Start a Fantastic Sams Cut & Color Franchise in 2025

Franchise 500 Rank: N/R Not ranked last year

Initial investment: $172K - $462K

Units as of 2025: 501 23% over 3 years

Company Overview

Sam M. Ross started Fantastic Sams in July 1974, and the company began franchising in 1976, marketing its "fixed fee" system and "no appointment necessary" concept. The franchisor has full-service, family hair-care salons throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition to cuts, perms and coloring services, Fantastic Sams sells its own line of shampoos, conditioners and styling aids for men and women.

About Fantastic Sams Cut & Color

Industry	Personal-Care Businesses
Related Categories	Hair Care
Founded	1974
Parent Company	Dessange Group North America
Leadership	Kim Amadon, COO
Corporate Address	6901 E. Fish Lake Rd., #140 Maple Grove, MN 55369
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest

Business Overview

Franchising Since	1976 (49 years)
# of employees at HQ	35
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada
# of Units	501 (as of 2025)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Fantastic Sams Cut & Color franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$40,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$171,500 - $462,000
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$300,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$50,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	25% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	6%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	$146/wk.
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	10 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Fantastic Sams Cut & Color has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	ongoing
Classroom Training	32 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	8
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes

Take our quick quiz to find your ideal franchise

Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Fantastic Sams Cut & Color landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.

Related Franchises

Are you eager to see what else is out there? Browse franchises that are similar to Fantastic Sams Cut & Color.

Great Clips

description: Hair salons

Request Info

ComForCare

description: Nonmedical home care

Request Info

Pure Fitness

description: Fitness clubs

Request Info

Home Helpers Home Care

description: Nonmedical/skilled home care; monitoring products and services

Request Info

Related Franchise Content

Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.

Franchise

This Family-Friendly Brand Is Snapping Up Vacant Stores — And Building a $600 Million Business in the Process

As national retailers shutter locations, Urban Air Adventure Park is transforming empty big-box stores into family destinations that drive foot traffic and revenue for retail centers.

By Carl Stoffers

Franchise

A Major Restaurant Operator Just Cashed Out of One of Its Biggest Brands — Here's Why

The sale marks a strategic shift — and is a sign of how fast-food giants are rethinking growth.

By Carl Stoffers

Franchise

These Are the Top Retail Franchises for 2025, According to the Franchise 500

These retail brands are proving there's still a big opportunity in brick-and-mortar franchising.

By Carl Stoffers

Franchise

Franchise Success Isn't Automatic — It's Earned. Here's How to Do It Right.

Many franchise candidates fall for the "it runs itself" myth. Here's why hands-on ownership is the only real path to success.

By Rob Lancit

Franchise

Most Acquisitions Fail — Here's How to Make Yours the Exception

Buying a company is the easy part. The challenge is getting your new team to feel like part of the same firm.

By Jeff Helfgott

Franchise

This Fast-Food Powerhouse Is Getting a Makeover. Here's What Customers Can Expect.

Wendy's is rolling out Project Fresh, a consumer-focused overhaul that promises faster drive-thrus, smarter ordering tech and a refreshed menu.

By Carl Stoffers

See more franchise content

Disclaimer

The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.

Updated: December 12th, 2022

For reprints and licensing questions, click here.

Update Your Listing | Submit New Listing

Fantastic Sams Cut & Color

Company Overview

About Fantastic Sams Cut & Color

Business Overview

Information for Franchisees

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Financing Options

Training & Support Offered

Operations

Franchise 500 Ranking History

Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter

Related Franchises

Related Franchise Content