Body Shop (The) vs Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi
Body Shop (The) vs Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi: Body Shop (The) costs $114K to $284K to open; Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi costs $30K to $153K. Body Shop (The) has 22 units, Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi has 8. SBA loan history: Body Shop (The) = 23 loans (0.0% default); Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi = 10 loans (0.0% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Body Shop (The) vs Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($30K vs $114K for Body Shop (The)), a 286% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Body Shop (The) operates 22 units to Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi's 8, roughly 3× the system size. Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi has been operating 95 years (founded 1931) versus 39 for Body Shop (The) (founded 1987), a 56-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Body Shop (The) has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 23 7(a) approvals compared with 10 for Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi. Body Shop (The)'s peak SBA year was 1992 (7 loans); Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi's peak was 2024 (2 loans). Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Body Shop (The) has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 3. Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi leads in IL, with 4. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Body Shop (The) deals is $205K vs $87K for Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Body Shop (The) and 0.0% for Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 59 (Moderate) for Body Shop (The) and 59 (Moderate) for Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 59/100 | 59/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 23 | 10 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $114K to $284K | $30K to $153K |
Franchise Fee | N/A | $39K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 22 | 8 |
Franchised Units | 22 | 8 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1987 | 1931 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | NILES, IL |
Category | Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, | Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Body Shop (The) or Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Body Shop (The): $114K starting · Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi: $30K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Body Shop (The)
Body Shop (The): 23 SBA loans · Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi: 10 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
Body Shop (The): 0.0% · Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Body Shop (The): 22 units · Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi: 8 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi
Body Shop (The): 5% · Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi: 0%
More lender financing options
Body Shop (The)
Body Shop (The): 14 unique lenders · Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi: 8 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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Body Shop (The) vs Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Body Shop (The) and Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $30K to $284K.
Body Shop (The) has 23 SBA loans on record and Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi has 10. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. There is not enough recent lending activity on record to judge current appetite for at least one of these brands, so it has to be checked deal by deal.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Body Shop (The) vs Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Body Shop (The) or Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi?
How much does a Body Shop (The) franchise cost compared to Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi?
Can I finance Body Shop (The) or Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Body Shop (The) or Merle Norman Cosmetics Studi?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
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