91³ÉÈË

Sport Clips Haircuts: A Manager-Led Model Built for Multi-Unit Owners

The men's grooming franchise has nearly 1,800 stores and a manager-led operating model, without private equity ownership.

Sport Clips Haircuts was founded by Gordon Logan in 1993 around a model in which franchise owners don't cut hair themselves. Sport Clips calls its franchisees Team Leaders. They hire and develop store managers who oversee daily operations and lead licensed stylists. Owners focus on recruiting and coaching managers, marketing their stores and looking for opportunities to scale.

With locations in all fifty states and in Canada, and roughly 260 franchisees, an average operator runs more than six stores, with several operating far more.

Haircuts remain a recurring service, regardless of economic conditions, and the business still depends on the in-person experience. Sport Clips welcomes about 25 million client visits a year, and the most loyal clients return every three to four weeks.

Why Sport Clips

Sport Clips is awarding territory again in both open and mature markets. The company has invested in site selection, its grand-opening process and field support as it has expanded. Competitor closures have also created access to trade areas that were previously unavailable to the brand.

Existing franchisees continue to open and acquire additional locations. Sport Clips also opened more stores in the first half of 2026 than it did during all of 2025

Fast Facts

• Nearly 1,800 locations across the U.S. and Canada; founded in 1993 and franchising since 1995

• 1,645 mature franchised stores generated average gross sales of $419,485 in 2025, with a median of $416,189*

• More than half of mature locations reported annual sales above $400,000, including 475 stores above $500,000 and five above $1 million*

• Average operator runs more than six stores

• 20 percent off the initial franchise fee for qualified military veterans

*These figures appear in Item 19 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document and reflect mature franchised stores operating more than two years. Individual results will vary based on factors including location, labor costs, occupancy expenses, management and execution. Prospective franchisees should review the full FDD, including Item 19, and consult their own legal, financial and business advisors before making any investment decision.

Key Advantages

• Manager-led model built for multi-unit ownership

• Recurring client demand, with many customers returning every three to four weeks

• Recurring, in-person service that continues to require human interaction

• Founder-owned and second-generation led, with no private equity ownership and no material litigation disclosed in the 2026 FDD

• Proprietary mobile app and point-of-sale system supported by an in-house technology team of roughly 50 people

• Centralized stylist recruiting support

• Exclusive territory protection in available markets

• No haircutting or salon background required

The Business Model

Adding locations can become more difficult as an owner's responsibilities pile up. Sport Clips built its operating model around store-level managers so owners can take on more locations without running the daily operations of each one.

As a portfolio grows, the owner's role changes. At three stores, that may mean spending most of the time coaching managers and working on operations. Larger portfolios require additional layers of leadership, with owners at 30 or 40 locations focused more on strategy, acquisitions and future development. Shared resources can also span multiple locations, while a larger portfolio spreads revenue and operating risk across more than one store.

Sport Clips does not describe its model as semi-absentee. The model requires engaged operators. Team Leaders remain involved in culture, recruiting, marketing and team performance, while store managers handle daily operations.

"It's working on the business instead of working in the store," says Brent Greenwood, vice president of franchise development. "Our model is designed to allow investors to keep their full-time careers as they grow. It's about leading managers, building culture and driving performance."

Training and Support

New Team Leaders complete more than 150 hours of initial training before opening. The program includes classroom instruction, self-paced e-learning and in-store fieldwork. Training covers hiring, recruiting, scheduling and compensation, as well as the owner's role alongside store managers and stylists. Team Leaders also learn how to use Sport Clips' technology to track financial and store performance and how to market in their local communities.

Field coaches visit stores and work with managers on operations and brand standards. Sport Clips has also increased its in-person training in recent years. A dedicated recruiting team works alongside Team Leaders to staff each store before it opens, targeting at least eight stylists on the team at launch.

Sport Clips develops its technology in-house. A team of roughly 50 people works on the mobile app, online check-in and point-of-sale system.

Investment

According to Item 7 of the 2026 FDD, the estimated investment to open a Sport Clips store ranges from $236,800 to $580,500. The median investment was $399,757.

The high end of the range includes franchise fees for a three-store multi-unit development agreement, while the other costs reflect a single location. The initial franchise fee is $30,000 for a single-store agreement, $54,500 for two stores and $69,500 for three. Each additional license is $15,000, while owners with five or more stores in operation pay $12,500 per additional license.

Candidates need $200,000 in liquid capital without bank assistance and $400,000 in net worth. Sport Clips does not offer direct financing but maintains relationships with third-party lenders.

Real estate and rent are separate costs and vary by market. Approved spaces typically range from 1,000 to 1,500 square feet.

Giving Back

Sport Clips is the Official Haircutter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and, with the VFW, supports the Help A Hero Scholarship program. Since 2013, Sport Clips has contributed more than $16 million to fund these scholarships through an annual in-store fundraiser. The brand supports additional veterans organizations, including Dream Flights, VetFran, Gratitude Initiative and Honor Flight Austin, and has a national partnership with St. Baldrick's Foundation, which funds childhood cancer research. Qualified veterans receive discounts on haircuts and 20% off the initial franchise fee.

Ideal Candidate

Sport Clips calls the franchise owners it seeks "Playmakers." They are expected to lead the business, build strong teams and work through their managers rather than handle the daily operations of a store themselves. The brand looks for people who can hire and develop employees, use data to coach managers and follow an established operating model. A multi-unit mindset matters, as does an interest in creating opportunities for employees and staying involved in the local community.

Many come in with no salon background. Some were Sport Clips clients first. Others come from franchising, retail, hospitality, or operational leadership roles.

"We're highly selective about who we bring on, and that's by design," Greenwood says. "We're looking for operators who share our values and know how to build and lead teams, not passive investors. Getting the right people in the right markets is what protects everything we've built."