Quick Answer
LaserAway does not offer franchises. It operates corporate-owned locations only and has never sold franchise licenses to third-party investors.
If you're looking for a beauty or aesthetic franchise, F45 Training starts at $50K–$230K and is actively franchising. See the full comparison below.
At a Glance: Key Differences
Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.
⚠️ Risk Assessment
Risk signals from FDD disclosures. Higher score = lower risk. Verify all figures in each franchise's current FDD before investing.
| Risk Factor | LaserAway | F45 Training |
|---|---|---|
| Failure Rate | N/A | 7% |
| Unit Turnover (Growth) | N/A | +3%/yr |
| Total Fee Burden | 8.0% | 9.0% |
| Territory Protection | ✅ Exclusive | ✅ Exclusive |
Detailed Analysis: LaserAway vs F45 Training
According to FranchiseStack.ai's franchise database of 192+ FDD-sourced opportunities, LaserAway and F45 Training are among the most-researched franchise comparisons. The choice comes down to your investment capacity, risk tolerance, and operational preferences. Both operate in the Fitness & Health sector, which means they compete for similar customers and territory. F45 Training has a larger footprint, which typically translates to stronger brand recognition but potentially more territorial saturation.
From a capital perspective, F45 Training has a lower entry point. However, initial investment alone doesn't determine ROI — ongoing royalties, revenue potential, and failure rates all factor into long-term returns. LaserAway charges a lower royalty rate, which means more of your gross revenue stays in your pocket.
Before committing to either franchise, we recommend running both through our Financial Model tool to project personalized 5-year P&L scenarios. You should also review each franchise's complete Franchise Disclosure Document using our FDD Checker to understand litigation history, termination rates, and territory restrictions.
LaserAway Is Not a Franchise — Here's What That Means for Investors (2026)
LaserAway does not franchise. Every one of its 175+ locations across the United States is owned and operated by LaserAway LLC. There is no FDD, no franchise fee, no franchise agreement, and no pathway for a third-party investor to open a LaserAway location. This is a deliberate corporate strategy: LaserAway controls the brand, pricing, staffing, and patient experience entirely at the corporate level.
This matters because "LaserAway franchise cost" is one of the highest-volume searches in the medical aesthetics category — and most people searching it are getting misleading answers from content farms that haven't verified the actual franchise status. The definitive answer: you cannot buy a LaserAway franchise. There is nothing to buy.
Why People Search for It (And What They're Actually Looking For)
LaserAway's rapid growth — from a handful of California clinics to a national chain — looks exactly like franchise growth to outside observers. The branding is consistent. The locations look identical. The pricing is standardized. But it's all corporate-owned expansion, not franchisee-driven growth. The confusion is understandable; the answer is unambiguous.
Investors searching for "LaserAway franchise" typically fall into one of two groups: (1) they're interested in the medical aesthetics category specifically and want to understand their options, or (2) they saw a LaserAway location and assumed it must be franchised because it looks like one. For group 1, see the alternatives section below. For group 2, this page is the answer.
The F45 Training Franchise Opportunity (2026)
F45 Training is an Australian-born group fitness franchise delivering 45-minute functional training workouts in studio environments. It is actively franchising and does have an FDD. Total investment runs approximately $50,000–$230,000 depending on market and build-out requirements, with a $50,000 franchise fee and 7% royalty. F45 requires $200,000 in liquid capital and $500,000 net worth.
F45 built rapid brand momentum from 2018–2022 — a celebrity co-investor history (Mark Wahlberg was a notable early backer) fueled aggressive expansion. That growth has created headwinds: rapid over-expansion, corporate leadership changes, and some franchisee closures have raised the brand's failure rate above the boutique fitness average. Boutique fitness is intensely competitive: ClassPass, SoulCycle, local independents, and dozens of fitness franchises compete for the same workout-per-week consumer budget.
F45's position in 2026: a recognized brand with franchise availability, a challenging recent track record, and a market that requires strong local execution to sustain membership retention. For investors committed to group fitness, it remains a viable option — but it's not a low-risk entry.
If You Want Medical Aesthetics: The Actual Franchise Options
LaserAway's corporate-only structure means investors who want medical aesthetics exposure need to look elsewhere. The closest franchisable alternatives:
- European Wax Center — body waxing, $353K–$624K total investment, 900+ locations, 6% royalty
- Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa — massage + facial spa, $423K–$584K, 5.5% royalty
- Drybar — blow-dry bar (adjacent to aesthetics consumer), $384K–$688K
- Ideal Image — laser hair removal and aesthetics, corporate-owned (like LaserAway, not franchising)
Note: Ideal Image, like LaserAway, is also corporate-owned — it is another frequently-searched aesthetics brand that does not franchise. If your goal is owning a laser hair removal business specifically, an independent medical spa is currently the only path; no major laser hair removal chain in the U.S. is actively franchising at scale.
Related Resources
Explore franchisable fitness and wellness options: Best Fitness & Health Franchises 2026. Compare F45 to Anytime Fitness at HOTWORX vs Anytime Fitness. Run personalized 5-year projections with our Financial Model tool.
Investment & Fees
| Metric | LaserAway | F45 Training |
|---|---|---|
| Min Investment | $800K | $300K |
| Max Investment | $1.6M | $700K |
| Franchise Fee | $75K | $50K |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 7.0% |
| Ad Fund Rate | 2.0% | 2.0% |
Unit Economics
| Metric | LaserAway | F45 Training |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Unit Revenue | N/A | $550K |
| Avg Profit Margin | N/A | N/A |
Scale & Growth
| Metric | LaserAway | F45 Training |
|---|---|---|
| Total Units | 175 | 1,700 |
| Annual Growth | N/A | 3.0% |
| Failure Rate | N/A | 7.0% |
Franchisee Performance
| Metric | LaserAway | F45 Training |
|---|---|---|
| Franchisee Satisfaction | N/A | 60/100 |
Track Record
| Metric | LaserAway | F45 Training |
|---|---|---|
| Years in Business | 19 | 11 |
| Years Franchising | 5 | 8 |
Financial Requirements
| Metric | LaserAway | F45 Training |
|---|---|---|
| Min Net Worth Required | $800K | $500K |
| Liquid Capital Required | $300K | $200K |
Operations
| Metric | LaserAway | F45 Training |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Employees | N/A | 8 |
| Training Weeks | N/A | 2 |
⚠️ Risk Indicators
| Metric | LaserAway | F45 Training |
|---|---|---|
| Failure Rate | N/A | 7.0% |
| Annual Unit Growth | N/A | 3.0% |
| Units Opened Last Year | N/A | 150 |
| Units Closed Last Year | N/A | N/A |
| Exclusive Territory | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is LaserAway a franchise?
No. LaserAway is not a franchise. It operates exclusively as a corporate-owned chain — all 175+ locations are owned and operated by LaserAway LLC, not by independent franchisees. LaserAway has never sold franchise licenses and is not included in any FDD database because no FDD exists. If you are searching for a laser hair removal or medical aesthetics franchise opportunity, LaserAway is not an option.
How much does it cost to open a LaserAway?
You cannot open a LaserAway — the company does not franchise. LaserAway's 175+ locations are all corporate-owned. There is no franchise fee, no FDD, and no franchise agreement available from LaserAway. If you want to invest in a medical aesthetics business, you would need to either open an independent clinic or look at franchises in the aesthetics category such as European Wax Center or Hand & Stone Massage.
What is the F45 franchise cost in 2026?
F45 Training's total initial investment ranges from approximately $50,000 to $230,000, which includes a $50,000 franchise fee, equipment, leasehold improvements, and working capital. Ongoing royalties are 7% of gross revenue. F45 requires a minimum net worth of $500,000 and $200,000 in liquid capital. These figures are from the most recent FDD — always request the current Franchise Disclosure Document directly from F45 before making investment decisions.
LaserAway vs F45: which is better for franchise investors?
F45 Training is the only franchisable option between the two. LaserAway does not offer franchises, so it is not available to investors. For investors specifically comparing fitness vs. aesthetics franchise opportunities, F45 ($50K–$230K total investment) competes in the boutique fitness market. It has faced headwinds since its rapid 2018–2022 expansion — including leadership changes and elevated closure rates. If aesthetics is your target sector, consider franchise brands like European Wax Center, which does actively franchise in the beauty and personal care space.
What are alternatives to a LaserAway franchise?
Since LaserAway does not franchise, investors interested in the medical aesthetics or beauty care sector should consider: European Wax Center (body waxing, $353K–$624K total investment), Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa ($423K–$584K), Drybar (blow-dry bars, $384K–$688K), or Orangetheory Fitness for the health-and-wellness adjacent category. For group fitness similar to the F45 model, alternatives include Anytime Fitness ($398K–$974K) and HOTWORX ($323K–$539K). Use our Financial Model tool to compare projected returns across any of these options.
Related Comparisons
Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.
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