How to Finance a Deka Lash Franchise: Lash Studio Startup Costs
By Anthony Cornella
A Deka Lash franchise loan funds a retail eyelash extension studio, which means paying for a leased space, a build-out with private or semi-private lash rooms, furniture, product inventory and the payroll needed to staff licensed lash artists before the client book fills. This article explains how those costs come together, what the SBA Franchise Directory says about this brand and how to present a strong loan request.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Deka Lash; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice. Review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and an accountant before you sign.
Deka Lash Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: eyelash extension studios staffed by trained lash artists, with a branded product line.
- History: founded in 2012 by a lash artist and her husband, starting in a one-room studio outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Footprint: the company reports nearly 100 studio locations across the United States.
- Franchise fee, royalty, investment and capital requirements: not published on the company pages we could verify; see Items 5, 6 and 7 of the current FDD.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S0492, with notes on lease documents, management agreements, area representative agreements and an open-to-all affidavit (explained below).
What Is Deka Lash?
Deka Lash was founded in 2012 by a lash artist and her husband. The company says the name combines the first two letters of each of their daughters’ names. The first location was a one-room studio outside Pittsburgh, and the company now reports nearly 100 studios across the country.
The service model. Studios apply semi-permanent eyelash extensions, which clients maintain with regular fill appointments. The company also sells a product line formulated for its lashes, which adds retail revenue to each visit.
The studio format. A typical studio is an inline or end-cap retail space with a reception area, a retail display and several lash rooms or stations. Build-out quality matters because clients spend extended time in the chair.
How lenders see it. Lenders view lash studios as personal-service businesses with a recurring element, since extensions require ongoing fills. The flip side is labor dependence: revenue depends on recruiting, training and retaining licensed lash artists. Lenders focus on your staffing plan, your lease terms and how much working capital you hold while the client base grows.
Deka Lash Franchise Costs
Initial franchise fee. The company pages we could verify do not state the current fee. Item 5 of the FDD lists it, along with any discounts for additional studios or qualifying buyers and whether any portion is refundable.
Lease and build-out. This is usually the largest line in a studio budget. Costs depend on the space’s condition, local construction prices and how much the landlord contributes. Lash rooms, plumbing for a sink, lighting, ventilation and finishes all add up.
Furniture, fixtures and equipment. Expect lash beds, stools, magnifying lamps, sterilization and sanitation supplies, retail fixtures, front-desk furniture and the brand’s required décor package.
Opening inventory and technology. Lash supplies, adhesives, aftercare and retail products, plus booking software, a point-of-sale system and computers.
Opening costs and working capital. Grand-opening marketing, artist recruiting and training, payroll during ramp-up, insurance, licenses and rent before revenue builds.
Total investment. Item 7 of the FDD gives the full range and line items. Typical categories include:
- Initial franchise fee
- Lease deposits and rent during build-out
- Leasehold improvements and construction
- Architectural and design fees
- Furniture, fixtures and lash equipment
- Signage
- Opening inventory and retail products
- Technology, software and point-of-sale system
- Training and travel
- Grand-opening marketing
- Insurance, licenses and professional fees
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ask for the FDD early and price your actual site against these categories. A lender will compare your budget line by line with Item 7.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Royalty and brand fund. Item 6 of the FDD sets out the royalty, any brand or advertising fund contribution, local marketing requirements and technology fees.
Remodels and refreshes. Check the franchise agreement for any remodel or refresh obligations during the term, and plan reserves for them.
How lenders use these numbers. Lenders subtract royalties, fund contributions and other required fees from projected revenue before estimating cash available for debt payments. In a labor-heavy business, payroll is often the largest expense, so lenders want to see that revenue after fees comfortably covers wages, rent and loan payments.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The company pages we could verify do not publish minimum net worth or liquid capital requirements. Ask the franchise development team for current criteria and review the FDD.
