First Choice Haircutters vs Great Clips Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
First Choice Haircutters Franchise
Great Clips Franchise
Investment $163,880 - $302,600$146,900 - $282,400
Franchise Fee $29,500 - $49,500$20,000
Royalty Fee 5% - 7%6%
Advertising Fee 3%5%
Year Founded 19801982
Year Franchised 19821983
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee To $3K$1.75K


Business Experience Requirements
 
First Choice Haircutters Franchise
Great Clips Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Customer-service oriented, management skills

  • Marketing skills
  • Strong management & leadership skills
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    First Choice Haircutters Franchise
    Great Clips Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    First Choice Haircutters Franchise
    Great Clips Franchise
    Training Classroom Training: 5 days -
    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, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Co-op 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)

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8 - 10

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    First Choice Haircutters Franchise
    Great Clips Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    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 Great Clips

    Established in 1982, Great Clips started franchising in 1983 and now has locations throughout the United States and Canada. Usually located in strip malls,
    Great Clips hair salons are open evenings and weekends and do not require appointments. On average, franchisees operate three units. Great Clips sponsors NASCAR Busch Series driver Kasey Kahne. The company has also partnered with General Mills, Sprint, Best Buy, Blockbuster, Coca-Cola, Hasbro and DreamWorks.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Great Clips franchise is from $146,900 to $282,400. This includes $25,250 to $30,000 that must be paid to Great Clips or an affiliate for a single franchise agreement, and $40,250 to $45,000 that must be paid to Great Clips or an affiliate for the first salon you develop under a Three Star Program Agreement.
    If you sign a Master Development Agreement, you also must pay to Great Clips or an affiliate a Development Fee of $4,000 for each salon you agree to develop, which would amount to $8,000 to $40,000 if you were granted the right to develop between two and 10 salons.
    Veteran Incentives
    $5,000 rebate on first-store franchise fee

    "Top  ""       "Entrepreneur

    #59 in Canada's Top franchises.

    "franchiserankingscom"
    #35 on Franchise Rankings.com
    #15 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #13 in Franchise 500 for 2021.