Is Sport Clips right for you?
Large Addressable Market
Men's grooming services represent a stable, recurring demand category with broad demographic reach.
Proven Scale
1,702 franchised units operating as of December 31, 2025 demonstrate system maturity and geographic coverage.
Defined Support Systems
Initial training, on-site opening assistance, advertising fund, and ongoing operational guidance are provided.
About Sport Clips
Sport Clips is a men's and boys' haircutting and styling franchise founded in 1995 and headquartered in Georgetown, Texas. The concept operates within a sports-themed environment and sells related hair care products. As of year-end 2025 the system included 1,702 franchised locations and 86 company-owned stores across 50 states.
Each Sport Clips location delivers consistent men's haircuts, styling services, and retail hair care products in a branded sports-themed setting. Franchisees follow detailed operating standards covering service delivery, approved products, facility specifications, and customer experience. The model emphasizes efficient operations, stylist teams, and repeat male clientele.
The business model
How a Sport Clips territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Franchise Fee
Single-unit fee is $30,000. A 3-store MUDA is $69,500 total ($30,000 first, $24,500 second, $15,000 third).
Royalty and Ongoing Fees
Royalty is 6% of net sales. Advertising fund contribution is the greater of $300 per week or 5% of net sales. Technology fee is 1% of net sales.
Initial Investment Range
Estimated $236,800 to $580,500 per unit excluding real estate. Median investment for one store opened in the prior year was $399,757.
Supply Chain Requirements
Franchisees must purchase approximately 70% of initial investment and 7% of ongoing expenses from approved suppliers including Paul Mitchell and designated POS hardware and software.
Territory Structure
Exclusive territory during the initial 5-year term is the lesser of a 1-mile radius or the radius encompassing 25,000 people around the approved site.
Financial Performance Representation
the financial-performance disclosure discloses 2025 gross sales for 1,645 mature franchised stores (more than 2 years operating). Average sales were $419,485 and median sales were $416,189.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$69,500
Total investment range
$236,800 to $580,500
Royalty
6.00% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
5.00% of gross revenue
Founded
1995
Headquarters
Georgetown, TX
Active US franchisees
n/a
Total US units
n/a
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +Franchisee and one additional person receive training within 12 months of signing the Franchise Agreement.
- +Store manager training is conducted 1-2 weeks prior to opening, either in the local market or another market if a training facility is unavailable.
- +On-site support is provided for one week before opening and 3-5 days after opening, which may include stylist training at the store or a central training center.
- +Ongoing support includes updated standards, periodic inspections, recommended pricing guidance, and access to marketing materials and creative assets.
- +Advertising fund provides national and local marketing resources with at least 80% of contributions spent on consumer-facing activities.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
The franchisor does not disclose a fixed number of initial training hours or a single centralized training location. Franchisees bear travel and living expenses during training.
Multi-unit growth path
Sport Clips offers multi-unit development agreements with reduced per-unit franchise fees. A 3-store MUDA carries a total initial fee of $69,500. The the filed disclosures notes that development territories are non-exclusive until a store opens. Existing operators may expand by exercising first right of refusal on additional sites after the initial 5-year exclusive term.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
SBA 7(a) Loans
Many Sport Clips franchisees utilize SBA-guaranteed financing for a portion of the initial investment. Lenders typically require detailed business plans and personal financial statements.
Equipment and Build-Out Financing
Specialized lenders offer term loans or leases for fixtures, equipment, and leasehold improvements. Vendor financing programs may be available through approved suppliers.
Conventional Bank Loans
Regional and national banks provide commercial loans to qualified buyers with strong credit, liquidity, and experience. Collateral and personal guarantees are standard.
Cash or Retirement Plan Rollovers
Some multi-unit operators fund expansion through personal capital or use IRS-compliant retirement plan rollovers structured as ROBS transactions.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Validation and Signing
Complete discovery process, review the filed disclosures, and execute Franchise Agreement and any MUDA. Pay initial franchise fee.
Site Selection
Identify and submit proposed locations within the assigned territory for franchisor approval.
Design and Construction
Develop plans per brand specifications, secure permits, complete leasehold improvements, and install fixtures and equipment.
Pre-Opening Training
Attend manager training and complete required stylist onboarding 1-2 weeks before opening.
Grand Opening
Receive on-site support the week prior to and 3-5 days following opening. Execute grand opening marketing.
First 90 Days
Operate with initial working capital, submit required reports, and begin royalty and advertising fund payments.
Ongoing Operations
Utilize periodic inspections, marketing resources, and system updates while maintaining compliance with standards.
Match assessment
Are you a Sport Clips match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a Sport Clips franchise cost?
The estimated initial investment per unit ranges from $236,800 to $580,500 excluding real estate. The median investment for stores opened in the prior year was $399,757. The initial franchise fee is $30,000 for a single unit or $69,500 for a 3-store MUDA.
What is the royalty fee for Sport Clips?
The royalty is 6% of net sales. The advertising fund contribution is the greater of $300 per week or 5% of net sales. An additional technology fee of 1% of net sales applies.
What were the average sales for Sport Clips locations in 2025?
the financial-performance disclosure reports that 1,645 mature franchised stores achieved average gross sales of $419,485 and median gross sales of $416,189 in 2025. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
Does Sport Clips provide territory exclusivity?
Yes, during the initial 5-year term franchisees receive an exclusive territory defined as the lesser of a 1-mile radius or the radius encompassing 25,000 people around the approved location.
How long does it take to open a Sport Clips franchise?
The timeline from signing to opening typically spans 4 to 8 months depending on site selection, permitting, and construction. Manager training occurs 1-2 weeks prior to opening.
What training and support does Sport Clips offer?
The franchisor provides manager training before opening, on-site assistance surrounding the opening period, periodic inspections, marketing resources, and ongoing operational guidance. Franchisees and one additional person receive initial training.
How many Sport Clips locations are there?
As of December 31, 2025 the system operated 1,702 franchised units and 86 company-owned units for a total of 1,788 locations across 50 states.
Is Sport Clips a good franchise to own compared to other salon brands?
Sport Clips focuses exclusively on men's and boys' haircare within a sports-themed environment. Its scale of over 1,700 franchised units, disclosed sales data for mature stores, and defined support systems differentiate it from smaller or less specialized competitors.
What are the ongoing fees beyond royalty and advertising?
Additional weekly or monthly fees may include training fees, stylist recruitment contributions, local cooperative fees, a memorial fund contribution, accounting software maintenance, IT security, and penalties for non-compliance with reporting or system requirements.
Does Sport Clips make a financial performance representation?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure contains gross sales data for 1,645 mature stores and expense and profit information for 73 company-owned stores. The franchisor states that other than this disclosure it makes no financial performance representations.
Can I develop multiple Sport Clips locations?
Yes. Multi-unit development agreements are available with tiered franchise fees. Development territories are non-exclusive until stores open. Existing franchisees receive first right of refusal on additional opportunities after the initial term.
What are typical Sport Clips franchisee reviews and outcomes?
Operator outcomes vary by location, management execution, and local market conditions. Prospective buyers should review the full the filed disclosures, speak with existing franchisees, and conduct independent due diligence before investing.
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