From the filings
Great Clips vs Sport Clips
Two franchise brands, side by side, from their filings.
More vendor edges
Great Clips
wins 4 of 10 rows
Great Clips is the larger system and is adding franchised locations faster.
At Great Clips, headquarters controls purchasing; at Sport Clips, owners buy from an approved list.
Sport Clips reports more revenue per location.
Evidence
Locations: 4,441 at Great Clips, 1,837 at Sport Clips.
Item 20
Evidence
Franchised location growth: 0% at Great Clips, -1.7% at Sport Clips.
Item 20
Evidence
Purchasing: Franchisor controlled at Great Clips, Approved supplier list at Sport Clips.
Item 8
Older dataFigures for Sport Clips are from its 2025 filing. A newer filing is overdue, so they may have changed.
Personal services
Great Clips
4 vendor edges
Personal services
Sport Clips
2 vendor edges
Total locations
4,441Vendor edgemore locations to sell to
1,837
Franchised locations
4,441Vendor edgemore owner-run locations
1,754
Franchised location growth
0%Vendor edgemore new locations opening
-1.7%
AUV
$411K
$419KVendor edgemore budget per location
Royalty
6%full terms unconfirmed
6%full terms unconfirmed
Ad fund
5%
1%
Initial fee
$20K
$70K
Investment range
$188K–$420K
$289K–$475K
Purchasing
Franchisor controlled
Approved supplier listVendor edgeowners can buy, not only headquarters
FDD year
2026Vendor edgethe vendor edge
2025
Who decides, side by side
Who decides, by category
Great Clips
Headquarters picks the POS, the card processor, supplies and the loyalty program.
Point of saleRequired
HQPicks the vendorMulti-unitNo saySingle-unitNo say
Headquarters picks. Sell to headquarters.Franchise agreement
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Evidence
Headquarters designates the POS every location uses.
“Franchisee must install and use the electronic data processing and communications hardware and software, including voice mail systems, computers, salon technology systems, and network and hardware equipment as Great Clips may designate.”
Great ClipsFranchise agreement · 2026 filing
Card processingRequired
HQPicks the vendorMulti-unitNo saySingle-unitNo say
Headquarters picks. Sell to headquarters.Global Payments · Item 8
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Evidence
Payments is required through Global Payments.
“Great Clips’ sole designated supplier for processing electronic payments is currently Global Payments. … You will pay Global Payments a one-time set up fee per salon (currently $15), a processing fee per transaction (currently $.016), and a monthly charge per salon for Global Payments’ Merchant Protection Program (currently $5), which you are automatically enrolled in as a participating merchant.”
Great ClipsItem 8 · 2026 filing
Supplies and equipmentRequired
HQPicks the vendorMulti-unitNo saySingle-unitNo say
Headquarters picks. Sell to headquarters.Item 8
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Evidence
Headquarters designates where supplies come from.
“You must carry GREAT CLIPS® exclusive brand haircare products in your Salon and must purchase these products from suppliers designated by Great Clips.”
Great ClipsItem 8 · 2026 filing
CRMNot stated
HQMulti-unitThe filing doesn’t saySingle-unit
The filing doesn’t say. Ask headquarters who decides.
LoyaltyRequired
HQPicks the vendorMulti-unitNo saySingle-unitNo say
Headquarters picks. Sell to headquarters.Franchise agreement
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Evidence
Every location runs headquarters’ loyalty program.
“Franchisee will fully participate in all promotional campaigns, contests, sweepstakes, special offers, customer loyalty program, or other programs, whether international, national, regional, or local in nature (including the introduction of new services or products, or new franchisees or other marketing programs directed or approved by Great Clips), which are prescribed by Great Clips.”
Great ClipsFranchise agreement · 2026 filing
Who decides, by category
Sport Clips
Headquarters picks the POS. Supplies come from an approved list. Headquarters sets standards for the accounting system.
Point of saleRequired
HQPicks the vendorMulti-unitNo saySingle-unitNo say
Headquarters picks. Sell to headquarters.Franchise agreement
Show the evidenceHide the evidence
Evidence
Headquarters designates the POS every location uses.
“The Franchisee shall maintain at the premises of the Franchise Business at least one computerized point-of-sale system approved by the Franchisor.”
Sport ClipsFranchise agreement · 2025 filing
From the 2025 filing. A newer filing is overdue, so this may have changed.Card processingNot stated
HQMulti-unitThe filing doesn’t saySingle-unit
The filing doesn’t say. Ask headquarters who decides.
Supplies and equipmentApproved list
HQApproves a listMulti-unitChooses from the listSingle-unitChooses from the list
Get on the approved list, then sell owner by owner.Item 8
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Evidence
Supplies come from suppliers headquarters approves.
“You must also purchase inventory and equipment from our approved vendors.”
Sport ClipsItem 8 · 2025 filing
From the 2025 filing. A newer filing is overdue, so this may have changed.CRMNot stated
HQMulti-unitThe filing doesn’t saySingle-unit
The filing doesn’t say. Ask headquarters who decides.
AccountingStandards-based
HQSets standardsMulti-unitChooses what meets themSingle-unitChooses what meets them
Meet the standard, then sell to owners.Franchise agreement
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Evidence
Owners keep books to headquarters’ requirements.
“During the term of this Agreement, the Franchisor requires the Franchisee to use a standardized on-line accounting system provided by a third-party, and as directed by the Franchisor, and the Franchisor shall have the right to access the Franchisee’s accounting records and compile data from those records and reports.”
Sport ClipsFranchise agreement · 2025 filing
From the 2025 filing. A newer filing is overdue, so this may have changed.Common questions
Great Clips vs Sport Clips, answered
Great Clips has 4,441 total locations and Sport Clips has 1,837, so Great Clips is the larger system.
Great Clips grew locations 0% year over year vs -1.7% for Sport Clips, so Great Clips is growing faster.
Great Clips reports $411K in average unit revenue and Sport Clips reports $419K, so Sport Clips has the higher AUV.
Great Clips: Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing. Sport Clips: Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing. Percentage components alone do not establish the lower total payment.
Great Clips's initial franchise fee is $20K and Sport Clips's is $70K, so Great Clips has the lower fee.
Great Clips's initial investment runs $188K–$420K and Sport Clips's runs $289K–$475K, so Sport Clips requires the larger investment.