The Yellow Balloon vs Cirque Salon Studios Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of The Yellow Balloon vs Cirque Salon Studios including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
The Yellow Balloon Franchise
Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
Investment $55,000 - $103,500$572,837 - $743,085
Franchise Fee $25,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 4%5%
Advertising Fee -1% Nat'l + At least $500/mo local
Year Founded 1983-
Year Franchised 2000-
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Renewal Fee $2.5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
The Yellow Balloon Franchise
Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Management and real estate experience is a plus for Cirque Salon Studios owner/operators. Some of the people who'd make optimal franchisees include real estate professionals (anyone involved in leasing, buying, selling or managing property) and other business professionals with sales, marketing or management experience.

    Financing Options

     
    The Yellow Balloon Franchise
    Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees Yes/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    The Yellow Balloon Franchise
    Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
    Training -Comprehensive pre-opening training and marketing assistance, such as helping you to develop an appropriate local marketing plan and materials to attract studio owners, and conducting recruiting and sales efforts.
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesAs a Cirque Salon Studios franchise owner, you can take advantage of an established system that is focused on quality, consistency, and growth. Our track record is supported by an experienced team that can assist with all phases of your commercial real estate franchise growth: - Site selection and build-out guidance, including our approach to identifying appropriate sites, as well as help with facility designs, architectural resources, and equipment packages. - Comprehensive pre-opening training and marketing assistance, such as helping you to develop an appropriate local marketing plan and materials to attract studio owners, and conducting recruiting and sales efforts. - Confidential operations manual, a detailed, proprietary guide with the critical information you need to operate your franchise business, including daily operating procedures, management functions, reporting, forms, and more. - Ongoing support, including remote support by phone and email, plus webinars, newsletters, and also periodic field visits from a dedicated corporate support rep. - Technology tools, including automated facility entry systems to other tech-based operational tools, to help you manage your commercial real estate franchise business.
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
    Operations

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

    Operate an efficient, technology-driven, real estate-based business, as they lease space to 25 to 30 independent studio owners. The franchise operation is designed to be far less complex and time-consuming than other opportunities, and allows franchise owners to better manage their investments, as well as their personal and professional schedules.

    Expansion Plans

     
    The Yellow Balloon Franchise
    Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    Company Overviews

    About The Yellow Balloon

    Nadia Pidgeon opened her first The Yellow Balloon children's hair salon in 1976 near UCLA and a second location five years later near Universal Studios, serving the children of celebrities, like Warren Beatty, and child stars, like the Olsen Twins. The company began franchising in 2000.
    Each The Yellow Balloon salon caters to kids, featuring mini-arcades and toy boxes, and offering young customers balloons, cookies and popcorn. To commemorate a baby's first haircut, parents are given a framed photo, certificate and lock of hair. Adults can also have their hair cut at The Yellow Balloon.

    About Cirque Salon Studios

    Cirque Salon is part of a unique niche within two immense industries: the $12 trillion commercial real estate industry and the $42 billion hair salon industry . Our real estate investment franchise model is not only highly attractive to studio owners; it is also relatively resistant to economic fluctuations. Plus, our real estate investment franchise is a risk-adjusted, market tested concept with established standards and procedures. Our model is designed to be fully replicable and relatively simple to implement and follow - and it is backed by a full suite of support services and tools. Best of all, with Cirque Salon Studios' built-in automation, minimized staffing needs (no receptionist or other employed staff required), and focus on tenant retention, once your location reaches optimized occupancy rates, you won't have to spend a lot of time managing it.