Most beauty franchisors look for management or customer-service experience, the ability to recruit and lead a team, and enough liquidity to fund the opening plus reserves. You generally do not need to be a licensed lash artist yourself, but your staffing plan must account for licensing rules in your state.
The usual process is an inquiry, introductory calls, delivery of the FDD, validation calls with current owners, site selection and lease negotiation, approval and signing. Arrange financing before you sign so your build-out timeline matches your funding.
Ways to Own a Deka Lash Studio
A new studio. Opening a new location is a startup loan. Lenders rely on your credit, liquidity, experience and the quality of your site and lease. Our franchise start-up financing page explains how these loans work.
Buying an existing studio. A resale gives lenders actual revenue, payroll and client retention data. The franchisor must approve the transfer. Read buying a franchise resale for the process.
Multiple studios. Some owners sign for more than one location. Financing typically follows a studio-by-studio approach, with each new loan based on the performance of existing studios.
Financing Options for a Deka Lash Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. An SBA 7(a) loan is a frequent fit for a leased studio because it can cover the franchise fee, build-out, furniture and equipment, inventory and working capital in one package.
SBA 504 loans. An SBA 504 loan is designed for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived assets. It applies only if you buy a building or condo unit for the studio, which is less typical for this format.
Conventional term loans. Borrowers with strong credit, collateral or existing businesses may qualify for conventional business loans.
Equipment financing. Lash beds, lamps, sanitation equipment and retail fixtures can sometimes be financed separately. See franchise equipment financing.
Working capital and lines of credit. New studios often need time to build a client base, and you will pay artists while they train and fill their schedules. A franchise working capital loan or line of credit helps cover that ramp-up.
Seller financing on resales. A seller note can bridge part of a resale price. Lenders typically require it to be subordinate, and SBA programs may limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for Deka Lash Franchisees
SBA loans are made by participating lenders and partly guaranteed by the SBA. The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise documents have been reviewed for eligibility, so lenders know which conditions apply.
Deka Lash is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S0492. The listing carries several notes, explained here in plain English:
- Real estate collateral and lease documents. If real estate where the studio operates will secure the SBA loan, the franchisor’s addendum and conditional assignment of lease may not be signed. Those lease documents are designed for leased sites and can conflict with the lender’s lien on owned property.
- Management agreements. If you plan to hire an outside management company, the lender must review that agreement for affiliation. You are not eligible if the management company is, or is affiliated with, the franchisor.
- Area representative agreements. Applicants operating under an area representative agreement are not eligible for SBA financing. This applies to the area representative role, not to an ordinary single-studio franchise.
- Open to all customers. The lender must obtain your signed affidavit that the business is open to both men and women, and document it with evidence such as facilities or client demographics.
The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, although program rules can change. A single studio will usually need far less. Try our SBA loan calculator to estimate payments.
SBA application tips. Provide a monthly cash-flow forecast for at least the first two years, a staffing and recruiting plan, your lease or letter of intent, and a sources-and-uses table tied to Item 7.
How Lenders Evaluate a Deka Lash Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Your credit report, tax returns and payment history show how you manage obligations.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders expect an equity injection and reserves after closing. To check your budget, read how much franchise you can afford.
Industry and management experience. Beauty, spa, salon, retail or hospitality management experience helps. Lenders want to see that you can recruit, train and keep artists.
Business plan and projections. Build projections around the number of lash rooms, artist hiring pace, appointment volume, fill frequency, retail sales and payroll. Our article on using the FDD in franchise financing shows how to connect Items 6 and 7 to your plan.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 17 and 19. Note whether Item 19 includes any financial performance representations, and use any figures there as one input only.
Site and lease. Lenders look at lease length, rent, renewal options, tenant improvement allowances and co-tenancy. A lease term that covers the loan term is a strong point.
For resales. Expect to provide tax returns, profit and loss statements, payroll records and client retention data.
Staffing: The Brand-Specific Financing Issue
In a Deka Lash franchise loan request, the build-out gets the attention but staffing often decides the outcome. Artists must be licensed according to state rules, and new hires need training before they work on clients. That means payroll starts before revenue, and early months can carry artists who are still building their books.
