Deciding when to open a franchise is rarely about finding the perfect moment. A career change, a growing community or a disappointing customer experience can lead someone to consider business ownership. The bigger question is whether the opportunity makes sense financially and personally.
Laura Coleman and husband-and-wife team Melissa and Matt Johnson each became Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise owners for different reasons. Coleman was looking for a new direction after repeated layoffs, while the Johnsons saw an opportunity to bring a family-friendly children's salon to their community.
Their experiences offer insight into what prospective franchisees should consider before taking the leap.
Coleman, who owns two Pigtails & Crewcuts locations in Fayetteville and Rogers, Arkansas, was working in pharmaceutical sales when repeated layoffs prompted her to consider another career path. Having seen Pigtails & Crewcuts succeed in Little Rock, she believed the concept could work in Northwest Arkansas.
"We had already watched the brand be successful in Little Rock," Coleman said. "We knew we wanted to be in Northwest Arkansas, and it was just kind of like light bulbs went off. I thought this could be successful there as well. We knew the community was growing here."
The Johnsons approached the opportunity from a customer's perspective. In 2009, they were raising a 5-year-old son in San Antonio and had been disappointed by their experiences with other kids’ haircut businesses.
"I was really thinking about the demographics of our city, which is a very family-oriented city," Melissa said. “We used to take him to a similar concept, but to be honest, it wasn't the greatest. It was a little neglected. When we ran into Pigtails & Crewcuts, we walked around inside and just fell in love with the concept and knew we needed to bring it to our city.”
Both families recognized a potential fit between the franchise concept and their local markets.
Recognizing an opportunity is only the beginning. New franchisees must also be prepared for the responsibilities of running a business, particularly when they have little experience in the industry.
Coleman opened her first salon while caring for a toddler and a 6-week-old baby. She had to learn how to operate a salon, manage employees and evaluate hairstylists without knowing how to cut hair herself.
“My biggest struggle was trying to figure out how to balance being a mom to a newborn and a toddler while having a brand-new business,” Coleman said. “I was basically learning what it takes to run this business, not knowing how to hire, fire or cut hair.”
The Johnsons faced their own obstacles when they introduced Pigtails & Crewcuts to San Antonio. The brand was unfamiliar to local customers, and a competitor opened nearby and began offering deeply discounted haircuts.
Melissa spent much of her time at the salon, working the front desk and organizing birthday parties. As a new owner, she also worried about negative customer reviews and sometimes let employees go too quickly. Looking back, she says she would handle those situations differently.
"It is really hard to find a good employee, but you can train them," Melissa said. "If they're not perfect, you can train them. You coach them. You find a staff member — a stylist, a strong stylist that's really good — to work with them, and eventually get them to that point.
New franchisees need enough money to open their salon and cover expenses while the business gets established. Pigtails & Crewcuts provides training and ongoing support, but owners should also have some money set aside in case business takes longer than expected to pick up.
Shortly after the Johnsons opened their second San Antonio location, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted business. A multiyear construction project later affected customer traffic.
"Even though we're experienced owners with our first salon, each salon is going to offer different challenges," Matt said. “We were just getting everything up and running, and then COVID struck. We eventually started getting our sales back up again after COVID, and then what happens after that? Construction starts.”
Their experience reinforced the importance of having enough financial flexibility to navigate circumstances outside an owner's control.
Although the early years required significant hands-on involvement, both families eventually reached a point where they could step back from daily operations.
Melissa initially worked seven days a week at the salon. As her employees gained experience, she became comfortable delegating responsibilities and eventually returned to another full-time job.
"I finally got to the point where our team matured, where I didn't have to be in the salon every day," Melissa said. “I started to step away a little at a time. I hired a receptionist, trusted my team to take care of the business, and you know what? They did a great job.”
Coleman has experienced similar flexibility. With two established locations and a dependable staff, she is currently focused on spending time with her teenage sons rather than immediately pursuing another salon.
“I’m able to do that because of the way I’ve built the brand here and my employees,” she said. “One day I may feel like thinking about my exit plan, and then one day maybe I expand. The next couple of years will determine that.”
Coleman and the Johnsons now own two salons each, although their plans for the future look different. The Johnsons are considering a third location, while Coleman is holding off on any major decisions until her sons finish high school.
Prospective Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees should evaluate local demand, assess their financial readiness and consider how much time they can devote to building a business. The right moment may not come with perfect circumstances, but having a clear understanding of the opportunity and the responsibilities involved can help prospective owners make a more informed decision.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts.
