With a recession-resistant business model, limited competition, and unrivaled customer loyalty, children’s hair salon franchises offer one of the most reliable investment opportunities. But not all brands deliver the same value or level of support. How do you separate the standout options from the rest?
Here are five questions to guide you when evaluating kids’ hair salon franchise opportunities.
1. Does the Franchise Have a Proven Track Record?
Brand recognition can build customer trust before you even open the doors to your first franchise location. Families want to bring their children to a salon they’re familiar with or that comes recommended by other parents in their community.
Look for kids’ salon franchises with an established history and expanding footprints. The more years and open locations a franchise has under its belt, the more proof it has that its model can weather economic changes and work across different markets.
With over 200 locations opened since 2001, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids has demonstrated over 20 years of staying power and consistent growth. The brand has also earned recognition on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list and has been named in multiple categories, including the top low-cost franchises and top children’s franchises.
2. What Training and Support Will You Actually Receive?
Franchisor support is what makes the difference between becoming a true franchise partner and simply licensing a name. The best kids’ salon franchise opportunities include comprehensive training that prepares you for every aspect of operations.
Look for franchises that provide comprehensive onboarding, ongoing coaching, and access to a network of fellow franchisees who share best practices. This level of support matters especially for first-time franchise owners.
Franchise opportunities with Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids include everything you need to open smoothly and operate confidently, including:
- All necessary store equipment
- Site selection support
- Salon design plans
- Dedicated onboarding and training
- Ongoing operational and marketing support
From your lease negotiation to your first grand opening and beyond, our team will guide you step by step. With the right tools, training, and team behind you, operating your kids’ salon franchise can be just as fun and stress-free as it looks.
3. Is the Business Model Truly Turnkey?
The idea of a “turnkey system” is thrown around frequently in franchise marketing. But how can you be sure that’s actually what you’re getting with your investment?
A genuine turnkey business model sets you up with everything you need to succeed from the start: proprietary systems, established vendor relationships, technology platforms, and proven operational playbooks that eliminate guesswork.
Unlike opening an independent children’s salon, you won’t need to negotiate with suppliers, build your own marketing materials, develop customer management systems, or design service protocols from the ground up.
With a true turnkey franchise like Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids, you’re not wasting time reinventing the wheel—you’re launching with the same proven systems that have already driven success to hundreds of locations around the globe.
4. What Level of Commitment Does Ownership Require?
Don’t forget to consider how ownership might fit into your lifestyle when evaluating kids’ salon franchise opportunities. Some franchises require owner-operators who work in the business daily. Others support semi-absentee ownership models, empowering you to hire a general manager and maintain oversight without being present on the salon floor.
Semi-absentee options appeal to everyone from parent entrepreneurs seeking work-life balance to multi-unit, multi-brand operators looking to diversify their portfolio. The key is ensuring the franchise has staffing structures and management systems that enable this flexibility.
Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids offers a semi-absentee franchise opportunity that works for busy professionals and parents. The model is designed to scale with strong management teams, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs seeking passive income potential or portfolio growth.
It’s a business that fits your life—not the other way around.
5. Is the Franchise Growing or Falling Behind?
Growth momentum tells you whether a franchise is capturing market demand or losing ground to competitors. Expanding unit counts signal that existing franchisees are satisfied enough to open additional locations and that new investors see value in the opportunity.
When evaluating kids’ salon franchise opportunities, compare growth rates across the category. Look at unit counts over multiple years, not just a single snapshot.
Are locations opening or closing? Is the franchise gaining market share or shrinking?
The data tells a story. Over the past 3.5 years, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids has grown by 57.4%, far outpacing Pigtails & Crewcuts (+15.7%), Cookie Cutters (+6.1%), and Snip-its (-22%).
Strong growth momentum like this indicates a healthy franchise system with satisfied franchisees and increasing market demand.
Take the Next Step in Exploring Kids’ Salon Franchise Opportunities
Choosing the right franchise partner is a strategic decision that impacts your financial future. Asking the right questions will help you identify opportunities with strong foundations, proven systems, and realistic growth potential.
Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids combines all five elements: an award-winning brand with 20+ years of success, exceptional training and support, turnkey systems, a semi-absentee ownership model, and industry-leading growth momentum.
If you’re ready to dive into what sets Sharkey’s apart from other kids’ salon franchise opportunities, contact our franchise development team today.
