Nine Years at #1: Why Great Clips Keeps Showing Up at the Top of the Franchise 500®

For the ninth year in a row, Great Clips has been named the #1 franchise in the Personal Care category in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500®. That’s not a typo. Nine. Consecutive. Years.

We also landed at #40 overall on the 2026 list, earning top marks for unit growth, financial strength and stability, operational and marketing support, and brand power. In a ranking that compares hundreds of franchise systems across industries, that combination matters. A lot.

FRANCHISE 500® AT A GLANCE

#1 in Personal Care—9 years running

Great Clips has led the category longer than any other brand.

#40 overall in 2026

Recognized for growth, financial strength, brand power, and franchisee support.

Why buyers trust it

The Franchise 500® is a go-to research tool for people seriously exploring franchise ownership.

Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® isn’t a popularity contest. It’s one of the most widely used research tools for people seriously exploring franchise ownership. As Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur’s editor in chief, puts it, "These 500 companies represent some of the most reliable pathways to business ownership in America, each one vetted through our rigorous analysis of what actually drives franchisee success."

What makes this year especially meaningful is the competitive context. (Who, me? Scouring the list to see where our competitors show up? Of course!) The next closest personal care brands ranked were Sola Salons at #80 and Sport Clips at #81. Other familiar salon names like Supercuts and Fantastic Sams didn’t make the list at all. That gap reflects the consistency of the Great Clips model and the strength of our franchise community.

MORE: Strategic Marketing Partnership Keep Great Clips Front and Center with Consumers

For prospective franchisees, this recognition reinforces what many owners already know firsthand: Demand for haircuts remains steady, the model is built for scale, and franchisees can focus on leading teams and growing businesses—not cutting hair. (In fact, about 95% of our franchisees didn’t come from a cosmetology background.)

Nearly five decades in, Great Clips continues to prove that doing the fundamentals well—over and over again—adds up. We’re proud of the milestone, grateful for the franchisees who make it possible, and excited about what’s ahead.

MORE: Read the Entrepreneur article HERE

MORE: Watch Jason Feifer’s video HERE

Curious what it’s like to be part of a #1-ranked franchise? I’m always happy to talk. Give me a call.

Beth Nilssen

Director of Franchise Development | Great Clips, Inc.
800-947-1143 | [email protected]