Build your working capital request around a realistic hiring and training timeline. Show how many artists you need at opening, how you will recruit them and how you will cover payroll until each artist is fully booked. Lenders respond well to a plan that ties staffing to rooms and appointment capacity rather than assuming a full schedule on day one.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Owners who do well may add studios. A development agreement typically sets a schedule for opening locations within a territory, and each opening needs its own financing. Lenders look at the first studio’s results, your management structure and your ability to staff another location. Remember that the SBA directory note makes applicants operating under an area representative agreement ineligible for SBA financing. Read area development agreement financing for more.
Real-World Scenarios
A salon manager’s first studio. An experienced salon manager opens a studio in a busy retail center, financing the fee, build-out, furniture and working capital with an SBA 7(a) loan.
An investor with a manager. A business owner opens a studio and hires an outside management company. The lender reviews the management agreement for affiliation before approving the loan.
Buying an established studio. A buyer acquires an operating studio with a steady client base, and the lender underwrites its actual results with a subordinate seller note.
A second location. After the first studio stabilizes, the owner opens a second nearby and finances it based on the first studio’s cash flow.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Underestimating build-out costs for lash rooms, plumbing and lighting
- Assuming artists will be fully booked from opening day
- Borrowing too little working capital for payroll during ramp-up
- Signing a lease that is shorter than the loan term
- Signing the franchise agreement before financing is approved
For more, read our list of franchise loan mistakes.
Next Steps to Finance Your Deka Lash Franchise
Step 1: Request the FDD. Review it with a franchise attorney and an accountant.
Step 2: Select a site. Work with the franchisor and a broker on a location and a letter of intent.
Step 3: Talk with a financing specialist. Compare SBA, conventional and equipment options.
Step 4: Build your plan. Prepare a budget tied to Item 7 and monthly projections with a staffing plan.
Step 5: Apply. Submit tax returns, a personal financial statement, a resume, the FDD, your lease or letter of intent and your plan.
Step 6: Close and build. Coordinate draws with construction, recruit artists and keep reserves for ramp-up.
Deka Lash Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Deka Lash franchise cost?
Item 7 of the current FDD lists the estimated initial investment. Costs depend mainly on your site’s build-out, rent and staffing ramp-up.
What is the Deka Lash franchise fee?
Item 5 of the current FDD lists the fee and any discounts.
What royalty does Deka Lash charge?
Item 6 of the FDD sets out the royalty, brand fund and other recurring fees.
How much liquid capital or net worth do I need?
Ask the franchisor for its current requirements. Lenders also expect an equity injection and reserves after closing.
Is Deka Lash eligible for SBA loans?
Yes. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S0492, subject to the notes above and lender approval.
Can I get an SBA loan as an area representative?
No. The directory note states that applicants operating under an area representative agreement are not eligible for SBA financing.
Do I need to be a lash artist?
Generally no, but you must staff the studio with licensed artists and show lenders a credible recruiting plan.
Can I finance equipment separately?
Often, yes. Furniture, lamps and fixtures can sometimes be financed apart from the main loan.
Can I buy an existing Deka Lash studio?
Yes, with franchisor approval of the transfer. Lenders will underwrite the studio’s actual results.
Can a first-time owner get a Deka Lash franchise loan?
Yes, if the franchisor approves you and your credit, liquidity and management experience support the loan.
Does Deka Lash offer financing?
Check Item 10 of the current FDD for any franchisor financing.
How long is the franchise term?
Item 17 of the FDD states the term, renewal and transfer conditions.
Final Thoughts
Deka Lash has grown from a one-room studio into a national eyelash extension brand. A solid Deka Lash franchise loan request ties the budget to Item 7, plans carefully for staffing and ramp-up, respects the SBA directory notes and keeps working capital in reserve.
US Professional Funding helps franchise buyers and owners finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing solutions.
