Blo Blow Dry Bar vs Sport Clips
Blo Blow Dry Bar vs Sport Clips: Blo Blow Dry Bar costs $309K–$403K to open; Sport Clips costs $289K–$475K. Blo Blow Dry Bar has 101 units, Sport Clips has 349. SBA loan history: Blo Blow Dry Bar = 58 loans (6.9% default); Sport Clips = 320 loans (7.5% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Blo Blow Dry Bar vs Sport Clips — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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
Sport Clips requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($289K vs $309K for Blo Blow Dry Bar), a 7% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for Blo Blow Dry Bar versus $70K for Sport Clips — Blo Blow Dry Bar has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Blo Blow Dry Bar and 6% for Sport Clips — equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Sport Clips operates 349 units to Blo Blow Dry Bar's 101 — roughly 3× the system size. Sport Clips has been operating 33 years (founded 1993) versus 16 for Blo Blow Dry Bar (founded 2010) — a 17-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Sport Clips has the deeper SBA lending track record with 320 historical 7(a) approvals versus 58 for Blo Blow Dry Bar. Blo Blow Dry Bar's peak SBA year was 2018 (8 loans); Sport Clips's peak was 2015 (87 loans). Blo Blow Dry Bar's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Blo Blow Dry Bar concentrates in TX (11 SBA-funded units) while Sport Clips leads in IL (28) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Blo Blow Dry Bar deals is $236K vs $232K for Sport Clips — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 6.9% for Blo Blow Dry Bar and 7.5% for Sport Clips — Blo Blow Dry Bar has the cleaner historical loss profile by 0.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 67 (Strong) for Blo Blow Dry Bar and 47 (Fair) for Sport Clips, giving Blo Blow Dry Bar the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 67/100 | 47/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 58 | 320 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 6.9% | 7.5% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $309K – $403K | $289K – $475K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $70K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $200K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $400K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 101 | 349 |
Franchised Units | 100 | 349 |
Company-Owned | 1 | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2010 | 1993 |
Franchising Since | 2010 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 16 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | SAN ANTONIO, TX | Georgetown, TX |
Category | Beauty Salons | Beauty Salons |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better — Blo Blow Dry Bar or Sport Clips?
Lower upfront capital required
Sport Clips
Blo Blow Dry Bar: $309K starting · Sport Clips: $289K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Sport Clips
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 58 SBA loans · Sport Clips: 320 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Blo Blow Dry Bar
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 6.9% · Sport Clips: 7.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Sport Clips
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 101 units · Sport Clips: 349 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 6% · Sport Clips: 6%
More lender financing options
Sport Clips
Blo Blow Dry Bar: 28 unique lenders · Sport Clips: 39 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 Sport Clips: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Blo Blow Dry Bar and Sport Clips is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $289K to $475K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Blo Blow Dry Bar with 58 SBA loans and Sport Clips with 320. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.