Is Drybar right for you?
Proven Scale
198 franchised shops at year-end 2025 with net unit growth of 10, 17, and 22 shops in each of the prior three years.
the financial-performance disclosure Disclosure
Average gross revenue of $852,718 across 167 shops open and operating throughout 2025; 40.7 percent of shops met or exceeded the average.
Focused Menu
Single-category service model eliminates the staffing and inventory complexity of full-service salons.
About Drybar
Drybar is a franchised network of upscale blow-dry bars founded in 2010 by Allison Webb and now operated under DB Franchise, LLC, a subsidiary of Pomp Holdings, LLC. The concept delivers a focused menu of signature blowouts, styles, and add-on services in a polished, non-salon environment. As of the end of 2025 the system operated 198 franchised shops across 39 states and the District of Columbia.
Each Drybar location provides a limited, high-volume menu of blow-dry and styling services without haircuts or color. Shops operate in inviting, standardized retail settings of 1,100 to 2,200 square feet and may also deliver services at off-site venues. The model emphasizes consistent guest experience, proprietary product lines supplied exclusively through franchisor-affiliated vendors, and membership programs that drive repeat visits.
Pomp Holdings, LLC is the parent of DB Franchise, LLC and is wholly owned by Steele Pomp Investment, LLC, which is in turn owned by the Transom Entities.
The business model
How a Drybar territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Franchise Fee
Single-unit fee is $50,000. Area development agreements for 3-5 shops require $105,000 to $175,000.
Ongoing Fees
Royalty is 7 percent of gross receipts. Brand marketing fund contribution is 2 percent of gross receipts with an additional required local marketing spend of 2 percent plus a $2,000 monthly digital advertising fee.
Total Investment Range
Estimated initial investment for a single shop ranges from $401,929 to $705,999 using the value-engineering model disclosed for nine 2025 openings. The range includes nine months of working capital.
Supply Chain Structure
Franchisees must purchase 70-90 percent of initial and ongoing inventory, private-label products, back-bar supplies, and certain fixtures exclusively from designated suppliers including franchisor affiliate WAVE and Helen of Troy Limited.
Protected Area
Franchisees receive a protected territory typically defined as a 1.5-mile radius around the shop, subject to franchisor reserved rights for alternative channels, acquisitions, and other brands.
Unit Economics Snapshot
the financial-performance disclosure reports average shop visits, membership conversion, and ending membership counts alongside revenue. No net-profit or EBITDA figures are disclosed.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$50,000
Total investment range
$401,929 to $705,999
Royalty
7.00% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
2.00% of gross revenue
Founded
2010
Headquarters
Denver, CO
Active US franchisees
270
Total US units
348
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +Training program and pre-opening training delivered to the franchisee or operating partner and designated manager at the franchisee location.
- +Sales training series required as a pre-opening activity.
- +On-site training programs required prior to opening.
- +Up to five days of on-site employee training support by a franchisor training team before opening.
- +Three to six days of on-site operations support by an operations team immediately after opening.
- +Annual conference and additional or remedial training available at $500 per attendee or per day plus expenses.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
The franchisor does not provide training at a dedicated corporate training center. All initial training occurs at the franchisee location or through required self-paced sales training modules. No fixed number of total training hours is disclosed.
Multi-unit growth path
As of 2025, 26 of 270 operators owned more than one unit, representing 9.6 percent of the operator base and an average of 1.29 units per active operator. Area development agreements are available for 3-5 shops with corresponding development schedules that must be met to retain development rights. The franchisor reports continued net unit growth and projects approximately 20 new outlets in the next year.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
SBA Loan Programs
Many Drybar franchisees utilize SBA 7(a) or 504 loans. The franchisor is not affiliated with any specific lender and does not guarantee financing.
Third-Party Lenders
Conventional bank loans, equipment financing, and landlord tenant improvement allowances are commonly used to fund the $402k-$706k investment range.
Personal Capital & Partnerships
Prospective multi-unit operators frequently combine personal equity with private investment partners to meet the higher area-development fee and cumulative build-out costs.
Franchisor Incentives
No direct financing or fee reductions are disclosed. Grand opening marketing spend is required but administered by the franchisor.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Discovery & Qualification
Initial conversations, review of the filed disclosures, and validation calls with existing franchisees.
Franchise Agreement Execution
Payment of $50,000 initial franchise fee and signing of the franchise agreement.
Site Selection
Identification and approval of a location within the granted search territory, typically 1,100-2,200 square feet.
Design & Build-Out
Architectural drawings, leasehold improvements, and installation of approved cabinetry, furniture, and signage.
Pre-Opening Training
Completion of required training modules, sales training series, and on-site staff preparation.
Grand Opening
Mandatory $20,000 grand opening spend followed by launch and initial operations support.
Ongoing Operations
Monthly royalty, marketing, and technology fees commence with continuous access to operations guidance and brand marketing fund.
Match assessment
Are you a Drybar match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a Drybar franchise cost?
Estimated initial investment ranges from $401,929 to $705,999 according to the 2025 the filed disclosures value-engineering model. This includes a $50,000 franchise fee, leasehold improvements, opening inventory, technology fees, grand opening spend, and nine months of working capital.
What is the Drybar franchise fee?
The initial franchise fee is $50,000 for a single unit. Area development fees range from $105,000 to $175,000 depending on the number of shops committed.
What royalty and marketing fees does Drybar charge?
The royalty is 7 percent of gross receipts. The brand marketing fund contribution is 2 percent of gross receipts with an additional required local marketing spend of 2 percent plus a $2,000 monthly digital advertising fee.
Does Drybar provide financial performance representations?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure discloses 2025 average gross revenue of $852,718 across 167 shops. 40.7 percent of shops met or exceeded the average. No net-profit figures are provided.
How many Drybar locations are there?
There were 198 franchised shops in operation at the end of 2025. The system has shown steady net growth of 10, 17, and 22 units in each of the prior three years.
Is Drybar a full-service salon?
No. Drybar locations offer only blowouts, styles, and limited add-on services. Haircuts and coloring are not provided.
What is the protected territory for a Drybar franchise?
Franchisees receive a protected area typically defined as a 1.5-mile radius around the shop, subject to franchisor reserved rights for alternative channels and other brands.
How long does it take to open a Drybar shop?
The timeline from franchise agreement to opening typically spans site selection, build-out, and training. Exact duration varies by real estate market and permitting.
Does Drybar require previous salon experience?
The the filed disclosures does not mandate prior industry experience. The franchisor provides initial training to the franchisee or operating partner and designated manager.
What is the multi-unit ownership rate at Drybar?
Approximately 9.6 percent of operators own more than one unit. Average units per active operator is 1.29 across 270 total operators.
How does Drybar compare to other beauty franchises?
Drybar operates a single-category blow-dry model versus full-service salons. Its 198 units, disclosed average revenue, and controlled supply chain through affiliated vendors differentiate it within the personal-services category.
Are Drybar franchisees required to buy products from the franchisor?
Yes. Private-label and back-bar products must be purchased exclusively through franchisor affiliate WAVE and Helen of Troy Limited. Approximately 70-90 percent of all purchases are required from designated or approved suppliers.
Brand logos displayed for identification purposes only. Hot N Fresh is not affiliated with the brands listed unless explicitly stated.