If you are looking for information on the Fantastic Sams franchise business opportunity, Fantastic Sams franchises or Fantastic Sams franchising, then you have come to the right place.
Fantastic Sams is one of the largest full-service haircare franchises, with salons located in 4 countries. We opened our first salon in July 1974 and began franchising in 1976. Our salons have earned a reputation for providing quality haircare services, including cuts, perms, color and many other services and treatments to the entire family.
According to American Salon's Green Book, haircare is a $59+ billion industry. Not only does the industry offer tremendous opportunity, it is also recession resistant -- hair keeps growing! Regardless of the economy, people continue to have their hair cut and colored, so salon services stay in high demand all year long. NF Marketing Resources projects that the number of women visiting salons will reach 54.3 million by 2010.
Fantastic Sams has been in business for over thirty years. We've been named the #1 full-service haircare franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine. We have also been recognized by Black Enterprise Magazine and Franchise Times as a top franchise opportunity. With such a strong and well-recognized brand, buying a Fantastic Sams franchise is simply a smart investment. Background or experience in the hair care industry is not required.
Professional haircare services, such as cuts, perms and color, create a high degree of customer loyalty. You can quickly build a solid customer base and bring in repeat business.
With nearly 1,400 full-service, family haircare salons, Fantastic Sams provides its franchisees with over 30 years of experience in haircare and business management. We offer solid, proven systems, which are continuously refined to keep you ahead of the competition. The strength of our brand is reinforced through a network of 35 regional owners, over 720 salon operators and more than 13,000 experienced stylists who deliver fantastic service each and every day.
Fantastic Sams franchises are provided with multiple levels of regional and national support. Marketing, recruiting and retention, product sales, site selection and salon development services are all part of the services you will receive as a Fantastic Sams franchisee.
We offer courses at our Fantastic Sams University that teach franchisees about all aspects of the business, from how to manage the manager and grow a business from one location to multiple salons, to the basics of salon ownership. Fantastic Sams offers franchisees start-up programs, recruiting and retention assistance, marketing and advertising programs, field services, and of course the support of the Fantastic Sams Franchise Team. You'll also enjoy the educational and networking benefits of our annual convention, where you'll attend seminars and classes and meet the entire Executive Team, as well as fellow franchisees.
Our education and training also extends to the salon level with on-going courses for stylists that keep them up to date in the latest styles, fashions and trends. Experienced and educated stylists are the primary reason our customers keep coming back.
Brand awareness. Experience. Leadership. These are just a few of the reasons to join the Fantastic Sams family of franchisees.
The information presented may have changed since first published. We recommend that you always verify fees, investment amounts and offers with the business opportunity directly prior to making a decision to invest.
1. What training and ongoing support do you provide?
You want to know what happens after you pay the initial fee. A strong franchisor provides comprehensive pre-opening training, site-selection help, operational playbooks, and continuous assistance with marketing, technology, and supply chains.
2. What is the total initial investment, and did actual startup costs match the estimates in Item 7 of the FDD?
The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) lists estimated startup costs in Item 7, but real-world expenses can run higher. Asking how closely current owners tracked to these estimates reveals if you need extra working capital or if hidden fees exist.
3. How do royalties and local/national marketing fees impact profitability?
You need to understand ongoing financial obligations-such as monthly royalty percentages and ad fund contributions-and evaluate whether the brand value and support justify cutting into your profit margins.
4. What are the common challenges new franchisees face, and how do you help them overcome them?
Transparent franchisors will openly discuss real hurdles like local competition, tight labor markets, or supply chain bottlenecks, and show you the exact playbook or field support they offer to solve them as well as allowing you to speak with other franchisees.
5. How many franchise locations have closed or left the system in the past few years, and why?
High turnover, store closures, or quiet franchise exits are major red flags. This question measures system stability, territory health, and whether the corporate team addresses struggling owners or lets them fail.
