How to Finance a Monkey Dooz Franchise: Kids Salon Build-Out
By Marc Cornella
A Monkey Dooz franchise loan funds a children’s salon and spa: a themed space where kids get haircuts, special-occasion styles and spa treatments, and where families book birthday parties. The concept blends a service business with an experience business, so financing has to cover a distinctive build-out, salon equipment and the time it takes to build a base of repeat families.
This article covers what the franchisor shares about the brand, how costs are usually organized, how the brand’s SBA Franchise Directory notes affect a loan and what lenders look for in a young franchise system.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Monkey Dooz; 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, and buyers should review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant.
Monkey Dooz Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a children’s salon and spa offering haircuts, special-occasion styling, spa services and birthday parties.
- History: the company says it began in 2001 as a single kids’ salon, and its franchising site names Karla Vandenberg as founder.
- Franchise options: single-unit and master territory opportunities, according to the franchising site.
- Locations: the brand’s franchise page lists salons in Riverside, California and Richland, Washington.
- Franchise fee, royalty and investment range: not published on the franchisor’s websites; they appear in Items 5, 6 and 7 of the FDD.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S8704, with three notes, including one that makes area representatives ineligible for SBA financing.
What Is Monkey Dooz?
Monkey Dooz describes itself as a kids’ salon and spa that began as a single salon and has grown into a brand now expanding through franchising. The company says it has been operating for more than 20 years.
The service menu goes beyond a basic haircut. The brand lists Jungle Cutz haircuts; Glam Stylz updos, braids and custom styles for dances, recitals and special events; a Glam and Go hair bar; Club Spa services such as mini facials, glittery manicures and tween treatments; and themed birthday party packages. That mix gives a salon several revenue streams: everyday haircuts, event-driven styling and scheduled parties.
Why lenders look closely at this brand. Monkey Dooz is a long-running concept but a young franchise system with only a handful of locations. Lenders generally treat that as an emerging franchise, which means less system-wide performance data and more emphasis on the owner’s experience, liquidity and location. Our article on financing an emerging franchise explains how lenders approach smaller systems.
Monkey Dooz Franchise Costs
The franchisor does not publish its franchise fee or investment range online; they are disclosed in the FDD, which candidates receive during the review process. Here is how the costs of a kids’ salon and spa franchise are typically organized.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 discloses the fee and when it is paid. Ask whether master territory agreements carry separate fees.
Lease and build-out. A themed children’s salon needs styling stations, a shampoo area, spa and party space, plumbing, lighting and the décor that makes the experience memorable. Build-out is often the largest single cost, so get contractor bids early and confirm landlord allowances.
Salon and spa equipment. Styling chairs designed for kids, shampoo bowls, dryers, tools, spa furniture, party room furnishings, a point-of-sale and booking system and signage.
Opening inventory and supplies. Hair care products, spa supplies and party supplies.
Training, marketing and working capital. Training travel, grand opening marketing, pre-opening payroll for stylists, insurance, licenses and an additional funds reserve for the first months.
When you review Item 7, use it as a checklist:
- Initial franchise fee
- Lease deposits and rent before opening
- Leasehold improvements and themed décor
- Salon, spa and party furniture and equipment
- Technology, point-of-sale and booking system
- Signage
- Opening inventory and supplies
- Training expenses and grand opening marketing
- Insurance, licenses and professional fees
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Confirm the line items add up to the stated total.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists the royalty, any marketing fund contribution, technology fees and transfer and renewal fees. These are not published online, so confirm them in the current FDD.
How lenders factor fees in. Royalties and marketing fees are generally calculated on sales and paid before debt service. A lender subtracts them, along with rent, stylist payroll and supplies, to see what cash flow is left for loan payments. In a salon, labor is usually the largest operating cost, so staffing assumptions carry a lot of weight.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchisor’s websites do not list minimum net worth, liquid capital or experience requirements. The process begins with a survey, followed by a call with the franchising team, who match candidates with an opportunity and connect them with a franchising expert. The franchisor says owners receive comprehensive training programs and ongoing support from an experienced advisory board.
Lenders will apply their own standards. Expect them to look for a meaningful cash injection, reserves after closing and management, customer service or salon experience.
Ways to Own a Monkey Dooz
A single-unit salon. Most new owners will open one salon. Lenders underwrite it on projections and the owner’s strength. See our franchise start-up financing options.
A master territory. The franchising site also offers master territory opportunities. Before choosing that path, read the SBA note below carefully: the SBA Franchise Directory states that applicants operating under an Area Representative Agreement are not eligible for SBA financing. Ask the franchisor whether its master territory agreement is that type of agreement, and plan for conventional financing if it is. Our article on financing development agreements explains how multi-unit commitments are funded.
Buying an existing salon. With few locations, resales will be rare. If one becomes available, lenders can underwrite actual results, and the transfer requires franchisor approval. See our guide to buying a franchise resale.
Financing Options for a Monkey Dooz Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because Monkey Dooz is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan can combine build-out, equipment, the franchise fee and working capital for a single-unit salon.
