Franchise brand comparison
Amazing Lash Studio vs Drybar
Compared on figures each brand discloses in its own Franchise Disclosure Document — 2025 for Amazing Lash Studio, 2025 for Drybar. Investment, fees, and Item 19 gross sales, with the sample size behind every average.
Short answer
Both are appointment-based beauty services sold on membership, and both are staffed by licensed technicians with no class leverage — revenue scales with trained staff hours in each. Drybar is cheaper at the low end, $409,979 against $464,464, but its range runs to $1,029,249 against Amazing Lash's $719,754, so the midpoint favours Amazing Lash at $592,109 against $719,614. The real separation is disclosure. Amazing Lash publishes average revenue of $574,361 and a median of $545,132 across 192 studios, plus a maturity breakdown. For Drybar we could not verify any Item 19 representation — the revenue and payback figures circulating on franchise portals carry no sample size and read as third-party modelling rather than disclosure. On fees Amazing Lash charges 6% plus 2% but adds a $2,000 monthly local requirement and a 2% local spend; Drybar charges a simpler 7% plus 2%. If disclosed performance matters to your decision, Amazing Lash is the only one of the two that offers any.
Side by side
| Measure | Amazing Lash Studio | Drybar |
|---|---|---|
| Concept category | Beauty & grooming | Beauty & grooming |
| FDD year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Total investment (Item 7) | $464,464–$719,754midpoint $592,109 | $409,979–$1,029,249midpoint $719,614 |
| Initial franchise fee | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Royalty | 6% | 7% |
| Brand fund | 2% | 2% |
| Local advertising | $2,000/mo + 2% local spend | None disclosed separately |
| Average gross sales (Item 19) | $574,361192 units — studios open at 1/1/2024 that operated throughout 2024; Item 19 reports thirds, not quartiles | Not disclosedbasis not verified — see review |
| Median gross sales | $545,132 | Not disclosed |
| Top quartile | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Bottom quartile | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Revenue ÷ investment | 0.97x | — |
| Quartile spread | — | — |
Bolded figures mark the stronger side of a row where both brands disclose a comparable number — lower investment, higher revenue, higher return on capital, narrower quartile spread. A brand that discloses nothing is never marked as losing a row: an undisclosed figure is an unknown, not a poor result.
What the numbers mean
Investment is Item 7, the franchisor's own estimate of everything needed to open. Amazing Lash Studio discloses a total initial investment of $464,464 to $719,754 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $592,109, with an initial franchise fee of $50,000. Drybar discloses a total initial investment of $409,979 to $1,029,249 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $719,614, with an initial franchise fee of $50,000.
Revenue is Item 19, and the unit count matters as much as the figure. Amazing Lash Studio reports average gross sales of $574,361 and a median of $545,132 across 192 units (studios open at 1/1/2024 that operated throughout 2024; Item 19 reports thirds, not quartiles). Drybar discloses no Item 19 figure we can use (basis not verified — see review).
Full review
Amazing Lash Studio
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2025 FDD.
Full review
Drybar
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2025 FDD.
Frequently asked
- Amazing Lash Studio vs Drybar: which is the better franchise?
- Both are appointment-based beauty services sold on membership, and both are staffed by licensed technicians with no class leverage — revenue scales with trained staff hours in each. Drybar is cheaper at the low end, $409,979 against $464,464, but its range runs to $1,029,249 against Amazing Lash's $719,754, so the midpoint favours Amazing Lash at $592,109 against $719,614. The real separation is disclosure. Amazing Lash publishes average revenue of $574,361 and a median of $545,132 across 192 studios, plus a maturity breakdown. For Drybar we could not verify any Item 19 representation — the revenue and payback figures circulating on franchise portals carry no sample size and read as third-party modelling rather than disclosure. On fees Amazing Lash charges 6% plus 2% but adds a $2,000 monthly local requirement and a 2% local spend; Drybar charges a simpler 7% plus 2%. If disclosed performance matters to your decision, Amazing Lash is the only one of the two that offers any.
- How much does a Amazing Lash Studio franchise cost compared to Drybar?
- Amazing Lash Studio discloses a total initial investment of $464,464 to $719,754 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $592,109, with an initial franchise fee of $50,000. Drybar discloses a total initial investment of $409,979 to $1,029,249 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $719,614, with an initial franchise fee of $50,000.
- Does Amazing Lash Studio or Drybar generate more revenue?
- Amazing Lash Studio reports average gross sales of $574,361 and a median of $545,132 across 192 units (studios open at 1/1/2024 that operated throughout 2024; Item 19 reports thirds, not quartiles). Drybar discloses no Item 19 figure we can use (basis not verified — see review). These are gross sales, not profit, and the number of units behind each average decides how much it tells you.
- What are the ongoing fees for Amazing Lash Studio and Drybar?
- Amazing Lash Studio charges a royalty of 6% and a brand fund contribution of 2%, plus a local advertising obligation of $2,000/mo + 2% local spend. Drybar charges a royalty of 7% and a brand fund contribution of 2%.
Other comparisons
Before you rely on any of this
FDDs are filed annually and figures move. Request the current document from each franchisor and read Items 5, 6, 7 and 19 yourself — this is a summary to orient you, not a substitute for the disclosure or for your own advisors. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or compensated by either brand; see our disclosure policy.
Compare every brand at once in the sortable cost comparison table, or run these figures against your own assumptions in the ROI & payback calculator.