Diesel Barbershop vs Supercuts
Diesel Barbershop vs Supercuts: Diesel Barbershop costs $361K to $503K to open; Supercuts costs $68K to $182K. Diesel Barbershop has 31 units, Supercuts has 237. SBA loan history: Diesel Barbershop = 10 loans (0.0% default); Supercuts = 283 loans (2.5% 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.
Diesel Barbershop vs Supercuts: 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
Supercuts requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($68K vs $361K for Diesel Barbershop), a 430% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for Diesel Barbershop versus $40K for Supercuts, Supercuts has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7.5% for Diesel Barbershop and 4% for Supercuts, giving Supercuts the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Supercuts operates 237 units to Diesel Barbershop's 31, roughly 8× the system size. Supercuts has been operating 51 years (founded 1975) versus 15 for Diesel Barbershop (founded 2011), a 36-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Supercuts has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 283 7(a) approvals compared with 10 for Diesel Barbershop. Diesel Barbershop's peak SBA year was 2020 (5 loans); Supercuts's peak was 2019 (59 loans). Diesel Barbershop'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 Diesel Barbershop deals is $270K vs $282K for Supercuts, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Diesel Barbershop and 2.5% for Supercuts, Diesel Barbershop has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 51 (Moderate) for Diesel Barbershop and 60 (Moderate) for Supercuts, giving Supercuts the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 51/100 | 60/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 10 | 283 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 2.5% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $361K to $503K | $68K to $182K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 7.5% | 4% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $80K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 31 | 237 |
Franchised Units | 27 | 237 |
Company Owned | 4 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2011 | 1975 |
Franchising Since | 2017 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 9 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | KATY, TX | HOUSTON, TX |
Category | Barber Shops | Barber Shops |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Diesel Barbershop or Supercuts?
Lower upfront capital required
Supercuts
Diesel Barbershop: $361K starting · Supercuts: $68K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Supercuts
Diesel Barbershop: 10 SBA loans · Supercuts: 283 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Diesel Barbershop
Diesel Barbershop: 0.0% · Supercuts: 2.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Supercuts
Diesel Barbershop: 31 units · Supercuts: 237 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Supercuts
Diesel Barbershop: 7.5% · Supercuts: 4%
More lender financing options
Supercuts
Diesel Barbershop: 8 unique lenders · Supercuts: 64 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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Diesel Barbershop vs Supercuts: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Diesel Barbershop and Supercuts is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $68K to $503K.
Diesel Barbershop has 10 SBA loans on record and Supercuts has 283. 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.
Diesel Barbershop vs Supercuts, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Diesel Barbershop or Supercuts?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Diesel Barbershop or Supercuts?
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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