Find the perfect franchise for you

Take our tailored quiz to unlock a customized list of franchise opportunities right in your area.

Navigate quickly

Great Clips

Great Clips salons offer salon services for men, women, and children, including haircuts, shampoo, styling, trims, and conditioning treatments. Great Clips is ideal for those seeking a moderate-risk, steady growth business. Great Clips is a recession resistant business which requires a relatively low investment and allows franchisees to keep their day job while building their salon business. More about the cost of owning a Great Clips franchise below.

Facts & figures
Liquid capital required
$50,000
Net worth required
$300,000
Investment
$160,000 - $202,000
Franchise fee
$20,000
Units in operation
3,520
Great Clips 1

With more than 3,500 salons throughout the United States and Canada, Great Clips is the world’s biggest salon brand. Started in 1982, Great Clips salons employ 35,000 stylists who receive ongoing training to learn advanced skills and the latest trends. Our salon owners and corporate office are dedicated to our communities with a focus on philanthropic and volunteer activities.

A Cut Above the Rest

In 1982, the first Great Clips salon opened its doors near the University of Minnesota campus. The next year, the first franchised Great Clips salon opened in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. There were 150 franchised Great Clip salons in 1988, which grew to 1,000 in 1997, 2,500 in 2006 and now has more than 3,500 locations. Great Clips has national partnerships with brands like Old Navy, NFL.com, NASCAR, and EA Sports, and has placed in the top 40 of Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list every year since 2011.

Why Choose Great Clips?

  • Great Clips is the largest single hair care name brand in North America. We have a nearly 50% market share of all franchised hair salon units. As measured in units, the next closest brand falls short by more than 30%, and the gap grows wider each year.
  • Owners can keep their professional careers—our salons are manager-run.
  • We have more than 1,000 owners who have opened more than 3,500 salons.
  • Our owners believe in multi-unit ownership—our average owner operates five to six salons after five years.
  • We don’t just say we're 100% committed to owner success, we prove it. To eliminate conflict of interest issues, we are not in the business of operating corporate salons—our salons are owned by franchisees.

Support Systems and Training

Great Clips boasts a network of more than 1,000 owners and a pioneering executive team—someone will always be there to support you and share their knowledge. Our proprietary software, Styleware Touch, is the leading management tool in the industry. It tracks cash, inventory, employee productivity and performance, scheduling, staffing and payroll. In addition, we have 24/7 technological support in case you need an extra hand. To top it off, our owner, salon manager, and stylist training are the most comprehensive in the industry, and our recruitment strategies are an invaluable tool for owners.

  • Our two-day, Building Your Legacy training highlights all aspects of the Great Clips operating systems for our new owners.
  • We have more than 65 conveniently located North American training centers provide stylist and manager training.
  • Great Clips also employs Education Specialists who provide ongoing training to Great Clips stylists and salon managers across North America.
  • Our stylist recruitment website garners more than 41,000 online applications every year!
  • We have powerful relationships with many area cosmetology schools, providing you access to stylists just beginning their careers.

FAQs

  • The largest hair salon franchise in the world, with more than 4300 salons open

  • Offers hair care services, such as haircuts, styling and treatments
  • Sells hair products

  • An engaged, dynamic leader with a commitment to thrive
  • The ability to follow a system (one that has been developed and tested for 35 years, in our case) is essential for success in any franchise.
  • Entrepreneurs who are people and community focused

  • Participate in your local co-op, get involved in the meetings, understand the value of working together with your fellow franchisees.
  • Work with the Great Clips marketing team to understand how to promote your salon and drive customers in the doors.
  • Be involved in running the day to day business of your salon

Connect With Us

Check out our resources

Blog articles

Explore articles on franchise opportunities, industry trends, and success stories.

Industry reports

Explore reports on the latest trends in the franchising industry.

In the news

See what the media is saying about us and the franchise industry.

Disclosure documents

Find essential legal documents for evaluating franchises.

Franchise calculator

Use our tool to estimate the costs and benefits of franchises.

Is this your franchise?

Unlock your page now! Update your franchise details and connect with prospective franchisees.