Purchasing a franchise is a big decision and the process can be complex. Nancy Anderson, a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee, went through the process three times over to obtain her three Pigtails & Crewcuts and locations. The decision to initially buy into Pigtails & Crewcuts came from Anderson’s own experiences as a mother.
"I had two little ones, and my two-year-old did not like haircuts," she said. "I was driving an hour to a kid’s hair salon, but the experience still wasn’t great."
This personal frustration led her to research the leading children's hair care franchises. After meeting the Pigtails & Crewcuts team, Anderson felt a connection.
"They were warm, welcoming and honest,” she said. “They didn’t try to sell me a dream but were straightforward about the process."
That was in 2006 and since then, she has opened two more locations. This is what she learned about buying a franchise along the way.
While the financial situation of each franchisee differs, Anderson bought her first franchise with the help of an SBA loan. This loan required a 20% investment of her own money. The loan covered the initial expenses involved in getting the franchise up and running.
"The cost of opening the store included first month rent, a deposit for the space, construction of the buildout, hiring a lawyer to review contracts, equipment and the franchise fee," she said.
Additionally, there were various professional and licensing fees, including a business and resale license, merchandising costs, advertising expenses and signage. All of the required fees and expenses are detailed in the brand’s FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document), but they are listed as a range as they do vary depending on the circumstances and location. Anderson stressed the importance of budgeting for the high end of the investment range, just to be safe.
“We prepared for the high end of that investment cost,” she said, “and then, when all was said and done, we actually came in at the lower range. We were new to the industry at the time, and we didn’t know what we didn’t know, so we just prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. We were lucky and it all went really well. There were no surprises.”
The timeline from deciding to open her first franchise to the grand opening was surprisingly swift.
"It was December 26, 2006, when I told my husband I wanted to look into franchising, and by July 12, 2007, we were open," she said. “It was quite fast for us and it was pretty smooth getting that first location open.”
With her second location, Anderson experienced a brief delay due to a contractor issue, but they soon got back on track. However, even when there are delays in the process, it helps to rely on the support of the franchisor.
The franchisor's support during the opening process was essential for Anderson. Anderson was offered a one-week training session where she learned about customer care, accounting and inventory management.
"My education is in social work, so accounting wasn’t my strong suit. But they helped set up everything, from profit and loss statements to picking inventory," she said. “Then when you're getting ready to open, they come over and they help you set up. They spend a week in the store with you. They're there holding your hand through the initial stages.”
While investing in a franchise requires hard work, the help of the franchisor and the pre-established business model is there to support franchisees. And once you get your doors open, you are able to reap the benefits of being your own boss and living out your entrepreneurial dreams with a tried and tested concept.
"Being a business owner is like being a parent. You have to be attentive, caring and consistent," she said. "The two biggest lessons I’ve learned are to hire good people and take care of them because they take care of the customers. With that, you can stay on top and be successful."
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/info.
Pigtails & Crewcuts
SPONSORED
Buying a franchise requires thorough research, careful budgeting and consistent management, but with strong support from the franchisor, the process is made much easier.
Purchasing a franchise is a big decision and the process can be complex. Nancy Anderson, a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee, went through the process three times over to obtain her three Pigtails & Crewcuts and locations. The decision to initially buy into Pigtails & Crewcuts came from Anderson’s own experiences as a mother.
"I had two little ones, and my two-year-old did not like haircuts," she said. "I was driving an hour to a kid’s hair salon, but the experience still wasn’t great."
This personal frustration led her to research the leading children's hair care franchises. After meeting the Pigtails & Crewcuts team, Anderson felt a connection.
"They were warm, welcoming and honest,” she said. “They didn’t try to sell me a dream but were straightforward about the process."
That was in 2006 and since then, she has opened two more locations. This is what she learned about buying a franchise along the way.
While the financial situation of each franchisee differs, Anderson bought her first franchise with the help of an SBA loan. This loan required a 20% investment of her own money. The loan covered the initial expenses involved in getting the franchise up and running.
"The cost of opening the store included first month rent, a deposit for the space, construction of the buildout, hiring a lawyer to review contracts, equipment and the franchise fee," she said.
Additionally, there were various professional and licensing fees, including a business and resale license, merchandising costs, advertising expenses and signage. All of the required fees and expenses are detailed in the brand’s FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document), but they are listed as a range as they do vary depending on the circumstances and location. Anderson stressed the importance of budgeting for the high end of the investment range, just to be safe.
“We prepared for the high end of that investment cost,” she said, “and then, when all was said and done, we actually came in at the lower range. We were new to the industry at the time, and we didn’t know what we didn’t know, so we just prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. We were lucky and it all went really well. There were no surprises.”
The timeline from deciding to open her first franchise to the grand opening was surprisingly swift.
"It was December 26, 2006, when I told my husband I wanted to look into franchising, and by July 12, 2007, we were open," she said. “It was quite fast for us and it was pretty smooth getting that first location open.”
With her second location, Anderson experienced a brief delay due to a contractor issue, but they soon got back on track. However, even when there are delays in the process, it helps to rely on the support of the franchisor.
The franchisor's support during the opening process was essential for Anderson. Anderson was offered a one-week training session where she learned about customer care, accounting and inventory management.
"My education is in social work, so accounting wasn’t my strong suit. But they helped set up everything, from profit and loss statements to picking inventory," she said. “Then when you're getting ready to open, they come over and they help you set up. They spend a week in the store with you. They're there holding your hand through the initial stages.”
While investing in a franchise requires hard work, the help of the franchisor and the pre-established business model is there to support franchisees. And once you get your doors open, you are able to reap the benefits of being your own boss and living out your entrepreneurial dreams with a tried and tested concept.
"Being a business owner is like being a parent. You have to be attentive, caring and consistent," she said. "The two biggest lessons I’ve learned are to hire good people and take care of them because they take care of the customers. With that, you can stay on top and be successful."
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/info.
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