Great Clips vs Prose
Great Clips vs Prose: Great Clips costs $188K–$420K to open; Prose costs $100K–$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, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Great Clips vs Prose — 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
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 historical 7(a) approvals versus 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. Geographically, Great Clips concentrates in TX (97 SBA-funded units) while Prose leads in MN (11) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest 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 historical loss profile 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 – $420K | $100K – $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 | Not 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 | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better — Great Clips or Prose?
Lower upfront capital required
Prose
Great Clips: $188K starting · Prose: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Great Clips
Great Clips: 600 SBA loans · Prose: 21 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Prose
Great Clips: 4.5% · Prose: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Great Clips
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.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Great Clips with 600 SBA loans and Prose with 21. 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.