Sport Clips Item 19: $409K median across 1,669 mature salons (2+ years operating). The tenure filter explained, year-one ramp, and how Sport Clips compares to Great Clips and Supercuts.
Quick answer: Sport Clips’ Item 19 reports a $409K median across 1,669 mature salons (2+ years operating). The tenure filter explicitly excludes ramp-stage units, which inflates the disclosed median relative to all-salon alternatives. The number describes year-3+ steady-state economics, not year-one performance. Buyers must layer their own ramp assumption: year-one typically tracks at 50-65% of the disclosed median.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,669 franchised salons |
| Sample criteria | Mature salons with 2+ years of operation |
| Median annual gross sales | $409,206 |
| Total system units | 1,754 |
| Total investment (Item 7) | $288,500 - $475,000 |
| Royalty rate | 6% of net sales |
The 2+ years tenure filter is methodologically important and deserves close reading. Most franchise Item 19 disclosures either include all open units (more representative but lower median) or filter to “units open at least 12 months” (a moderate filter). Sport Clips’ 2+ year filter is more aggressive — it explicitly excludes any salon that hasn’t completed a full second year of operations.
The effect on the disclosed median is significant. Hair-services salons typically take 18-24 months to build a stable client base; revenue ramps through year one and continues climbing into year two. A salon at month 30 (the minimum tenure for inclusion) is operating at materially higher revenue than a salon at month 12. By excluding all units under 24 months, Sport Clips’ disclosure surfaces what mature salons earn — not what new salons earn.
That methodology isn’t dishonest; it’s a disclosure choice that’s transparent about what’s being measured. But it means buyers need to do additional work to model the ramp.
A buyer evaluating Sport Clips against the $409K median needs to understand what’s not in that number. Year-one revenue for new salons typically lands at:
Year two typically lands at $300K-$370K (75-90% of mature median). Year three+ enters the disclosed median range. The total ramp curve from opening to median takes 24-30 months for most well-located salons.
A buyer underwriting against the $409K median in year one would run cash-short by month 8. A buyer modeling year-one at 55-65% of disclosed median, year-two at 75-85%, and year-three at the median is operating from realistic assumptions.
Sport Clips and Great Clips run essentially identical economics at the system level. The brand differentiation is positioning rather than financial profile:
| Dimension | Sport Clips | Great Clips |
|---|---|---|
| Target demographic | Men (kids included) | Family (all genders) |
| Salon design | Sports-themed, TVs, masculine décor | Functional, family-friendly |
| Service mix | Cut + MVP service upsell | Cut + add-on services |
| Average ticket | $25-$35 (with MVP upsell) | $20-$25 |
| Customer frequency | Every 3-4 weeks (typical male haircut cycle) | Every 4-6 weeks (mixed) |
The MVP haircut (extended cut with steamed towel, neck/shoulder massage, hair wash) is Sport Clips’ signature service and commands a meaningful premium over the standard cut. Conversion rates from standard to MVP run 25-40% in mature salons, which drives the per-customer revenue premium that lifts the disclosed median modestly above Great Clips’ all-unit median.
For buyers, the brand decision rarely comes down to AUV — the economics are essentially identical. It comes down to operator preference, market demographics, and territory availability. A buyer in a sports-fan-heavy market may find Sport Clips fits the customer base better. A buyer in a family-suburb market may find Great Clips’ broader demographic appeal more durable.
For the head-to-head, see our Sport Clips vs Great Clips vs Supercuts comparison.
Like Great Clips (covered in our Great Clips Item 19 deep dive), Sport Clips’ franchise base is dominated by multi-unit operators. The single-unit economics are workable but thin; the model rewards operators who can scale to 3-5+ salons under management.
Three reasons:
Management overhead amortization. A single salon needs roughly the same minimum management attention as a 3-salon group. Multi-unit operators amortize management costs more efficiently.
Brand development priorities. The franchisor’s development team favors multi-unit candidates. Single-unit territory in attractive markets is constrained.
Operating efficiency. Supplier relationships, hiring pools, marketing efficiency, and operational systems improve at scale. Multi-unit operators run better unit-level margins than first-time single-unit owners.
For brand-specific cost detail, see the live Sport Clips franchise page. For broader category context, best hair salon barbershop franchises.
Sport Clips' most recent Item 19 reports a $409,206 median annual gross sales across 1,669 mature franchised salons that have been in operation for more than 2 years.
The filter explicitly excludes salons in their first 2 years of operation — the ramp-stage period when clientele is still building. The disclosed $409K median describes year-3+ steady-state economics, not year-one performance. A buyer must layer their own ramp assumption on top: year-one is typically 50-65% of the disclosed median.
Sport Clips' $409K median (mature units only) compares to Great Clips' $382K median (all eligible units). Adjusting for Great Clips' looser filter, the brands run essentially identical economics. The differentiation is positioning: Sport Clips targets men with TV-equipped salons and sports-themed branding; Great Clips serves a broader family demographic. Operator preference and market fit drive brand choice more than AUV alone.
The MVP haircut (extended cut with steamed towel, neck and shoulder massage, hair wash) commands a premium price ($25-$35 vs $20-$25 for the standard cut) and contributes meaningfully to per-customer revenue. Conversion rates from standard to MVP run 25-40% in mature salons. The AUV uplift from MVP is part of why the system median sits modestly above Great Clips at the comparable tenure stage.
Item 7 reports a total initial investment range of $288,500 to $475,000. The franchise fee is $59,500. Royalty is 6% of net sales. The investment is higher than Great Clips ($188K-$420K) reflecting the sports-themed buildout, TVs, and slightly larger footprint.
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