First Choice Haircutters vs The Lemon Tree Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of First Choice Haircutters vs The Lemon Tree including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
First Choice Haircutters Franchise
The Lemon Tree Franchise
Investment $163,880 - $302,600$161,206 - $232,572
Franchise Fee $29,500 - $49,500$32,500
Royalty Fee 5% - 7%6%
Advertising Fee 3%-
Year Founded 19801974
Year Franchised 19821976
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Renewal Fee To $3K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
First Choice Haircutters Franchise
The Lemon Tree Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Customer-service oriented, management skills
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    First Choice Haircutters Franchise
    The Lemon Tree Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoYes/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesYes/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    First Choice Haircutters Franchise
    The Lemon Tree Franchise
    Training Classroom Training: 5 days Additional training available as needed
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations 63% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    15% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5 - 10

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (60% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    First Choice Haircutters Franchise
    The Lemon Tree Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About First Choice Haircutters

    In 1980, A. Bud Cowan started First Choice Haircutters as a low-priced hair salon for the entire family, offering a 'no appointment necessary' concept for on-the-go customers. Two years later, the company started franchising the concept. With over 300 locations in Canada and the United States, First Choice Haircutters offers affordable, professional hair care in bright, contemporary salons.

    "Top

    #102 in Canada's Top franchises.

    About The Lemon Tree

    Lemon Tree Hair Salons is proud to be a national brand of locally owned and operated hair salons. We are a large family of professional hair salons, all locally owned and operated in many areas of the country. We at Lemon Tree Hair Salons are proud of our brand's rich history of providing high quality salon services at value pricing for the past 45 years! We value our amazing talent and are always excited to offer our full range of value priced, professional salon services, including Haircuts. So please, next time you find yourself searching online for "Haircuts near me", feel free to visit your local salon and discover for yourself the Lemon Tree difference!
    The Lemon Tree was founded in 1974 to provide family haircuts. When Joan M. Cable purchased her first salon in Bethpage, New York, this mother of three kept the salon open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

    Today, nearly 100 franchises offer services ranging from haircuts and styling to beard and mustache trim, updos, body waves, highlighting, coloring and permanents.