Fantastic Sams vs Sharkeys Cuts For Kids
Fantastic Sams vs Sharkeys Cuts For Kids: Fantastic Sams costs $172K to $462K to open; Sharkeys Cuts For Kids costs $30K to $319K. Fantastic Sams has 512 units, Sharkeys Cuts For Kids has 47. SBA loan history: Fantastic Sams = 536 loans (18.1% default); Sharkeys Cuts For Kids = 63 loans (1.6% 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.
Fantastic Sams vs Sharkeys Cuts For Kids: 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
Sharkeys Cuts For Kids requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($30K vs $172K for Fantastic Sams), a 472% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Fantastic Sams versus $30K for Sharkeys Cuts For Kids, Sharkeys Cuts For Kids has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Fantastic Sams and 7.5% for Sharkeys Cuts For Kids, giving Fantastic Sams the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Fantastic Sams operates 512 units to Sharkeys Cuts For Kids's 47, roughly 11× the system size. Fantastic Sams has been operating 66 years (founded 1960) versus 25 for Sharkeys Cuts For Kids (founded 2001), a 41-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 63 for Sharkeys Cuts For Kids. Fantastic Sams's peak SBA year was 2017 (32 loans); Sharkeys Cuts For Kids's peak was 2025 (18 loans). Sharkeys Cuts For Kids'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 Fantastic Sams deals is $218K vs $173K for Sharkeys Cuts For Kids, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 18.1% for Fantastic Sams and 1.6% for Sharkeys Cuts For Kids, Sharkeys Cuts For Kids has the cleaner SBA loss record by 16.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 43 (Fair) for Fantastic Sams and 69 (Strong) for Sharkeys Cuts For Kids, giving Sharkeys Cuts For Kids the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 43/100 | 69/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 536 | 63 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 18.1% | 1.6% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $172K to $462K | $30K to $319K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 7.5% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | $30K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $300K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 512 | 47 |
Franchised Units | 512 | 47 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1960 | 2001 |
Franchising Since | 1976 | 2024 |
Years Franchising | 50 yrs | 2 yrs |
Headquarters | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | CYPRESS, TX |
Category | Beauty Salons | Beauty Salons |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Fantastic Sams or Sharkeys Cuts For Kids?
Lower upfront capital required
Sharkeys Cuts For Kids
Fantastic Sams: $172K starting · Sharkeys Cuts For Kids: $30K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Fantastic Sams
Fantastic Sams: 536 SBA loans · Sharkeys Cuts For Kids: 63 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Sharkeys Cuts For Kids
Fantastic Sams: 18.1% · Sharkeys Cuts For Kids: 1.6%
Larger system & brand presence
Fantastic Sams
Fantastic Sams: 512 units · Sharkeys Cuts For Kids: 47 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Fantastic Sams
Fantastic Sams: 6% · Sharkeys Cuts For Kids: 7.5%
More lender financing options
Fantastic Sams
Fantastic Sams: 138 unique lenders · Sharkeys Cuts For Kids: 18 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
Fantastic Sams vs Sharkeys Cuts For Kids: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Fantastic Sams and Sharkeys Cuts For Kids is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $30K to $462K.
Fantastic Sams has 536 SBA loans on record and Sharkeys Cuts For Kids has 63. 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.
Fantastic Sams vs Sharkeys Cuts For Kids, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Fantastic Sams or Sharkeys Cuts For Kids?
How much does a Fantastic Sams franchise cost compared to Sharkeys Cuts For Kids?
Can I finance Fantastic Sams or Sharkeys Cuts For Kids with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Fantastic Sams or Sharkeys Cuts For Kids?
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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