Pigtails & Crewcuts
SPONSORED
The right time to open a franchise depends on market demand, financial readiness and a willingness to take on the challenges of business ownership.
Deciding when to open a franchise is rarely about finding the perfect moment. A career change, a growing community or a disappointing customer experience can lead someone to consider business ownership. The bigger question is whether the opportunity makes sense financially and personally.
Laura Coleman and husband-and-wife team Melissa and Matt Johnson each became Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise owners for different reasons. Coleman was looking for a new direction after repeated layoffs, while the Johnsons saw an opportunity to bring a family-friendly children's salon to their community.
Their experiences offer insight into what prospective franchisees should consider before taking the leap.
Coleman, who owns two Pigtails & Crewcuts locations in Fayetteville and Rogers, Arkansas, was working in pharmaceutical sales when repeated layoffs prompted her to consider another career path. Having seen Pigtails & Crewcuts succeed in Little Rock, she believed the concept could work in Northwest Arkansas.
"We had already watched the brand be successful in Little Rock," Coleman said. "We knew we wanted to be in Northwest Arkansas, and it was just kind of like light bulbs went off. I thought this could be successful there as well. We knew the community was growing here."
The Johnsons approached the opportunity from a customer's perspective. In 2009, they were raising a 5-year-old son in San Antonio and had been disappointed by their experiences with other kids’ haircut businesses.
"I was really thinking about the demographics of our city, which is a very family-oriented city," Melissa said. “We used to take him to a similar concept, but to be honest, it wasn't the greatest. It was a little neglected. When we ran into Pigtails & Crewcuts, we walked around inside and just fell in love with the concept and knew we needed to bring it to our city.”
Both families recognized a potential fit between the franchise concept and their local markets.
Recognizing an opportunity is only the beginning. New franchisees must also be prepared for the responsibilities of running a business, particularly when they have little experience in the industry.
Coleman opened her first salon while caring for a toddler and a 6-week-old baby. She had to learn how to operate a salon, manage employees and evaluate hairstylists without knowing how to cut hair herself.
“My biggest struggle was trying to figure out how to balance being a mom to a newborn and a toddler while having a brand-new business,” Coleman said. “I was basically learning what it takes to run this business, not knowing how to hire, fire or cut hair.”
The Johnsons faced their own obstacles when they introduced Pigtails & Crewcuts to San Antonio. The brand was unfamiliar to local customers, and a competitor opened nearby and began offering deeply discounted haircuts.
Melissa spent much of her time at the salon, working the front desk and organizing birthday parties. As a new owner, she also worried about negative customer reviews and sometimes let employees go too quickly. Looking back, she says she would handle those situations differently.
"It is really hard to find a good employee, but you can train them," Melissa said. "If they're not perfect, you can train them. You coach them. You find a staff member — a stylist, a strong stylist that's really good — to work with them, and eventually get them to that point.
New franchisees need enough money to open their salon and cover expenses while the business gets established. Pigtails & Crewcuts provides training and ongoing support, but owners should also have some money set aside in case business takes longer than expected to pick up.
Shortly after the Johnsons opened their second San Antonio location, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted business. A multiyear construction project later affected customer traffic.
"Even though we're experienced owners with our first salon, each salon is going to offer different challenges," Matt said. “We were just getting everything up and running, and then COVID struck. We eventually started getting our sales back up again after COVID, and then what happens after that? Construction starts.”
Their experience reinforced the importance of having enough financial flexibility to navigate circumstances outside an owner's control.
Although the early years required significant hands-on involvement, both families eventually reached a point where they could step back from daily operations.
Melissa initially worked seven days a week at the salon. As her employees gained experience, she became comfortable delegating responsibilities and eventually returned to another full-time job.
"I finally got to the point where our team matured, where I didn't have to be in the salon every day," Melissa said. “I started to step away a little at a time. I hired a receptionist, trusted my team to take care of the business, and you know what? They did a great job.”
Coleman has experienced similar flexibility. With two established locations and a dependable staff, she is currently focused on spending time with her teenage sons rather than immediately pursuing another salon.
“I’m able to do that because of the way I’ve built the brand here and my employees,” she said. “One day I may feel like thinking about my exit plan, and then one day maybe I expand. The next couple of years will determine that.”
Coleman and the Johnsons now own two salons each, although their plans for the future look different. The Johnsons are considering a third location, while Coleman is holding off on any major decisions until her sons finish high school.
Prospective Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees should evaluate local demand, assess their financial readiness and consider how much time they can devote to building a business. The right moment may not come with perfect circumstances, but having a clear understanding of the opportunity and the responsibilities involved can help prospective owners make a more informed decision.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts.
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