If you are looking for information on the Great Clips franchise business opportunity, Great Clips franchises or Great Clips franchising, then you have come to the right place.
Are you ready to make a brilliant executive decision?
If you have executive-level business experience, want to keep your professional career and are looking for a great way to pursue a multi-unit franchising strategy, you really should take a close look at our offering.
Our franchisees utilize their own skills to take full advantage of the many benefits of becoming a Great Clips franchisee. Here are just a few of those benefits:
Established in 1982, Great Clips is the largest brand in the hair care industry. Our salons are conveniently located in strip malls in 138 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. No appointments are necessary for men, women, and children to get haircuts and perms at competitive prices. These services are provided by professional licensed stylists with advanced training from one of 70 Great Clips area training centers.
Additionally, our business model combines three elements: convenience, value, and quality. We're open evenings and on weekends, and we're ready when the customers walk in. We think people should feel like they've got the freedom to come in whenever they want and not have to wait a long time. Our typical waits are less than 10 or 15 minutes. We value our customer's time and we want to honor that for them.
Let's hear from one of our franchisees
"Initially, I really anticipated opening one or two stores, but the business got to be so successful that it made sense for me to leave my existing job as a vice president and devote full time to growing my Great Clips business even further."
-Jim Hemak, over 30 locations
Let's hear from one of our board members
"I started with McDonalds in 1959. I had the opportunity to work with the top people when it was an infant company. I remember it well and I am seeing the same things now at Great Clips. Even though it's a different industry, Great Clips is very similar to where McDonalds was 35 years ago and is going through the same decision-making processes today that we went through then. We figured out, over time, how to leverage the resources of our franchisees and keep our franchisees happy at McDonalds and we are doing the same thing at Great Clips."
-Shelby Yastrow - Former Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of McDonalds from 1978-1998; Member, Great Clips Board of Directors, 1996-Present
Great Clips is an executive's decision that offers an established path to successful multi-unit business development. A true test for any successful franchise concept is the number of franchisees who reinvest into the system and operate multiple units. At Great Clips, franchisees who have operated for over 5 years typically own 5 to 6 salons.
If you really want to leverage your experience and build your own organization, then provide us with your contact information (below) and one of our development managers will contact you shortly.
Thanks for thinking about Great Clips. We look forward to hearing from you.
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.
