The Year of the Franchise

As millions of Americans reevaluated their career paths in the past few years and decided they want to control their own fate by running their own business, 2022 has truly become the year of the franchise, and for most, the best time to jump into the franchise industry.

Indeed, the COVID pandemic reversed a decades-long decline in the pace of entrepreneurship. According to a report in Vox, a record 5.4 million Americans applied for business IDs in 2021, with 2022 on track to surpass that number.

Even Forbes magazine reported that as many businesses struggled during the pandemic, franchises thrived. For so many Americans who wanted to run their own business, they chose the franchise model, which offers so many advantages, such as a proven operating strategy, strong backing support and brand awareness.

“After nearly two years of economic uncertainty, more and more people are following their entrepreneurial dreams and taking control of their destiny through business ownership,” Forbes wrote. “As a result, interest in franchising is reaching an unprecedented high, and 2022 is set to be a year of major franchise growth.”

Salon Franchise Industry is Booming

The hair care and beauty industry has seen this same remarkable growth in the past few years. In the U.S. alone, the hair and beauty industry generated $64 billion in revenue in 2018, with the 50 largest salons accounting for about 15% of sales.

According to a report Trafft, the market could hit $87 billion by 2023!

“The hair care and beauty industry is dynamic and continues to grow at a rapid pace,” Trafft reported. “Consumers are always looking for the latest trends and the best hair care products and services. Their needs are always changing. In order to meet these demands, the hair industry continues to develop and evolve.”

Why Invest In Sport Clips?

All over the country, our franchisees are reporting their customers are restless to get back in the barber chair and reconnect with the people who have cut their hair for years. That’s why we believe Sport Clips is truly poised for a banner year in business and growth in 2022 and beyond.

But don’t just take our word for it – Sport Clips is consistently one of the highest ranked hair franchises among franchise industry experts.

Franchise Rankings

Entrepreneur magazine ranked Sport Clips as the No. 24 best franchise to invest in for 2022 on its esteemed “Franchise 500” ranking, beating out hundreds of other franchises across a swath of other markets and industries. Entrepreneur highlighted the brand’s low initial investment costs, training & support program, recent growth, and ability for franchisees to scale up.

Top Franchise, one of the premier trackers in the franchise industry, also recently listed Sport Clips as one of the top 10 best haircut franchise businesses opportunities out there.

“For entrepreneurs looking to build a business, Sport Clips franchise is an easy-to-understand business model that’s simple to execute while offering something every guy needs,” Top Franchise wrote in its rankings. “Enjoy greater freedom and reach your personal and financial goals, growing a business on your terms that will always be in demand and has recurring revenue.”

Last but certainly not least, NerdWallet, the go-to spot for so many Americans and their business needs, recently reported Sport Clips was among the top hair salon franchises for 2022, pointing out Sport Clips has grown from about 50 stores in 1998 to now more than 1,800 locations across the U.S.

Franchise Support

Sport Clips is here to support our franchisees as they grow their businesses, and that starts from the ground up.

From day one, Sport Clips has an entire team dedicated to helping our franchisees secure the right location, implementing GIS technology, as well as demographic and psychographic data. We also have long-term relationships with landlords and developers, which has a tremendous advantage in helping secure a location.

We also make a team of coaches available for you to utilize to train your managers and stylists, and outfit you with a comprehensive marketing strategy to make sure you reach customers in your community.

At the end of the day, you’ll have all the tools and support you need to master all the Sport Clips business fundamentals, including how to hire and develop a team, manage compensation, scheduling, and recruiting, understand team roles, use our technology to understand financials, market effectively, engage with your community, and much, much more!

Invest In The Hair Industry Today!

Hair care and beauty industry studies show customers are eager to get back to scheduled appointments after shutdowns temporarily closed salons and barbershops in the early days of the pandemic. Not surprisingly, nearly 80% of consumers said that regular salon and spa services are critical to regain a sense of normalcy as the world reopens.

This is exactly the case at Sport Clips. Founded in 1993, Sport Clips has grown to over 1,800 locations in North America and is the only hair cutting franchise to have a footprint in all 50 states.

If you’re ready to invest in a Sport Clips at this exciting time for franchising, fill out our form here and one of our team members will be in touch. We can’t wait to start a conversation with you!

