First Choice Haircutters vs Cirque Salon Studios Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
First Choice Haircutters Franchise
Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
Investment $163,880 - $302,600$572,837 - $743,085
Franchise Fee $29,500 - $49,500$40,000
Royalty Fee 5% - 7%5%
Advertising Fee 3%1% Nat'l + At least $500/mo local
Year Founded 1980-
Year Franchised 1982-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee To $3K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
First Choice Haircutters Franchise
Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Customer-service oriented, management 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
     
    First Choice Haircutters Franchise
    Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    First Choice Haircutters Franchise
    Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
    Training Classroom Training: 5 days 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 Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection As 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 Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO -
    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)

    		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
     
    First Choice Haircutters Franchise
    Cirque Salon Studios Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    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 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.