How Much Do Hair Salon Franchise Owners Make?
Hair salon franchise owners earn between $50K and $170K annually. Walk-in, no-appointment value salon models offer predictable recurring revenue with relatively low build-out costs. This hub compares income across the top hair salon franchise brands.
Last Updated: July 2026 | SharpSheets Editorial Analysis
For full FDD cost and fee data on any of these brands, visit FranchisePayback.com — the companion site for franchise disclosure research. SharpSheets owns the income analysis layer; FranchisePayback owns the FDD disclosure layer.
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Hair Salon & Beauty Franchise Owner Income: Brand Comparison
All income estimates use SharpSheets’ bottom-up methodology: disclosed AUV minus total fee load, minus sector-benchmarked operating costs (labor 30–35%, COGS 28–35%, occupancy 8–12%, overhead 5–8%). This is estimated annual net income to an engaged owner-operator — not gross revenue.
| Brand | Est. Annual Owner Income | Full FDD Data |
|---|---|---|
| Great Clips | $70K–$160K | FDD Review → |
| Sport Clips | $80K–$170K | FDD Review → |
| Supercuts | $50K–$110K | FDD Review → |
| Cost Cutters | $60K–$130K | FDD Review → |
| Hair Cuttery | $50K–$120K | FDD Review → |
| Hand & Stone | $80K–$200K | FDD Review → |
How SharpSheets Calculates Franchise Owner Income
Every income estimate on SharpSheets uses the same bottom-up methodology:
- Step 1 — Start with AUV: Disclosed average unit volume from the brand’s FDD or public filings
- Step 2 — Subtract total fees: Combined royalty and marketing fee load off the top
- Step 3 — Subtract operating costs: Labor (30–35%), COGS (28–35%), occupancy (8–12%), and overhead (5–8%) benchmarked to the hair salon & beauty sector
- Step 4 — Result: Estimated annual net income to the owner-operator
This is what an engaged owner-operator takes home at a single location performing near system average. Semi-absentee operators typically see income compress 25–40% due to management overhead.
Brand-by-Brand Income Analysis
Great Clips Franchise Owner Income
Great Clips franchise owners earn approximately $70K–$160K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Great Clips Franchise Owner Make? →
Sport Clips Franchise Owner Income
Sport Clips franchise owners earn approximately $80K–$170K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Sport Clips Franchise Owner Make? →
Supercuts Franchise Owner Income
Supercuts franchise owners earn approximately $50K–$110K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Supercuts Franchise Owner Make? →
Cost Cutters Franchise Owner Income
Cost Cutters franchise owners earn approximately $60K–$130K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Cost Cutters Franchise Owner Make? →
Hair Cuttery Franchise Owner Income
Hair Cuttery franchise owners earn approximately $50K–$120K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Hair Cuttery Franchise Owner Make? →
Hand & Stone Franchise Owner Income
Hand & Stone franchise owners earn approximately $80K–$200K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Hand & Stone Franchise Owner Make? →
Payback Period: What to Expect in Hair Salon & Beauty
Payback period is calculated as total initial investment divided by annual net owner income. In the hair salon & beauty franchise category, payback periods typically range from 2–7 years depending on investment level, market performance, and owner involvement. Owner-operated locations in strong markets compress this timeline materially; semi-absentee or weak-market locations extend it.
→ Model your franchise break-even timeline →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do hair salon & beauty franchise owners make?
Hair Salon & Beauty franchise owners earn between $80K and $160K annually depending on brand, market, and owner involvement level. See the full comparison table above for brand-by-brand income estimates.
What is the difference between franchise AUV and owner income?
AUV (average unit volume) is gross revenue before any costs. Owner income is what remains after royalties, marketing fees, labor, COGS, occupancy, and overhead — typically 10–20% of AUV in most franchise categories. They are very different numbers.
How long is the payback period for a franchise?
Payback periods for hair salon & beauty franchises typically range from 2–7 years depending on investment level, market performance, and owner involvement. See individual brand pages for brand-specific payback estimates.
What is the best franchise to own for income?
The highest-income hair salon & beauty franchises tend to have higher AUV, lower fee loads, and strong owner-operator involvement. See the comparison table above and individual brand income pages for side-by-side analysis.
Where can I find full FDD data for these franchises?
Full FDD data — investment tables, Item 19 disclosures, royalty schedules — is available at FranchisePayback.com. SharpSheets handles income analysis; FranchisePayback handles disclosure research.
Bottom Line
Income in the hair salon & beauty franchise category ranges widely — brand selection, market, and owner involvement are the three biggest variables. Use the comparison table above to shortlist brands, then visit individual income pages for full payback period analysis and break-even modeling.
For FDD cost and fee data on any brand, visit FranchisePayback.com.
— SharpSheets Editorial Team | sharpsheets.io | Last Updated: July 2026