Supercuts vs Vs Barbershop
Supercuts vs Vs Barbershop: Supercuts costs $68K to $182K to open; Vs Barbershop costs $163K to $369K. Supercuts has 237 units, Vs Barbershop has 10. SBA loan history: Supercuts = 283 loans (2.5% default); Vs Barbershop = 10 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.
Supercuts vs Vs Barbershop: 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 $163K for Vs Barbershop), a 58% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Supercuts versus $40K for Vs Barbershop, Supercuts has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 4% for Supercuts and 6% for Vs Barbershop, giving Supercuts the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Supercuts operates 237 units to Vs Barbershop's 10, roughly 24× the system size. Supercuts has been operating 51 years (founded 1975) versus 21 for Vs Barbershop (founded 2005), a 30-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 Vs Barbershop. Supercuts's peak SBA year was 2019 (59 loans); Vs Barbershop's peak was 2018 (3 loans). Supercuts'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 Supercuts deals is $282K vs $272K for Vs Barbershop, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 2.5% for Supercuts and 0.0% for Vs Barbershop, Vs Barbershop has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 60 (Moderate) for Supercuts and 55 (Moderate) for Vs Barbershop, giving Supercuts the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 60/100 | 55/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 283 | 10 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 2.5% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | major | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $68K to $182K | $163K to $369K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 4% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 3% |
Liquid Capital | $80K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $500K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 237 | 10 |
Franchised Units | 237 | 10 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1975 | 2005 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 2024 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 2 yrs |
Headquarters | HOUSTON, TX | Phoenix, AZ |
Category | Barber Shops | Barber Shops |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Supercuts or Vs Barbershop?
Lower upfront capital required
Supercuts
Supercuts: $68K starting · Vs Barbershop: $163K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Supercuts
Supercuts: 283 SBA loans · Vs Barbershop: 10 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Vs Barbershop
Supercuts: 2.5% · Vs Barbershop: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Supercuts
Supercuts: 237 units · Vs Barbershop: 10 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Supercuts
Supercuts: 4% · Vs Barbershop: 6%
More lender financing options
Supercuts
Supercuts: 64 unique lenders · Vs Barbershop: 7 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
Supercuts vs Vs Barbershop: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Supercuts and Vs Barbershop is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $68K to $369K.
Supercuts has 283 SBA loans on record and Vs Barbershop has 10. 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.
Supercuts vs Vs Barbershop, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Supercuts or Vs Barbershop?
How much does a Supercuts franchise cost compared to Vs Barbershop?
Can I finance Supercuts or Vs Barbershop with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Supercuts or Vs Barbershop?
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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