Great Clips vs PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,
Great Clips vs PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,: Great Clips costs $188K–$420K to open; PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company, costs $184K–$968K. Great Clips has 471 units, PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company, has 23. SBA loan history: Great Clips = 600 loans (4.5% default); PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company, = 25 loans (4.0% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Great Clips vs PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,: 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
PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company, requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($184K vs $188K for Great Clips), a 2% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $20K for Great Clips versus $53K for PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,, Great Clips has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Great Clips and 6% for PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Great Clips operates 471 units to PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,'s 23, roughly 20× the system size. Great Clips has been operating 44 years (founded 1982) versus 12 for PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company, (founded 2014), a 32-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Great Clips has the deeper SBA lending track record with 600 historical 7(a) approvals versus 25 for PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.5% for Great Clips and 4.0% for PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,, PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company, has the cleaner historical loss profile by 0.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 59 (Moderate) for Great Clips and 53 (Moderate) for PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,, giving Great Clips the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 59/100 | 53/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 600 | 25 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 4.5% | 4.0% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $188K – $420K | $184K – $968K |
Franchise Fee | $20K | $53K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 5% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $1 | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 471 | 23 |
Franchised Units | 471 | 23 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1982 | 2014 |
Franchising Since | 1983 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 43 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | SAN ANTONIO, MN | Sarasota, FL |
Category | Nail Salons | Nail Salons |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Great Clips or PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,?
Lower upfront capital required
PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,
Great Clips: $188K starting · PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,: $184K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Great Clips
Great Clips: 600 SBA loans · PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,: 25 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,
Great Clips: 4.5% · PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,: 4.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Great Clips
Great Clips: 471 units · PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,: 23 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Great Clips: 6% · PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,: 6%
More lender financing options
Great Clips
Great Clips: 132 unique lenders · PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,: 13 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
Great Clips vs PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Great Clips and PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company, is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $184K to $968K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Great Clips with 600 SBA loans and PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company, with 25. 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.
Great Clips vs PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Great Clips or PAINT Nail Bar Franchise Company,?
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