Sport Clips Haircuts entered the second half of 2026 with growing development momentum, and August marked an important month in that trajectory. The nearly 1,800-unit men’s and boys’ haircare franchise signed four new Team Leaders representing 10 new licenses while opening eight new stores, the brand’s highest volume of openings in a single month so far this year.
“August was a strong month for us, but what stands out is that we’re seeing both sides of development move at the same time,” said Brent Greenwood, vice president of franchise development for Sport Clips. “We opened eight stores while four new Team Leaders committed to another 10 licenses. That tells us there is real interest from both existing and new owners, and we’re seeing that translate into actual growth across the system.”
The activity builds on a growth strategy Sport Clips has been executing throughout 2026 as it works toward net-positive unit growth. After spending the post-pandemic years investing in Team Leader support, technology and its overall franchise system, the brand entered this year focused on accelerating development through a combination of new Team Leaders and expansion within its existing system. August provided a clear example of that strategy translating into new stores and future development.
New stores opened in Katy, Texas; Mesa, Arizona; Everett, Washington; Metairie, Louisiana; Pearland, Texas; Houston, Texas; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Edmond, Oklahoma. The company also held four signings in Lakewood Ranch, Florida; Brooksville, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and St. Louis, Missouri.
The openings reflect the growth opportunities Sport Clips sees across the country, both in established markets and areas where the brand has room to expand. Sport Clips has been particularly focused on finding new entry points in mature markets where changing competitive conditions and available real estate have created opportunities that did not previously exist.
At the same time, the company continues to see room for new development in markets supported by population growth and favorable demographics.
“We still have a lot of room to grow, and it’s not limited to one type of market,” Greenwood said. “There are established markets where the right real estate or a change in the competitive landscape can open up an opportunity, and there are also communities where we simply haven’t had enough coverage. Our job is to help Team Leaders identify those pockets and determine where another Sport Clips can make sense.”
Sport Clips’ growth strategy is supported by a manager-driven model designed to allow Team Leaders to focus on leadership, team development and business performance rather than providing haircare services themselves.
Team Leaders do not need previous experience as Stylists. Instead, licensed professionals provide services to Clients, while Team Leaders oversee the broader business and develop Managers and Team Members who can handle store-level operations.
The structure also supports multi-unit ownership. Sport Clips Team Leaders own an average of 6.5 stores, allowing them to build and grow a larger business within the system.
“The path to success is scaling into multiple units,” Greenwood said. “For years, we only offered three-unit entry points. We’re at nearly 1,800 stores with around 260 franchisees…operating multiple stores becomes easier because of shared resources and diversification.”
The franchisor also provides support throughout the development and operating process, including site selection, lease negotiation, training, marketing and ongoing operational guidance. Those resources become particularly important as the company works to increase store openings without moving faster than its support infrastructure can accommodate.
Sport Clips’ underlying business model also benefits from the recurring nature of haircare. Men and boys typically need haircuts regularly, creating repeat Client traffic and a service that technology or artificial intelligence cannot replace.
August’s results add another milestone to what has already been a more active development year for Sport Clips. Earlier in 2026, the company reported opening more stores in the first part of the year than it did in all of 2025. Leadership also pointed to a mix of new and existing Team Leaders driving that expansion, along with a return to pre-pandemic demand levels.
After more than 30 years in business, Sport Clips is using its scale, manager-driven operating model and national footprint to pursue another phase of expansion. With nearly 1,800 stores already operating and opportunities remaining across both established and developing markets, the company’s August activity further indicates that its push toward sustained net-positive unit growth is gaining ground.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/sport-clips.
Sport Clips
SPONSORED
Sport Clips had its busiest month for store openings so far in 2026, while four new Team Leaders signed agreements for 10 licenses in Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Sport Clips Haircuts entered the second half of 2026 with growing development momentum, and August marked an important month in that trajectory. The nearly 1,800-unit men’s and boys’ haircare franchise signed four new Team Leaders representing 10 new licenses while opening eight new stores, the brand’s highest volume of openings in a single month so far this year.
“August was a strong month for us, but what stands out is that we’re seeing both sides of development move at the same time,” said Brent Greenwood, vice president of franchise development for Sport Clips. “We opened eight stores while four new Team Leaders committed to another 10 licenses. That tells us there is real interest from both existing and new owners, and we’re seeing that translate into actual growth across the system.”
The activity builds on a growth strategy Sport Clips has been executing throughout 2026 as it works toward net-positive unit growth. After spending the post-pandemic years investing in Team Leader support, technology and its overall franchise system, the brand entered this year focused on accelerating development through a combination of new Team Leaders and expansion within its existing system. August provided a clear example of that strategy translating into new stores and future development.
New stores opened in Katy, Texas; Mesa, Arizona; Everett, Washington; Metairie, Louisiana; Pearland, Texas; Houston, Texas; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Edmond, Oklahoma. The company also held four signings in Lakewood Ranch, Florida; Brooksville, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and St. Louis, Missouri.
The openings reflect the growth opportunities Sport Clips sees across the country, both in established markets and areas where the brand has room to expand. Sport Clips has been particularly focused on finding new entry points in mature markets where changing competitive conditions and available real estate have created opportunities that did not previously exist.
At the same time, the company continues to see room for new development in markets supported by population growth and favorable demographics.
“We still have a lot of room to grow, and it’s not limited to one type of market,” Greenwood said. “There are established markets where the right real estate or a change in the competitive landscape can open up an opportunity, and there are also communities where we simply haven’t had enough coverage. Our job is to help Team Leaders identify those pockets and determine where another Sport Clips can make sense.”
Sport Clips’ growth strategy is supported by a manager-driven model designed to allow Team Leaders to focus on leadership, team development and business performance rather than providing haircare services themselves.
Team Leaders do not need previous experience as Stylists. Instead, licensed professionals provide services to Clients, while Team Leaders oversee the broader business and develop Managers and Team Members who can handle store-level operations.
The structure also supports multi-unit ownership. Sport Clips Team Leaders own an average of 6.5 stores, allowing them to build and grow a larger business within the system.
“The path to success is scaling into multiple units,” Greenwood said. “For years, we only offered three-unit entry points. We’re at nearly 1,800 stores with around 260 franchisees…operating multiple stores becomes easier because of shared resources and diversification.”
The franchisor also provides support throughout the development and operating process, including site selection, lease negotiation, training, marketing and ongoing operational guidance. Those resources become particularly important as the company works to increase store openings without moving faster than its support infrastructure can accommodate.
Sport Clips’ underlying business model also benefits from the recurring nature of haircare. Men and boys typically need haircuts regularly, creating repeat Client traffic and a service that technology or artificial intelligence cannot replace.
August’s results add another milestone to what has already been a more active development year for Sport Clips. Earlier in 2026, the company reported opening more stores in the first part of the year than it did in all of 2025. Leadership also pointed to a mix of new and existing Team Leaders driving that expansion, along with a return to pre-pandemic demand levels.
After more than 30 years in business, Sport Clips is using its scale, manager-driven operating model and national footprint to pursue another phase of expansion. With nearly 1,800 stores already operating and opportunities remaining across both established and developing markets, the company’s August activity further indicates that its push toward sustained net-positive unit growth is gaining ground.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/sport-clips.
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