COST CUTTERS vs Smartstyle
Compare franchise fees, investment range, royalties, SBA lending performance, unit growth, and Item 19 transparency with a permanent shareable URL.
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COST CUTTERS
Beauty/Salon
Investment
$181K to $342K
Franchise fee
$39,500
Item 19 status
Revenue Only
Units
521
Smartstyle
Beauty/Salon
Investment
$184K to $336K
Franchise fee
$39,500
Item 19 status
Cost Data Only
Units
1,234
Lower entry cost
Leans left
Based on minimum initial investment.
Better disclosed economics
Even
Uses Item 19 availability and transparency status.
Lower SBA default risk
Leans left
Treat low-loan brands carefully, sample size matters.
| Metric | COST CUTTERS | Smartstyle |
|---|---|---|
Franchise Fee | $39,500 | $39,500 |
Min Investment | $181K | $184K |
Max Investment | $342K | $336K |
Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 4.0% |
Ad Fund Rate | 4.0% | 2.0% |
Total Ongoing Burden Royalty plus ad fund when available. | 10.0% | 6.0% |
Median Revenue (Item 19) | $261K | $248K |
Cash-on-Cash Return Estimated when revenue and margin assumptions are available. | 11.9% | 15.2% |
Payback Period | 8.4 yrs | 6.6 yrs |
Revenue per Dollar Invested | 1.00x | 0.95x |
Franchised Units | 521 | 1,234 |
1-Year Net Unit Change | -134 | -166 |
Net Unit Growth Rate | -22.2% | -11.3% |
Net Closure Rate Net closure proxy based on disclosed unit change. | 20.5% | 11.9% |
SBA Default Rate | 0.0% | 2.0% |
SBA Loan Count Use this to judge whether SBA default data is statistically meaningful. | 9 | 75 |
Average SBA Loan Size | $613K | $562K |
Item 19 Status | Revenue Only | Cost Data Only |
Has Item 19 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Quality Score | 100 | 100 |
What stands out
- • COST CUTTERS opens at $181K to $342K, while Smartstyle ranges from $184K to $336K.
- • COST CUTTERS shows an Item 19 disclosure; Smartstyle shows an Item 19 disclosure.
- • COST CUTTERS has 521 franchised units versus 1,234 for Smartstyle.
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Last updated: April 2026