range is $198,704. It costs less to open than 84% of Retail franchises here.
- Outlets leaving each year. 4.9% for Merle Norman. That is lower than 64% of the 37 Retail franchises with at least 10 outlets.
- Three-year growth. Merle Norman's franchised system shrank 12%. The typical Retail franchise here shrank 0.5%.
- Earnings disclosure. 25 of the 39 Retail franchises here publish earnings figures in Item 19. Merle Norman is not one of them.
Our arithmetic from each brand's Item 7 and Item 20. Growth and departure comparisons leave out brands with fewer than 10 outlets, where one opening or closure distorts the figures. See every Retail franchise side by side.
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