How to Finance a Tijon Fragrance Lab Franchise: Perfume Lab Shops
By Marc Cornella
A Tijon Fragrance Lab franchise loan finances a small specialty retail space that doubles as a hands-on perfume lab, where guests create their own fragrances and shop a boutique of branded scents and gifts. Because revenue depends on booked experiences, tourist and local foot traffic and retail sales, lenders focus on location, the build-out of the lab and the working capital a new owner holds while the business finds its rhythm.
This article covers Tijon’s model, which costs to confirm in the disclosure document, what its SBA Franchise Directory listing and note mean, and how lenders evaluate an experiential retail franchise.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Tijon Fragrance Lab; the name is used only to describe the business. We could not review a current Tijon Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for this article, so fees and total investment are not quoted, and any figures in the franchisor’s materials can change. Loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to lender review and approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice.
Tijon Fragrance Lab Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: perfume creation events in an on-site perfume lab, paired with a boutique selling Tijon-branded fragrances and gifts.
- Store size: the franchisor describes usable retail space of 800 to 1,600 square feet, calling about 1,200 square feet the sweet spot.
- Origins: the original Tijon location in St. Martin dates to 2007, and the company lists early franchised U.S. locations in Charleston and New Orleans.
- Experience required: the franchisor says no fragrance or chemistry background is necessary.
- Franchise fee, royalty and investment range: not verified for this article; review Items 5, 6 and 7 of the current FDD.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S8607, with a note about the Collateral Assignment of Lease when real estate secures the loan.
What Is Tijon Fragrance Lab?
Tijon began as a parfumerie in St. Martin, where the original location dates to 2007, and the company still refers to its headquarters there. Its franchise pages list Charleston as franchised in 2021 and New Orleans in 2022, and the St. Martin original was franchised in 2022 as well.
The company’s location pages now include cities such as Atlanta, Houston, Key West, Miami, Nashville, Pensacola, Phoenix and Tampa, which the franchisor lists as opened in 2025, with others marked as pending. It also lists mobile locations and a warehouse in Tucson, Arizona, that supports the network.
The guest experience. Guests book a session in the perfume lab and blend a personal fragrance, then often shop the boutique. The franchisor says owners also earn commissions on online reorders from guests who first visited their location, which creates a small follow-on revenue stream after the visit.
Why lenders view it the way they do. Tijon is a young franchise system with a distinctive concept, which lenders tend to see as both an opportunity and a risk. A small footprint keeps build-out modest, but the business depends on tourism, events and discretionary spending, so lenders weigh the site and the owner’s marketing plan heavily. Our article on financing an emerging franchise brand explains what changes when a system is newer.
Tijon Fragrance Lab Franchise Costs
The franchisor’s website did not publish fees or a total investment range that we could verify, so treat this section as a checklist for reading the FDD.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 of the FDD discloses the fee, when it is due and whether any portion is refundable. Ask whether reduced fees apply to additional territories.
Leasehold improvements and build-out. With usable space of 800 to 1,600 square feet, a Tijon store is a small retail build-out, but the lab needs workstations for guests, shelving for fragrance oils, good lighting and ventilation, and a boutique display area. The franchisor says it helps with site selection and interior layouts.
Equipment, fixtures and supplies. Expect lab stations and seating, display fixtures, storage, point-of-sale and booking systems, signage and the initial supply of fragrance ingredients, bottles and packaging.
Opening inventory and working capital. Boutique inventory of branded fragrances and gifts, grand opening marketing, payroll during training and the first months of operation all belong in the opening budget.
Total investment. Item 7 of the FDD will show the franchisor’s estimated range. Check that your budget covers each of these categories:
- Initial franchise fee
- Lease deposits and rent before opening
- Leasehold improvements for the lab and boutique
- Lab stations, fixtures, furniture and signage
- Point-of-sale, booking and computer systems
- Opening fragrance supplies, bottles and boutique inventory
- Grand opening marketing
- Training travel, insurance, licenses and professional fees
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists ongoing fees such as royalties, marketing contributions, technology fees and transfer or renewal fees. Read it alongside Item 8, which covers required purchases from the franchisor or approved suppliers, since fragrance ingredients and branded products are likely recurring costs.
