Blo Blow Dry Bar vs Fantastic Sams
Blo Blow Dry Bar vs Fantastic Sams: Blo Blow Dry Bar costs $309K to $403K to open; Fantastic Sams costs $172K to $462K. Blo Blow Dry Bar has 101 units, Fantastic Sams has 512. SBA loan history: Blo Blow Dry Bar = 58 loans (6.9% default); Fantastic Sams = 536 loans (18.1% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Blo Blow Dry Bar vs Fantastic Sams: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Fantastic Sams requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($172K vs $309K for Blo Blow Dry Bar), a 80% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for Blo Blow Dry Bar versus $40K for Fantastic Sams, Fantastic Sams has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Blo Blow Dry Bar and 6% for Fantastic Sams, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Fantastic Sams operates 512 units to Blo Blow Dry Bar's 101, roughly 5× the system size. Fantastic Sams has been operating 66 years (founded 1960) versus 16 for Blo Blow Dry Bar (founded 2010), a 50-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Fantastic Sams has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 536 7(a) approvals compared with 58 for Blo Blow Dry Bar. Blo Blow Dry Bar's peak SBA year was 2018 (8 loans); Fantastic Sams's peak was 2017 (32 loans). Blo Blow Dry Bar's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Blo Blow Dry Bar deals is $236K vs $218K for Fantastic Sams, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 6.9% for Blo Blow Dry Bar and 18.1% for Fantastic Sams, Blo Blow Dry Bar has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 67 (Strong) for Blo Blow Dry Bar and 43 (Fair) for Fantastic Sams, giving Blo Blow Dry Bar the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 67/100 | 43/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 58 | 536 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 6.9% | 18.1% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $309K to $403K | $172K to $462K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 3% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $30K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $300K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 101 | 512 |
Franchised Units | 100 | 512 |
Company Owned | 1 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2010 | 1960 |
Franchising Since | 2010 | 1976 |
Years Franchising | 16 yrs | 50 yrs |
Headquarters | SAN ANTONIO, TX | MINNEAPOLIS, MN |
Category | Beauty Salons | Beauty Salons |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Blo Blow Dry Bar or Fantastic Sams?
Lower upfront capital required
Fantastic Sams
Blo Blow Dry Bar: $309K starting · Fantastic Sams: $172K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Fantastic Sams
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 58 SBA loans · Fantastic Sams: 536 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Blo Blow Dry Bar
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 6.9% · Fantastic Sams: 18.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Fantastic Sams
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 101 units · Fantastic Sams: 512 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 6% · Fantastic Sams: 6%
More lender financing options
Fantastic Sams
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 28 unique lenders · Fantastic Sams: 138 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Blo Blow Dry Bar vs Fantastic Sams: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Blo Blow Dry Bar and Fantastic Sams is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $172K to $462K.
Blo Blow Dry Bar has 58 SBA loans on record and Fantastic Sams has 536. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Blo Blow Dry Bar vs Fantastic Sams, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Blo Blow Dry Bar or Fantastic Sams?
How much does a Blo Blow Dry Bar franchise cost compared to Fantastic Sams?
Can I finance Blo Blow Dry Bar or Fantastic Sams with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Blo Blow Dry Bar or Fantastic Sams?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman