Family Entrepreneurial Legacy Inspires Couple to Become Multi-Unit Franchisees with Uni K Wax

Milan and Reshma Sharma’s journey into franchising is deeply rooted in their families’ entrepreneurial legacies, from which they have both drawn significant inspiration. Milan and Reshma’s families emigrated from India to Africa, where they established their first businesses. Their parents continued this tradition, joining those family businesses, which instilled a strong entrepreneurial spirit in Milan and Reshma from a young age. 

Reshma’s family has also made notable strides in the beauty and wellness industries. Her older sister is a multi-unit owner of both The Lash Lounge and Massage NOW, while her younger sister owns multiple VIO Med Spa locations. Reshma’s father and uncles also owned a business called Time N Sound in Orlando for over 35 years. 

This familial success influenced the Sharmas’ decision to invest in the beauty sector. They were particularly drawn to Uni K Wax due to its unique, natural product and the membership model that promotes repeat business. They have signed a three unit agreement with the brand and are looking forward to becoming the top choice for hair removal services in the Orlando area.

Reshma and Milan Sharma took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Milan: My background is in IT project management, and currently I am an IT service delivery manager. Reshma will be the main operator of our Uni K business, while I’ll be more in the background.

Reshma: I have been a program manager for 8 years at University of Central Florida. 

Milan: Both of us have drawn a lot of inspiration to be entrepreneurs from our family. It started with both sets of my grandparents, who left India in the 1920s, moved to Africa and established their first businesses there. Our parents joined those family businesses, and since then, entrepreneurship has had a significant influence on us. We’ve been inspired by what we’ve seen from our grandparents and parents being involved in family businesses. The entrepreneurial spirit has been with us from a very early age, shaping and guiding us. 

Reshma: My two sisters are both franchise owners in the health and beauty sector, as well. My older sister, who inspired our investment in the beauty industry, is a multi-unit owner of The Lash Lounge and now also Massage NOW. My younger sister is a multi-unit owner of VIO Med Spa. We wanted to find something that would stand the test of time, and we believe that waxing fits that criteria, especially since I’ve been waxing since I was a teenager. We found a membership model that encourages repeat business, which motivated us to get into franchising. My dad owned a business here in Central Florida for over 35 years called Time N Sound, and we are glad to be able to carry on the family tradition of entrepreneurship.

1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Milan: What caught our eye in terms of franchising was the fact that there is essentially a playbook — a template for people taking their first foray into business. It’s a tried-and-tested model. Uni K was one of those brands that had stood the test of time. It’s a Florida-grown brand, and we wanted to be part of that journey.

1851: What made you choose this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Milan: The story behind Uni K from the founder struck a chord with us. As I mentioned, we had inspiration from our grandparents and people before us, and we could see that same historical context with the founder of Uni K. When she moved from Argentina to the U.S. and came up with the idea of Uni K, it resonated with us. We appreciate the historical context of Uni K, seeing where it started and where it is now heading. This appealed to us, and we wanted to be part of its upward trajectory.

Reshma: I love the fact that the wax itself is 100% natural. The number of people who have stayed with the business for a long time speaks volumes about how they treat their employees and the environment they’ve created. The support I’ve received has been incredible. We’ve only been with the company for about two months, and the support from other business owners, franchisees and everyone we’ve met has been outstanding. They are all willing to go out of their way to help each other and are very happy with the brand. If you want to be part of a brand, you need to love it because you will live, eat and breathe it. That’s why I have fallen in love with Uni K.

1851: What’s your big goal in your first year as Uni K Wax franchisees?

Milan: Our goal is to establish our brand in the local community. We want to be the waxing brand of choice, foremost in people’s minds. Our 100% natural product stands out in the marketplace. This uniqueness sets us apart from the competition. Ultimately, it’s all about brand awareness.

Reshma: Having a personal wax warmer guarantee and attention to detail in each service will set us apart from other waxing places. In Central Florida, there aren’t many options, which gives us a great opportunity to establish ourselves as a top choice. Our goal is to ensure that everyone knows us as a great place to receive a service. We want everyone to feel great walking in and excellent walking out.

1851: What advice do you have for aspiring franchisees?

Milan: I think it’s important to do your due diligence. Test it out yourself and see how you feel. Either get a service or experience it firsthand to understand the brand better. As part of your due diligence, consider being a mystery shopper and visit your competitors. Analyze their offerings and compare their products to yours.

Reshma: Speak to as many people as you can. Test out the services yourself and see how great you feel walking out.

ABOUT UNI K WAX:

Uni K Wax, the 34-unit hair removal and waxing franchise, was founded in 1993 by Noemi Grupenmager. Frustrated by inadequate waxing options for her daughters, Grupenmager developed a natural, elastic wax as an alternative to the painful honey wax and paper strips. She also introduced a skin-friendly application and removal technique for faster, more comfortable services. Today, the brand offers a dynamic blend of 160 waxing services — from eyebrow waxing to facial waxing, Brazilian bikini wax and full body wax — for unisex customers.

The Uni K Wax brand began its franchising journey in 2007 and has since expanded to include 33 franchised and one corporate locations in states including Florida, New York, New Jersey and Texas. 

In 2023, Grupenmager decided to retire and sell the company. Exaltare Capital Management, a Boston-based private equity firm with a focus on franchise and multi-unit businesses, and Heather Elrod, former Amazing Lash CEO and Managing Partner at Conscious Capital Growth, acquired the Uni K Wax brand. 

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Uni K Wax Studio ranges from $327,943 to $558,766, depending upon the size of the location and the type of market in which it is located. If you sign a Multi-Unit Development Agreement, your Initial Franchise Fee will be reduced to $35,000 for Studios 1-5 and $30,000 each for  Studios 1-10+ if you agree to develop for 6+.