Not Every Franchise Is The Same

Not all franchises are the same, therefore not all franchises are created equally. That’s why there are different types of franchise ownership.

It’s truly a common misconception that the franchise model is a one-size-fits-all. When you break down the facts, you start to realize every franchise is unique. Some run very differently from others, especially depending on the services and/or products offered.

What’s more, not every franchise support team is the same. Some cater less to franchisee success, while others are very hands-on, with you every step of the way. At Sport Clips, we make sure our franchisees are set up to thrive, providing you with well-documented systems, a strong support team, and a proven business model to help your entrepreneurial dreams become reality.

Not Every Franchisee Is The Same

Not only do franchise systems differ, but so do the people who run them. In fact, franchisees can come from an incredibly diverse background from all types of careers and previous work experience.

It’s common for people who enter the franchise model to have a multi-level franchise portfolio, which allows individual business owners to diversify their revenue streams and product/service offerings.

At the same time, it’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs just starting their franchise journey. According to a report in NPR, applications to start new businesses hit 5.4 million in 2021 – a new record – surpassing the 2020 record of 4.4 million. “In the pandemic, millions of people have decided this is the moment to chase their dreams,” NPR reported.

Also, people who start franchises also aren’t limited by lifestyle. Some are retirees, looking for a new, exciting adventure in the next stage of their career. Others have families and are just starting to build a life for themselves and their loved ones.

Across the board, we see all types of people decide the franchise system is the right call for them, like immigrants building their life in America, and veterans looking for the best opportunity after their years of service.

Without a doubt, we’ve seen so many franchisees, some with experience in hair care, some without, find incredible success with Sport Clips.

Owner/Operator

The first type of franchise ownership we’ll talk about is “owner/operator.”

With this model, you are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business, which allows you to maintain total control over your investment. As an owner/operator, you make all the decisions. Typically, this model is the first step for a first-time franchisee.

Some drawbacks to consider: this model can be time consuming, and will likely require you to give up your day job (if you have one) and that income. And, because one unit will require long hours, it will take a while before you are able to expand.

However, your costs for employees will be lower compared to other models since you are in charge. This is a great model for detail oriented people who like to have control over every aspect of the business.

Executive/Absentee

Looking solely for an investment opportunity? Then the executive/absentee model is the fit for you.

Since you hire out all functions of the business and don’t get into the nitty-gritty of day-to-day operations, your time commitment is minimal and no industry knowledge is required. If applicable, you can maintain your current job and commitments. Lastly, this model allows for incredible growth, since you can run multiple locations in a backseat, management style.

Some cons: you’ll have higher staffing and operational costs. You trust your success with your employees, which may require you to invest more capital to hire the right people for the job.

Semi-Absentee

Think of a semi-absentee model as a blend of the owner/operator and executive/absentee. This model is ideal if you want additional income and to build equity to diversify your current income. Yes, you hire staff for day-to-day operations, but you focus on leading the business strategy and managing the managers. As a result, this is a good model for people who like to manage, with no industry knowledge required. And, it allows you to own multiple locations because of the investment’s scalability.

Indeed, this franchise model combines the control of an owner/operator model with the time commitment of the executive/absentee model.

What Makes Franchising With Sport Clips Different?

With Sport Clips, our franchisees are focused on a higher level of personal engagement when it comes to their locations. The type of franchise ownership that works at Sport Clips is a people first version of the semi-absentee model. As part of the franchise application/evaluation process, we ensure candidates are a great fit for the culture and requirements of the Sport Clips model. At the same time, we give careful consideration that franchisees are compatible with our business model. Enthusiasm is something many brands ignore, but it is a must at SportClips. It’s embedded in our culture and aligns our franchisees for long-term success in attracting and keeping the best stylist in the industry.

From day one, we make sure our franchisees have every possible resource at their disposal, offering one of the most robust support platforms in the entire industry. We focus on providing you with the tools, resources, and coaching you need to thrive as a business owner, whether you’re just starting out or adding to a complex franchise portfolio.

Ready to start your next chapter as a Sport Clips Team Leader?

If you’re interested in learning more about the Sport Clips franchise opportunity, simply fill out an inquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly. We can’t wait to learn more about you!