SBA 504 loans. The 504 program is designed for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment. Most salons lease space, so 504 financing fits only if an owner buys the building.
Conventional term loans. Owners with strong credit and collateral, or those pursuing a master territory, may use conventional business loans.
Equipment financing. Styling chairs, shampoo stations, dryers, spa furniture and point-of-sale systems can be financed or leased separately. Learn more about franchise equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. A new salon needs time to build a client base, and demand can follow school calendars, holidays and event seasons. A line of credit can bridge slower months. See our franchise working capital options.
Seller financing on resales. A selling owner may carry part of the price. Any seller note would need to be acceptable to the senior lender, is typically subordinate to it and may be limited by program rules.
SBA Loans for Monkey Dooz Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise documents have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. A listing does not approve any borrower; it clears the franchise relationship so an SBA lender can consider the loan.
Monkey Dooz is listed under code S8704 with three notes:
- Lease documents. When the real estate where the franchise is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Addendum to Lease Agreement and Collateral Assignment of Lease may not be executed. Those documents are meant for leased sites, not for property the owner pledges as collateral.
- Lien position. The lender must obtain the correct lien position on all collateral as required by the SBA’s lending rules. In practice, the lender’s security interest must rank where SBA rules require, so any competing claims on salon assets should be reviewed before closing.
- Area representatives. Applicants operating under an Area Representative Agreement are not eligible for SBA financing. Owners of single-unit salons are not affected, but anyone considering a master or area role should plan for other financing.
The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change. Use our SBA loan calculator for early payment estimates; results are for planning only.
How Lenders Evaluate a Monkey Dooz Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Every Monkey Dooz franchise loan starts with credit reports, tax returns, a personal financial statement and a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders look for an equity injection and reserves after closing. Our article on how much franchise you can afford walks through the math.
Industry and management experience. Salon, childcare, retail or hospitality management experience helps, along with a plan to recruit and keep licensed stylists who are good with children.
Business plan and projections. Projections should separate haircuts, styling, spa services and parties, model stylist capacity and include a ramp-up period. Our guide to a franchise business plan for an SBA loan covers what to include.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review the franchise term, renewal and transfer conditions, territory rights and whether the FDD includes financial performance representations in Item 19. See how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document.
Site and lease. Family-oriented shopping centers with parking and nearby schools or activities suit the concept. Lenders want a lease term that covers the loan, including renewal options.
Real-World Scenarios
A former salon manager opening her own location. A licensed stylist with management experience uses an SBA 7(a) loan for build-out, equipment and working capital, and opens near several elementary schools.
A parent-entrepreneur with a business partner. Two partners with retail and marketing backgrounds hire an experienced salon manager, and the lender weighs the manager’s resume alongside the owners’ liquidity.
A candidate weighing a master territory. After learning about the SBA note on area representatives, a candidate opens a single salon first with SBA financing and revisits the larger commitment with conventional financing later.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a master or area role can be financed with an SBA loan
- Underestimating the cost of themed build-out and décor
- Projecting full stylist schedules from the first month
- Ignoring seasonality around school calendars and holidays
- Signing a lease shorter than the loan term
- Leaving too little working capital for the ramp-up
For more pitfalls, read the franchise loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Monkey Dooz Franchise
Step 1: Take the survey and talk with the franchise team. Clarify whether you are pursuing a single unit or a master territory.
Step 2: Review the FDD with advisors. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Talk with a financing specialist. Learn how SBA 7(a) and conventional loans would apply to your plan.
Step 4: Find a site. Look for family-oriented centers and get build-out estimates.
Step 5: Build projections. Model each revenue stream, stylist staffing and a ramp-up period.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your loan package and align the lender’s timeline with the franchisor’s approval and the lease.
Monkey Dooz Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Monkey Dooz franchise cost?
The franchisor does not publish the investment range online. Item 7 of the current FDD lists the estimated initial investment.
What are the franchise fee and royalty?
They are disclosed in Items 5 and 6 of the FDD.
Is Monkey Dooz eligible for SBA loans?
Yes, for eligible franchisees. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8704, but applicants operating under an Area Representative Agreement are not eligible.
Can I finance salon equipment separately?
Yes. Styling chairs, shampoo stations, dryers and spa furniture can be financed with equipment loans or leases, subject to approval.
Can a first-time owner get a Monkey Dooz franchise loan?
Yes. Lenders weigh management or salon experience, liquidity and the plan for hiring stylists.
Does Monkey Dooz offer financing?
Item 10 of the FDD discloses whether the franchisor offers any financing. Most owners arrange their own loans.
How long is the franchise term?
The term, renewal and transfer conditions are in Item 17 of the FDD.
Final Thoughts
A Monkey Dooz franchise loan is about building a memorable space and filling the chairs. Owners who budget carefully for the themed build-out, plan for stylist hiring and choose a single-unit or master path with the SBA notes in mind give themselves the best chance of a smooth opening.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance start-ups, equipment, working capital and acquisitions. Learn more about our franchise financing solutions.
