Great Clips vs Prose
Great Clips vs Prose: Great Clips costs $188K to $420K to open; Prose costs $100K to $552K. Great Clips has 471 units, Prose has 17. SBA loan history: Great Clips = 600 loans (4.5% default); Prose = 21 loans (0.0% 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.
Great Clips vs Prose: 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
Prose requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $188K for Great Clips), a 88% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Great Clips operates 471 units to Prose's 17, roughly 28× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Great Clips has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 600 7(a) approvals compared with 21 for Prose. Great Clips's peak SBA year was 2004 (45 loans); Prose's peak was 2021 (9 loans). Prose's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Great Clips has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 97. Prose leads in MN, with 11. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Great Clips deals is $210K vs $397K for Prose, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.5% for Great Clips and 0.0% for Prose, Prose has the cleaner SBA loss record by 4.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 59 (Moderate) for Great Clips and 52 (Moderate) for Prose, giving Great Clips the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 59/100 | 52/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 600 | 21 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 4.5% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | major | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $188K to $420K | $100K to $552K |
Franchise Fee | $20K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | 6% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 5% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $1 | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 471 | 17 |
Franchised Units | 471 | 17 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1982 | N/A |
Franchising Since | 1983 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 43 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | SAN ANTONIO, MN | Coon Rapids, MN |
Category | Nail Salons | Nail Salons |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Great Clips or Prose?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Great Clips: $188K starting · Prose: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Great Clips
Great Clips: 600 SBA loans · Prose: 21 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Prose
Great Clips: 4.5% · Prose: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Great Clips: 471 units · Prose: 17 units
More lender financing options
Great Clips
Great Clips: 132 unique lenders · Prose: 8 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 Prose: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Great Clips and Prose is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $552K.
Great Clips has 600 SBA loans on record and Prose has 21. 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.
Great Clips vs Prose, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Great Clips or Prose?
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Can I finance Great Clips or Prose with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Great Clips or Prose?
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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