Cruise Planners vs Sport Clips: Which Is the Better Investment?

Side-by-side comparison of investment costs, fees, unit economics, and franchisee satisfaction. Data from FDD disclosures and franchise database — updated 2026.

Retail & Services Real Data Not Investment Advice
CP

Cruise Planners

Retail & Services
$2K – $23K
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VS
SC

Sport Clips

Retail & Services
$266K – $440K
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At a Glance: Key Differences

Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.

Investment Cost
Cruise Planners wins on investment range ($416K less) vs Sport Clips.
Fee Burden
Cruise Planners wins on royalty rate (3.0% lower) vs Sport Clips.
Unit Count
Cruise Planners wins on total units (600 more) vs Sport Clips.
Satisfaction
Sport Clips has available Franchisee Satisfaction data; Cruise Planners does not.

Investment & Fees

Metric Cruise Planners Sport Clips
Min Investment $2K $266K
Max Investment $23K $440K
Franchise Fee $695.00 $25K
Royalty Rate 3.0% 6.0%
Ad Fund Rate 1.0% 5.0%

Unit Economics

Metric Cruise Planners Sport Clips
Avg Unit Revenue N/A $500K
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric Cruise Planners Sport Clips
Total Units 2,500 1,900
Annual Growth N/A 1.0%
Failure Rate N/A 2.5%

Franchisee Performance

Metric Cruise Planners Sport Clips
Franchisee Satisfaction N/A 76/100

Track Record

Metric Cruise Planners Sport Clips
Years in Business 30 30
Years Franchising 28 28

Financial Requirements

Metric Cruise Planners Sport Clips
Min Net Worth Required $50K $400K
Liquid Capital Required $10K $100K

Operations

Metric Cruise Planners Sport Clips
Avg Employees N/A 10
Training Weeks N/A 3

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cruise Planners or Sport Clips a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. Cruise Planners has 2,500 total units and a track record in its industry. Sport Clips has 1,900 total units and a 76/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Use our ROI Calculator to model both scenarios.

How much does it cost to open a Cruise Planners franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Cruise Planners franchise requires an initial investment of $2K – $23K. The franchise fee is $695.00, with ongoing royalties of 3.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

How much does it cost to open a Sport Clips franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Sport Clips franchise requires an initial investment of $266K – $440K. The franchise fee is $25K, with ongoing royalties of 6.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

What is the royalty rate for Cruise Planners vs Sport Clips?

Cruise Planners's royalty rate is 3.0%. Sport Clips's royalty rate is 6.0%. That means Cruise Planners has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — Cruise Planners or Sport Clips?

Cruise Planners has 2,500 total units. Sport Clips has 1,900 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is Cruise Planners or Sport Clips semi-absentee friendly?

Cruise Planners is typically run as a owner-operator model. Sport Clips is typically run as a semi-absentee model. If passive income is your goal, semi-absentee models let you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations.

Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.

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