Merle Norman Cosmetics vs Purified Water To Go
Merle Norman Cosmetics vs Purified Water To Go: Merle Norman Cosmetics costs $2.3M to $3.3M to open; Purified Water To Go costs $32K to $116K. Merle Norman Cosmetics has 163 units, Purified Water To Go has 11. SBA loan history: Merle Norman Cosmetics = 180 loans (17.2% default); Purified Water To Go = 15 loans (26.7% 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.
Merle Norman Cosmetics vs Purified Water To Go: 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
Purified Water To Go requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($32K vs $2.3M for Merle Norman Cosmetics), a 7079% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $10K for Merle Norman Cosmetics versus $44K for Purified Water To Go, Merle Norman Cosmetics has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Merle Norman Cosmetics operates 163 units to Purified Water To Go's 11, roughly 15× the system size. Merle Norman Cosmetics has been operating 95 years (founded 1931) versus 34 for Purified Water To Go (founded 1992), a 61-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Merle Norman Cosmetics has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 180 7(a) approvals compared with 15 for Purified Water To Go.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 17.2% for Merle Norman Cosmetics and 26.7% for Purified Water To Go, Merle Norman Cosmetics has the cleaner SBA loss record by 9.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 33 (Fair) for Merle Norman Cosmetics and 19 (Fair) for Purified Water To Go, giving Merle Norman Cosmetics the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 33/100 | 19/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 180 | 15 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 17.2% | 26.7% |
Peer Tier | major | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $2.3M to $3.3M | $32K to $116K |
Franchise Fee | $10K | $44K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $100K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 163 | 11 |
Franchised Units | 163 | 11 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 7 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1931 | 1992 |
Franchising Since | 2019 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 7 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | N/A | CHESTERFIELD, MI |
Category | All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers | All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Merle Norman Cosmetics or Purified Water To Go?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Merle Norman Cosmetics: $2.3M starting · Purified Water To Go: $32K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Merle Norman Cosmetics: 180 SBA loans · Purified Water To Go: 15 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Merle Norman Cosmetics: 17.2% · Purified Water To Go: 26.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Merle Norman Cosmetics: 163 units · Purified Water To Go: 11 units
More lender financing options
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Merle Norman Cosmetics: 97 unique lenders · Purified Water To Go: 11 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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Merle Norman Cosmetics vs Purified Water To Go: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Merle Norman Cosmetics and Purified Water To Go is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $32K to $3.3M.
Merle Norman Cosmetics has 180 SBA loans on record and Purified Water To Go has 15. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
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.
Merle Norman Cosmetics vs Purified Water To Go, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Merle Norman Cosmetics or Purified Water To Go?
How much does a Merle Norman Cosmetics franchise cost compared to Purified Water To Go?
Can I finance Merle Norman Cosmetics or Purified Water To Go with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Merle Norman Cosmetics or Purified Water To Go?
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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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