Lenders subtract every recurring fee and required purchase from projected revenue before sizing a Tijon Fragrance Lab franchise loan. A royalty paid on gross sales rises and falls with revenue, while fixed fees weigh more heavily in slow months.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
We did not find published net worth or liquid capital minimums that we could verify, so ask the franchisor during discovery. Tijon says it personally interviews prospective franchisees because the owner becomes the public face of the brand in their market, and that no fragrance or chemistry background is necessary.
The approval process. The franchisor describes a six-step path: submit a confidential inquiry, discuss fit with the team, review the franchise agreement and disclosure documents, optionally attend a Discovery Day at headquarters or a U.S. location in New Orleans or Charleston, sign the agreement and schedule training, then complete training and open in an exclusive territory. The company says the launch process can be completed within about a month once the agreement is signed, though financing and lease timelines may take longer.
Training and support. Owners receive one-on-one training with the company’s founder and perfumer and his team, a detailed how-to reference manual, ongoing access to training materials and workshops, marketing tools and bulk purchasing through the network.
Ways to Own a Tijon Fragrance Lab
Opening a new location. In a young system, most owners open new stores, financed on projections, the site and the owner’s experience. See our page on retail start-up financing.
Buying an existing location. As the system matures, operating stores may change hands. A resale lets a lender review actual revenue, event bookings and expenses, and requires franchisor approval. Our guide to buying a franchise resale covers transfers, and our page on retail business acquisition financing explains how purchases are funded.
Adding mobile events. Tijon lists mobile locations on its website. If your agreement allows off-site events, ask how they are priced and what equipment they require.
Financing Options for a Tijon Fragrance Lab Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because Tijon is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan may cover the franchise fee, build-out, fixtures, opening inventory and working capital in one package.
SBA 504 loans. Most Tijon stores will lease space in shopping districts or tourist areas. If an owner buys and occupies a building, an SBA 504 loan may fit the real estate.
Conventional term loans. Borrowers with strong credit and collateral may use a conventional business loan, especially when adding locations.
Equipment financing. Lab workstations, display fixtures, point-of-sale systems and signage can be financed separately. See retail equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. Many Tijon markets are tourist destinations with seasonal traffic, and gift buying can peak around holidays. A line of credit can help stock inventory ahead of busy periods and cover slower months. Learn about retail working capital and lines of credit.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may carry part of the price on an existing store. Seller notes are typically subordinate to the senior loan, and loan programs may limit how they are structured.
SBA Loans for Tijon Fragrance Lab Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise agreements have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. SBA lenders generally require a brand to be listed before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to its franchisees, though a listing does not approve any borrower.
Tijon’s listing and note. Tijon Fragrance Lab appears on the directory under code S8607. The listing carries this note: when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Collateral Assignment of Lease may not be executed.
In plain English, a collateral assignment of lease is a franchisor document that can let the franchisor step into a franchisee’s lease. If the borrower owns the property and it will secure the SBA loan, that lease document should not be signed. For a typical owner who leases a storefront, the note generally does not change anything, but your lender will confirm which documents apply.
Loan size and planning. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change. Our SBA loan calculator can help with early payment estimates, which are not offers or approvals.
How Lenders Evaluate a Tijon Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, and typically require a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Expect to show cash for the equity injection plus a post-closing reserve.
Industry and management experience. Retail, hospitality, events or tourism experience strengthens a request. The franchisor does not require a fragrance background, but lenders will want to see that you can manage staff, inventory and marketing.
Business plan and projections. Build revenue from realistic assumptions about lab sessions, group events, boutique sales and online reorder commissions, adjusted for local tourist seasons.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review the term, territory, transfer and renewal provisions and any franchisor financing in Item 10. Our guide to how lenders read the FDD explains what to focus on.
Site and lease. Foot traffic, visibility and nearby attractions matter greatly. Lenders want the lease term, including options, to cover the loan.
