# Sport Clips vs. Supercuts Franchise: Which Hair Franchise in 2026? > Sport Clips vs Supercuts franchise 2026: $409K vs $297K median revenue, men-focused vs unisex positioning, different ramp profiles, different capital requirements. **Last updated**: 2026-06-05 **URL**: https://vetmyfranchise.com/blog/sport-clips-vs-supercuts-franchise?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md > **Quick answer:** [Sport Clips](/franchise/sport-clips-inc?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md) and [Supercuts](/franchise/supercuts-inc?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md) compete in the same hair-services category with different positioning and economics. Sport Clips produces higher absolute revenue ($409K mature-salon median) at higher capital and tighter ratio. Supercuts produces lower absolute revenue ($297K all-salon median) at lower capital with a stronger AUV-to-investment ratio. Sport Clips has stronger brand momentum; Supercuts has the broader system but limited growth trajectory. For most prospective franchisees, the right choice depends on capital available and operator profile — neither brand is universally better. ## Side-by-Side Comparison | Metric | Sport Clips | Supercuts | |---|---:|---:| | Sample size | 1,669 (2+ year mature) | 1,661 (all salons) | | Median revenue | $409K (mature-filter) | $297K (no filter) | | Investment range | $258,481 - $483,015 | $1,000 - $353,460 | | Franchise fee | $69,500 | $12,500 | | Royalty | 6% | 4% | | Ad fund | 5% | 5% | | AUV/Investment (midpoint) | ~1.1× | ~1.7× | | Target customer | Men (sports-themed) | Unisex (value) | | System size | ~1,750 salons | ~1,660 salons | | System growth | Modest growth | Stable / minimal growth | ## Where Sport Clips Wins **Higher absolute revenue (mature salons).** $409K median revenue is materially higher than Supercuts' $297K. Per-salon owner cash flow is correspondingly higher at the mature steady-state. **Stronger brand momentum.** Sport Clips has been growing system units; Supercuts has been stable. The brand's men-focused positioning continues to capture customer mind-share in a category where most brands face share-shift challenges. **Distinctive brand positioning.** Sports-themed salons with multiple TVs, sports-magazine selection, and the MVP haircut service create a positioning that's clearly differentiated from generic hair-services franchises. **Higher average ticket.** Men's haircut ticket at Sport Clips runs $20-$28 typical vs. Supercuts' $15-$22. The premium-positioning ticket lift compounds across visit volume. **Brand-driven customer affinity.** Sports-themed positioning creates customer affinity beyond convenience — repeat customers choose Sport Clips because they like the experience, not just because it's nearby. Affinity-driven repeat is harder to displace than convenience-driven repeat. For detailed unit economics, see our [Sport Clips Item 19 deep dive](/blog/sport-clips-item-19-deep-dive?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md). ## Where Supercuts Wins **Lower entry capital.** Supercuts' $1K-$353K range (with acquisition opportunities at the very low end) is materially lower than Sport Clips' $258K-$483K. For capital-constrained first-time franchisees, Supercuts offers an accessible entry point. **Stronger AUV-to-investment ratio.** 1.7× midpoint vs. Sport Clips' 1.1×. Supercuts' lower investment offsets the lower absolute revenue. **Lower franchise fee.** $12,500 vs. $69,500. Modest in absolute terms but signals different brand-positioning vs. capital-monetization strategies. **Lower royalty.** 4% vs. 6%. The 2-point royalty difference compounds to meaningful dollar differences over the franchise term. **Larger acquisition opportunity pool.** Supercuts' mature stable-but-not-growing system produces regular turnover of existing salons available for acquisition. Buying an existing salon at $30K-$80K with established customer base is an accessible entry path that Sport Clips doesn't offer at comparable capital levels. For detailed unit economics, see our [Supercuts Item 19 deep dive](/blog/supercuts-item-19-deep-dive?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md). ## Where They're Roughly Equal **Operating model.** Both are walk-in salon formats with similar staffing structures (commissioned stylists, lean operating teams). **Stylist-labor pressure.** Both face the same structural labor-tightening that affects the entire hair-services category. **Ad fund.** Both at 5%. **Real-estate footprint.** Similar 1,000-1,500 sq ft strip-center sites. ## Which Operator Profile Each Fits ### Sport Clips fits - Multi-unit operators with $500K+ available capital - Operators in markets with strong men-focused customer demographics - Buyers seeking growth-momentum brand exposure - Operators willing to commit to mature-salon ramp (the disclosed numbers reflect 2+ year mature performance) ### Supercuts fits - First-time franchisees with limited capital ($50K-$200K) - Buyers of existing salons at acquisition prices - Operators seeking lower-capital multi-unit expansion (3-8+ salons) - Buyers in markets where Sport Clips territory is saturated ## The Honest Bottom Line Sport Clips offers higher absolute revenue and better brand momentum; Supercuts offers lower capital entry and better AUV-to-investment ratio. Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on operator profile and market context. For most multi-unit operators with capital depth, Sport Clips is the stronger growth bet. The brand momentum, mature-salon revenue level, and customer-affinity dynamics support better long-term franchise asset value. For first-time franchisees with limited capital, Supercuts' acquisition entry path offers access to a national-brand franchise at capital levels that Sport Clips doesn't match. The lower revenue is offset by lower investment — the deal economics work, just at smaller absolute scale. For broader context, see our [Sport Clips Item 19 deep dive](/blog/sport-clips-item-19-deep-dive?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md), [Supercuts Item 19 deep dive](/blog/supercuts-item-19-deep-dive?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md), and [Great Clips Item 19 deep dive](/blog/great-clips-item-19-deep-dive?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md). ## Brands mentioned in this post - [Sport Clips](/franchise/sport-clips-inc?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md) - [Supercuts](/franchise/supercuts-inc?utm_source=claude&utm_medium=ai_referral&utm_campaign=vmf_agent_md)