Paradox
Mandatoryrogram and sign the Participation Agreement. (Franchise Agreement – Section 7.25) h. Employee Recruiting Software. Although not required, you may elect to use our approved vendor, Paradox, to recruit
HQ-led decisions
Cost Cutters
Personal servicesSoftware purchasing at Cost Cutters is controlled at the corporate level, with a mandated technology stack that includes Zenoti for point-of-sale and back-office operations. The franchise system comprises 405 total units, with 329 franchised locations representing the primary addressable market for vendor sales. The most recent Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) from 2026 identifies key executives and a strict technology mandate, signaling a centralized procurement process.
Live signals
Total units
405
329 franchised
Unit growth YoY
-28.942%
vs prior filing
AUV
$280K
Item 19, 2025
Royalty
4%
of gross sales
Ad fund
4%
national + local
Initial fee
$40K
per unit
Investment range
$181K–$342K
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Item 19
Claims
unaudited
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
3 of these are mandated in the franchise agreement. Each is named in Item 11 of the filing, the incumbents a challenger must displace or integrate with.
SVS
Mandatoryrograms. We will create and implement promotions and loyalty programs aimed at driving customers to Cost Cutters. We have implemented a gift card program with our approved vendor, SVS, and you must pa
ZenotiZenoti, Inc.
Mandatoryur right to access the information on your Computer System, except that we will not unreasonably interfere with your Salon’s operation. The current approved Computer System is the Zenoti System that m
MindbodyMindbody, Inc.
in July 2020 and also co-founded Apex Perspectives, LLC in July 2020. Mr. Mansbach was the Board Director of Product Plan from October 2020 through May 2022, was the President of MINDBODY, Inc. from J
Who buys here
The buyer at this brand
The decision-maker a vendor sells to at this scale, and the gaps they’re paid to close, derived from our data by segment and unit count, not a guess.
HQ leadership: CEO/President + VP Ops/Franchise + a first dedicated IT/systems owner.
VP SalesHead of SalesCROSales Director
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The vendor opportunity at Cost Cutters
Cost Cutters operates in the personal services segment with a total of 405 locations, of which 329 are franchised units. For a software vendor, these 329 franchised locations represent the addressable market, as the 76 company-owned units may follow a separate procurement path. The average unit volume (AUV) is $279,898, and the royalty rate stands at 4.0%. However, the system contracted significantly, with a year-over-year unit decline of -28.9%, a factor that may influence budget cycles and appetite for new technology.
Who controls software purchasing
Decision-making authority rests at the headquarters level, based on the franchisor's technology mandates. The FDD lists Susan Lintonsmith as Chairman of the Board of Directors, alongside directors Michael J. Merriman, Lockie Andrews, Michael Mansbach, and Nancy Benacci. While a dedicated Chief Information Officer or VP of Technology is not named in the available Item 1 extract, the board-level composition indicates that strategic software purchases are approved by senior leadership. Vendors should target this C-suite and director group when initiating contact.
Mandated and current tech stack
The 2026 FDD is explicit about the technology franchisees must use. The brand mandates a point-of-sale and back-office computer system, with Zenoti and the Zenoti System named as the required solutions. Additionally, SVS is listed as a mandated system, and Paradox is identified as a recommended or mandated technology. This creates a narrow window for vendors: any new software must either integrate with the Zenoti ecosystem or replace a mandated component, which would require a corporate-level decision. The absence of other named systems suggests the stack is tightly controlled.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Procurement details are sparse in the available data. Item 8 of the FDD, which typically describes purchasing restrictions and approved suppliers, provided no extract, meaning the specific procurement model—whether designated supplier, approved supplier, or open—is not disclosed in the most recent FDD. Similarly, the initial franchise term length and Item 17 renewal signals are absent, making it difficult to predict contract windows. The significant unit decline may signal a period of consolidation, which could either freeze new software spending or create urgency for efficiency tools.
How to read the Cost Cutters FDD
The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document is the primary source for understanding the legal and operational constraints on technology adoption. Key sections for software vendors include Item 11 (mandated systems, where Zenoti and SVS are named) and Item 1 (executive leadership). Because Item 8 and Item 17 details are not available in this extract, vendors should review the full FDD below for supplier approval processes and renewal terms. The document is filed with state franchise regulators and embedded on this page for direct analysis. For a ranked target list of franchise systems aligned with your software, FranCloud can help prioritize your outreach.
Questions vendors ask
Cost Cutters, answered from the filing
The FDD lists Susan Lintonsmith as Chairman, with directors Michael J. Merriman, Lockie Andrews, Michael Mansbach, and Nancy Benacci. A specific CIO or VP of IT is not named, but the board-level control suggests a top-down purchasing decision.
The 2026 FDD mandates a point-of-sale and back-office computer system, specifically naming Zenoti and the Zenoti System, along with SVS and Paradox as required or recommended technology.
The system has 405 total units, consisting of 329 franchised and 76 company-owned locations. The brand operates in the personal services segment.
The procurement model is not disclosed in the most recent FDD. Item 8, which typically outlines purchasing restrictions and approved suppliers, provided no extract in the available data.
Contract renewal timing is unclear. The initial term length and Item 17 renewal signals were not disclosed in the 2026 FDD, and the system experienced a -28.9% year-over-year unit decline, suggesting potential instability.
The 2026 FDD was filed with state franchise regulators. You can review the embedded PDF viewer below for the full legal document and technology disclosures.
Source
Read the filing itself
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FDD alert
Tell me when this brand refiles.
We’ll email you the moment Cost Cutters files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
385 operators run 385 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Single-unit385
Top states by locations
| WI | 85 |
|---|---|
| TX | 39 |
| IA | 34 |
| AZ | 26 |
| NE | 24 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind Cost Cutters
parent_company of Regis Corporation.
Related Personal services brands
Primary franchise filings · updated June 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.