Great Clips franchise
Great Clips is a walk-in hair salon chain offering affordable haircuts for men, women and children, with online check-in. Salons are small, limited-service shops in strip centers, and franchisees usually hire managers rather than cut hair themselves. At the end of 2025 there were 4,441 Great Clips locations in the US, all franchised.
- Cost to open
- $188K–$420K
- Franchise fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 4,441+14 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1983
- First location
- 1982
- Franchisor based in
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Time to open
- 6 to 24 months after signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Great Clips, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Great Clips franchise costs
Opening one Great Clips salon costs an estimated $187,800 to $419,900. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Great Clips, Inc, 2026 filing, page 23
Great Clips franchise fee
The franchise fee is $20,000, per salon, plus a $5,000 initial advertising contribution. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Great Clips, Inc, 2026 filing, page 17
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales (the continuing franchise fee), paid every two weeks. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 5% of gross sales to the advertising fund, paid every two weeks. |
Source: Great Clips, Inc, 2026 filing, page 20
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Great Clips publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2025 average sales for franchised salons and sales, expenses and cash flow for a reporting subset. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Great Clips, Inc, 2026 filing, page 58
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,427 (0) | 0 | 98 |
| 2024 | 4,439 (+12) | 0 | 103 |
| 2025 | 4,441 (+2) | 0 | 108 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Great Clips, Inc, 2026 filing, page 68
How Great Clips compares
Of the 6 salon franchises on this site, Great Clips is the 2nd cheapest to open and the largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Great Clips | Typical salon |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $188K | $371K |
| Royalty | 6% | 6% |
| Closed or left per year | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +0.3% | +13.4% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 6 of 6 |
Typical is the median across the 6 brands in salon franchises.
Other salon franchises
Great Clips franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Great Clips?
6 to 24 months after signing, according to Great Clips's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Great Clips help with financing?
No. Great Clips does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Great Clips franchisees get a protected territory?
No. Great Clips grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another Great Clips can open nearby.
How long is a Great Clips franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Great Clips growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 323 franchised locations opened and 309 closed or left, a net change of +0.3%. About 2.3% of locations closed or left each year. That is in line with the 1.9% typical for salon franchises.
How does Great Clips compare with other salon franchises?
Of the 6 salon franchises here, Great Clips is the 2nd cheapest to open (low end $188K against a $371K median) and the largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is in line with the 6% median.
Does Great Clips say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2025 average sales for franchised salons and sales, expenses and cash flow for a reporting subset. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Great Clips based?
Great Clips, Inc is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the brand has sold franchises since 1983; the first location opened in 1982.