Historical financials for resales. Expect to provide profit and loss statements, tax returns and booking records.
Inside the Perfume Lab: Build-Out and Supplies
The lab is what sets a Tijon store apart from an ordinary gift shop. Guest workstations, organized storage for fragrance oils, clean lighting, ventilation and comfortable seating shape the experience and the build-out budget.
Fragrance ingredients, bottles and packaging are consumed every day, so supply costs behave more like inventory than equipment. Lenders treat fixtures and point-of-sale systems as collateral, but view supplies as working capital that the Tijon Fragrance Lab franchise loan budget must cover.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development
The franchisor describes partnerships in hundreds of potential locations, and owners who succeed with one store may want a second. If the FDD offers multiple territories or development agreements, it will describe the schedule and fees. Lenders typically want the first store to show stable results before financing another, then review combined cash flow and management depth.
Real-World Scenarios
A retail manager opens in a tourist district. A buyer with boutique management experience signs a lease near a busy waterfront, uses an SBA 7(a) loan for build-out, fixtures and inventory, and keeps a reserve for the off-season.
A couple adds events. Owners of an existing store add private group bookings and mobile events, financing extra supplies with a working capital line.
An owner buys an operating store. A buyer acquires a store with an established booking history; the lender underwrites the store’s actual sales and the franchisor approves the transfer.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a site for low rent instead of foot traffic and visibility
- Projecting steady sales year-round in a seasonal tourist market
- Leaving required fragrance supplies out of the working capital budget
- Signing a lease before financing and franchisor approval are in place
- Skipping a careful review of the FDD for a newer franchise system
For more pitfalls, read the retail store loan mistakes owners make.
Next Steps to Finance Your Tijon Fragrance Lab Franchise
Step 1: Request the FDD. Review Items 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 17, 19 and 20 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 2: Confirm the franchisor’s expectations. Ask about financial requirements, training and territory.
Step 3: Scout sites. Focus on traffic and tourism.
Step 4: Talk with a financing specialist. Compare SBA and conventional options before signing a lease.
Step 5: Build your plan. Prepare projections, an opening budget and a working capital reserve.
Step 6: Apply, close and open. Coordinate the loan, lease and franchise agreement timelines, then complete training.
Tijon Fragrance Lab Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Tijon Fragrance Lab franchise cost?
We could not verify a current total. Item 7 of the FDD shows the estimated range, which depends on the site, store size and build-out.
What are the franchise fee and royalty?
Item 5 of the FDD lists the initial fee and Item 6 lists the royalty and other ongoing fees. Ask the franchisor for the current document.
How big is a Tijon store?
The franchisor describes usable retail space of 800 to 1,600 square feet, with about 1,200 square feet as the sweet spot.
Is Tijon eligible for SBA loans?
Yes. Tijon Fragrance Lab is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8607. Each borrower still has to qualify.
What does the SBA directory note mean?
If real estate owned by the borrower will secure the SBA loan, the franchisor’s Collateral Assignment of Lease may not be signed. Most leased storefronts are not affected.
Do I need perfume experience?
No. The franchisor says no fragrance or chemistry background is necessary and provides one-on-one training.
Can a first-time owner get a Tijon Fragrance Lab franchise loan?
Yes, if the franchisor approves you and you meet lender standards. Retail or hospitality experience and solid personal liquidity help.
Can I finance fixtures separately?
Yes. Lab stations, displays, signage and point-of-sale systems can often be financed with equipment loans or leases.
Does Tijon offer financing?
Item 10 of the FDD discloses any franchisor financing. Many owners arrange outside loans.
How long is the franchise term?
Item 17 of the FDD covers the term, renewal and transfer terms. Lenders generally want the remaining term to cover the loan.
Final Thoughts
A Tijon Fragrance Lab franchise loan works best when it pairs a well-chosen, high-traffic site with a modest build-out and enough working capital to carry the store through slower seasons. With an SBA Franchise Directory listing, qualified buyers can consider SBA 7(a) financing alongside conventional and equipment options.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing and retail business financing solutions.
