Sport Clips vs Supercuts
Both in Personal Services
| Metric | Sport Clips | Supercuts |
|---|---|---|
| Investment (Low) Minimum estimated initial investment from the FDD, including franchise fee and build-out. Lower is better. | $189K | $186K |
| Investment (High) Maximum estimated initial investment. Lower is better for the buyer. | $355K | $323K |
| Franchise Fee One-time upfront fee paid to the franchisor. Lower is better. | $25K | $40K |
| Royalty Ongoing percentage of gross revenue paid to the franchisor, typically weekly or monthly. | 6% | 6% |
| Total Units Total franchised and company-owned locations. More units generally means a more proven system. | 1,584 | 1,801 |
| Growth Rate Net change in total units over the last year. Negative growth may signal franchisee closures. | 8.14% | -5.21% |
| Health Score Composite score (1-100) based on growth, fees, scale, and data quality. Higher is better. | 89 | 57 |
Green = better on that metric. Based on official FDD data.
The growing men's-only brand vs the Regis-owned brand that keeps shrinking
Sport Clips' 8.14% unit growth vs Supercuts' -5.21% decline is the most extreme contrast in the affordable haircut category — one brand is in aggressive expansion while the other is shedding locations at a rate that raises questions about system viability. At Supercuts' current contraction pace, the system loses roughly 94 locations per year from its 1,801-unit base. At Sport Clips' growth rate, the brand adds 129 locations annually. These aren't brands moving in the same direction.
The revenue data reinforces the trajectory gap. Sport Clips' 2016-era Item 19 shows averages of $412K (which are now likely higher given years of price increases and brand growth). Supercuts discloses a more recent median of $297K — a $115K gap per location annually. Both charge 6% royalty on gross sales, which means Sport Clips operators retain approximately $6,900 more per year in royalties on higher revenue, and substantially more in gross margin. Over a 10-year franchise term, that annual gap compounds into six figures.
Sport Clips' men's-only positioning is a deliberate segmentation that drives operational advantages. Men's haircuts are shorter, faster, and more standardized than women's cuts — the average male service takes 15-20 minutes vs 30-45+ for women's cuts. That throughput advantage allows Sport Clips stylists to complete more services per shift, which drives higher revenue per square foot on identical royalty structures. The sports theme — TV at every station, MVP treatment with a shampoo and hot towel — justifies a slight premium over basic walk-in haircuts without requiring salon-level service.
Supercuts is owned by Regis Corporation, which has been restructuring its corporate salon portfolio for years while trying to preserve its franchise brands. The challenge: Regis owns Supercuts and Cost Cutters simultaneously, creating a parent company with two competing brands in the same price tier. Resources, technology investment, and marketing dollars are split between brands rather than concentrated. Sport Clips is independently owned with a single focus — and that organizational focus shows in its growth trajectory.
Sport Clips is unambiguously the stronger investment — better growth, stronger revenue per unit, and a focused franchisor; Supercuts is only worth considering as an acquisition of a specific high-performing existing location at a meaningful discount to a new-build investment.
Not sure which to choose?
A franchise consultant can introduce you to franchisees from both brands, verify the Item 19 numbers on the ground, and help you avoid a territory that's already saturated. Their fee comes from the franchisor — your consultation costs nothing.