A Cut Above: Pigtails & Crewcuts Offers Franchisees Unparalleled Work-Life Balance in the Recession-Resistant Children Salon Segment

Pigtails & Crewcuts, the 70-plus-unit kids salon franchise that offers quality haircuts for boys and girls aged zero to 12, is a rare example of a franchise concept that can balance business prowess with a truly family-friendly ethos. 

Founded in 2003, Pigtails & Crewcuts has carved a niche in the lucrative children's hair salon market with a simple business model and an enviable work-life balance. Consistently ranked as one of the top kids salon franchises in the industry, it's no wonder why the concept has been expanding steadily with qualified and community-driven entrepreneurs all over the country. Now, with a goal of adding 20 franchise units to its system by the end of 2024 to cross the 100-unit mark, the time has never been better to join the Pigtails & Crewcuts party as the demand for children’s haircuts only continues to grow.

"Embarking on the journey of franchise ownership with Pigtails & Crewcuts is about embracing a mission to bring smiles and joy to families in your community while providing a much-needed specialty service,” said President and CEO Wade Brannon. “This is a chance to write your own success story, be a beacon in your neighborhood and create a space where you can make a meaningful difference, while also finding entrepreneurial success, one happy family at a time."

A Story of Family, Fun and Opportunity

The Pigtails & Crewcuts brand combines family values and entrepreneurial spirit, driven primarily by Brannon, a franchising veteran with decades of experience in the industry. 

Brannon's initial foray into the franchising world was through the South Carolina-based concept Heavenly Ham, which he helped transform from a single retail store into a major franchising success. Throughout his 20-year tenure as Senior Vice President, Brannon expanded the company to include over 230 locations nationwide before negotiating its successful sale to a competitor. 

With the culmination of that journey, Brannon decided he was ready to start his next franchising adventure. When he discovered Pigtails & Crewcuts in 2004, he saw more than just a well-positioned business — he saw an opportunity to create a franchise that would allow its owners to enjoy a family-driven work-life balance and a community-driven day-to-day life. 

"When my children first stepped into a Pigtails & Crewcuts salon, they fell in love right away,” said Brannon. “Having stepped back from my career in franchising to focus on family, I realized how much families need services that cater specifically to them. Pigtails & Crewcuts presented not just a business opportunity, but a chance to offer a space where children are delighted and parents are at ease. This aligned perfectly with my vision of offering franchisees the chance to run a business that complements their family life, something I knew many were seeking.”

Brannon purchased the rights to the franchise that same year with big plans for growth, but he knew he couldn’t do it alone. He brought on Michelle Holliman, a fellow franchise executive from Heavenly Ham, and Theresa Vona, a childcare and franchise industry expert with more than 25 years of experience. These two women not only brought rich franchising expertise to the brand, but also a first-hand understanding of the lives of working moms, which would prove to be incredibly useful as the franchise began appealing to many entrepreneurial mothers.

With this, the Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise was born. Today, the team has helped expand the impressive network to include over 80 units in over 20 states nationwide. 

Low Start-Up Costs, Multiple Revenue Streams and an Enviable Schedule

Pigtails & Crewcuts operates on a simple, low-investment business model in a niche, but growing, sector. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise is $99,500 to $256,000, with Average Annual Gross Sales for Franchised Salons coming in at $306,047 in 2022, according to the brand’s most recent FDD. 

The hair care industry in the U.S. is estimated to exceed $65 billion with approximately $7 billion spent in the children’s segment alone. Pigtails & Crewcuts specifically caters to children aged zero to 12, a demographic that is rapidly growing in the U.S.

“Even during tough economic times, kids won’t stop growing and neither will their hair,” said Brannon. “Kids typically get haircuts every six to eight weeks, and we estimate that to be seven haircuts per year. No matter what or where the economy is, parents will spend money on great haircuts even when they need to take other things like eating out or vacationing away from their budgets.”

Apart from haircut and styling services, Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees benefit from diverse revenue streams, Brannon says, including retail products like children's hair care and accessories, and event programming like birthday parties. This multi-faceted approach to revenue not only bolsters profitability but also enhances customer relationships and retention.

“I knew from the moment I heard about the kids’ salon franchise that it was exactly what I was looking for,” said Bob Farster, Owner of Pigtails & Crewcuts in Glenview, IL. “With a franchise, I knew that I would be provided with a proven path, and if I followed it, I would succeed.”

Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees have direct access to a team of Franchise Support Specialists, who are there to ensure a smooth pre-opening process, a successful grand opening and more. The team leverages its 75+ years of combined experience to assist franchisees on all aspects of this business, including training, quality assurance, day-to-day operational support, marketing plans and budgets, understanding financial statements and more.  

Best of all, Brannon says, is that Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees don't have to worry about missing out on quality family time in order to run their business. As opposed to most franchise concepts, whether it be restaurants or retail stores, Pigtails & Crewcuts owners have an option to only open six days a week and are also closed early on the weekends. Most salons are open seven days a week.

“The key to success is finding the staff, dedicating a few months at the beginning and then letting the franchise's support system guide you from there, whether you are an owner-operator or a semi-absentee owner,” said Brannon. “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel — it is a straightforward path to business ownership. If you're ready to embrace a winning franchise that also allows you to spend more time with the family, Pigtails & Crewcuts could be your next big venture.” 

A Franchise That Offers More Than Profit

Overall, Brannon says Pigtails & Crewcuts is more than just a profitable franchise — it's an opportunity to join a community that values fun, family and flexibility. Whether it be sponsoring local events, participating in grassroots initiatives or simply providing the best children’s salon experience in town, Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees almost always become a part of the fabric of their local community. 

“My favorite thing about the brand is that it’s fun,” said Andrew McGehee, Pigtails & Crewcuts multi-unit franchisee. “I love kids and I love people. I’m a big kid myself in a lot of ways, so it was a natural fit for me. I love being able to act goofy or play ball in the salon or blow bubbles or whatever it might be. The daily interactions and seeing the relationships that can be built in the community is really awesome. I also love the family that we have at Pigtails & Crewcuts. It’s so great to be able to see other owners and talk to them.”

Looking ahead, the Pigtails & Crewcuts team hopes to add 20 franchise territories by the end of 2024, focusing on expanding in Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah, among other states. In addition to single-unit opportunities, the franchise supports multi-unit owners with a clear development schedule, a large protected territory and a discounted franchise fee. The brand also offers Area Representative agreements. 

"As we continue to grow the Pigtails & Crewcuts brand, I couldn’t be more excited for the future,” said Brannon. “Our franchise has always been about more than just haircuts. It's about building a community and enriching lives. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Pigtails & Crewcuts offers not just a business opportunity, but a chance to make a positive impact on both their families and the families in their community.” 

For more information on franchising with Pigtails & Crewcuts, visit: https://www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com/