Sport Clips^®

Personal Care • Year: 2024

All product and company names mentioned are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of these names does not imply any affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by them.

What Is Sport Clips?

Sport Clips is a franchise in the Personal Care category offering hair cutting and hair styling services primarily for men and boys from brick-and-mortar retail stores generally located in strip center locations. It operates a sports‑themed environment (including televisions at stations and approved sports programming) and sells related hair care products. The business is consumer‑focused (B2C) and the core service bundle is haircutting/styling combined with retail hair care products delivered within the branded sports‑themed store experience.

Sport Clips Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchise's most notable strength is its intensive 166 total training hours (top 5% in Personal Care), showing strong pre-opening support, but the biggest risk is the high Item 7 maximum franchise fee of $69,500 (top 10%), which raises upfront costs and reduces cash available for build-out.

Pros

166 total training hours is well above typical for Personal Care (top 5%), showing the franchisor invests heavily in preparing new operators before opening.

A Training & Support Score of 100 is well above typical for Personal Care (top 10%), indicating unusually strong ongoing support and resources for franchisees.

A Territory Protection Score of 59 is well above typical for Personal Care (top 10%), giving you stronger protection from nearby franchisor openings than most peers.

Cons

The Item 7 maximum franchise fee is $69,500, well above typical for Personal Care (top 10%), increasing the upfront cost and leaving you with less cash on hand for build-out.

23 reacquired outlets is well above typical for Personal Care (top 5%), signaling higher operator turnover and that franchisees have exited the system more often than peers.

75 company-owned locations is well above typical for Personal Care (top 5%), meaning a larger corporate footprint that can limit new franchise opportunities and reduce resale liquidity.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

Sport Clips reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

59/100

Good

Sport Clips grants an exclusive, site-specific territory for the five-year term-the lesser of a 1-mile radius or a radius reflecting market density (25,000 people); relocation is permitted with company approval. After five years exclusivity ends; franchisor may develop the area, franchisee holds a 30-day first-refusal, and franchisor retains e-commerce rights.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

The brand provides an Extensive 166-hour training curriculum designed to prepare two managerial staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch assistance for operational readiness, provided without additional franchisor fees, and franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses.

Franchisee Stability

71/100

Good

Sport Clips earns a Good Stability Score. Three-year turnover of 1.76% is well below the typical Personal Care franchise (around 3%), so the system retains owners at a notably higher rate than most industry peers. Out of 94 total exits across the three-year span, ceased operations dominated with 94, alongside no terminations, no non-renewals, and no franchisor buybacks.

This pattern suggests location-level economics drove most exits: operators appear to have closed underperforming locations or decided to stop operating units, often for local reasons such as weakened foot traffic, unfavorable leases, or stronger nearby competitors, rather than being removed through franchisor enforcement. Beyond its industry-relative position, a 1.76% three-year turnover rate is genuinely exceptional in absolute terms across all of franchising. Examine unit-level economics in the geographies where closures have concentrated.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Sport Clips Franchise?

Opening a Sport Clips franchise requires a total initial investment of $276,800 to $463,000, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$276,800

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$463,000

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$30,000

Real Estate$100,500

Equipment & Assets$66,000

Reserves$40,000

Training$1,000

Other$39,300

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$69,500

Real Estate$172,000

Equipment & Assets$91,000

Reserves$75,000

Training$2,000

Other$53,500

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do Sport Clips Franchise Owners Make?

Sport Clips franchise locations reported average gross sales of $423,055 and median gross sales of $406,876 in 2024, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$423,055

Median Gross Sales:

$406,876

Sample Size:

1645

Percent Attaining Average:

45.4%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Franchised mature stores averaged $423,055 in gross sales in 2023, while company-owned stores report an average operating profit of $119,946, indicating franchised stores generate substantial top-line revenue though company P&L details are reported separately.

Performance Variability Analysis: Sales among franchised stores are dispersed across broad bands with a median of $406,876 and only six stores reporting over $1,000,000, showing meaningful variability and that roughly 45.4% of franchised stores exceeded the 2023 average.

Data Scope and Limitations: The franchised sales data cover 1,645 mature stores in 2023 but do not provide exact single-unit high/low figures, and expense details are limited to 75 company-owned stores and exclude certain cost items like royalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sport Clips a good franchise to own?

Whether Sport Clips is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2024 FDD: Sport Clips operates 1860 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Sport Clips franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Sport Clips franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $276,800 to $463,000. Sport Clips disclosed average gross sales of $423,055 in 2024. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

How long does it take to break even with a Sport Clips franchise?

Break-even timelines for Sport Clips franchises are not disclosed in the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is Sport Clips a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2024 FDD, Sport Clips operates 1785 franchised locations and 75 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

Interested in Sport Clips?

Get more information and connect with the franchise directly.