Franchise brand comparison
Massage Envy vs European Wax Center
Compared on figures each brand discloses in its own Franchise Disclosure Document — 2025 for Massage Envy, 2025 for European Wax Center. Investment, fees, and Item 19 gross sales, with the sample size behind every average.
Short answer
European Wax Center is considerably cheaper to enter — roughly $582,000 at the midpoint against Massage Envy's $900,175 — and its 6% royalty plus 3% brand fund is a comparable ongoing load to Massage Envy's 6% plus 2% plus 2%. The waxing model also avoids the massage-therapist recruiting problem that shapes Massage Envy's operations. The decisive issue is evidence. We could not verify the basis behind any Item 19 figure circulating for European Wax Center, so we show it as undisclosed rather than repeat a figure we cannot source. Massage Envy discloses $1,137,964 average gross sales across 187 current-format locations, with a top quartile of $1,815,058 and a bottom of $610,237. Choosing European Wax Center means accepting a lower entry cost without a revenue figure you can underwrite — request the current FDD and read Item 19 yourself before treating these as comparable.
Side by side
| Measure | Massage Envy | European Wax Center |
|---|---|---|
| Concept category | Massage & skincare | Massage & skincare |
| FDD year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Total investment (Item 7) | $719,350–$1,081,000midpoint $900,175 | $327,600–$836,950midpoint $582,275 |
| Initial franchise fee | $45,000 | $45,000 ($36,000 existing) |
| Royalty | 6% | 6% |
| Brand fund | 2% + 2% | 3% |
| Local advertising | None disclosed separately | None disclosed separately |
| Average gross sales (Item 19) | $1,137,964187 units — current-format locations open 12+ months, FY2024 | Not disclosedbasis not verified — see review |
| Median gross sales | $1,070,589 | Not disclosed |
| Top quartile | $1,815,058 | Not disclosed |
| Bottom quartile | $610,237 | Not disclosed |
| Revenue ÷ investment | 1.26x | — |
| Quartile spread | 3.0x | — |
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. Massage Envy discloses a total initial investment of $719,350 to $1,081,000 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $900,175, with an initial franchise fee of $45,000. European Wax Center discloses a total initial investment of $327,600 to $836,950 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $582,275, with an initial franchise fee of $45,000 ($36,000 existing).
Revenue is Item 19, and the unit count matters as much as the figure. Massage Envy reports average gross sales of $1,137,964 and a median of $1,070,589 across 187 units (current-format locations open 12+ months, FY2024). European Wax Center discloses no Item 19 figure we can use (basis not verified — see review).
Full review
Massage Envy
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2025 FDD.
Full review
European Wax Center
Cost, fees, and Item 19 revenue, reviewed against the 2025 FDD.
Frequently asked
- Massage Envy vs European Wax Center: which is the better franchise?
- European Wax Center is considerably cheaper to enter — roughly $582,000 at the midpoint against Massage Envy's $900,175 — and its 6% royalty plus 3% brand fund is a comparable ongoing load to Massage Envy's 6% plus 2% plus 2%. The waxing model also avoids the massage-therapist recruiting problem that shapes Massage Envy's operations. The decisive issue is evidence. We could not verify the basis behind any Item 19 figure circulating for European Wax Center, so we show it as undisclosed rather than repeat a figure we cannot source. Massage Envy discloses $1,137,964 average gross sales across 187 current-format locations, with a top quartile of $1,815,058 and a bottom of $610,237. Choosing European Wax Center means accepting a lower entry cost without a revenue figure you can underwrite — request the current FDD and read Item 19 yourself before treating these as comparable.
- How much does a Massage Envy franchise cost compared to European Wax Center?
- Massage Envy discloses a total initial investment of $719,350 to $1,081,000 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $900,175, with an initial franchise fee of $45,000. European Wax Center discloses a total initial investment of $327,600 to $836,950 in its 2025 FDD, a midpoint of $582,275, with an initial franchise fee of $45,000 ($36,000 existing).
- Does Massage Envy or European Wax Center generate more revenue?
- Massage Envy reports average gross sales of $1,137,964 and a median of $1,070,589 across 187 units (current-format locations open 12+ months, FY2024). European Wax Center 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 Massage Envy and European Wax Center?
- Massage Envy charges a royalty of 6% and a brand fund contribution of 2% + 2%. European Wax Center charges a royalty of 6% and a brand fund contribution of 3%.
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.