Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation

What Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation does

Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation, operating under the "FS Cut & Color" brand, is a privately held full-service hair salon franchise franchisor headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota, with a corporate office in Beverly, Massachusetts, and a parent company, DESSANGE International. Founded by Sam Ross in Memphis, Tennessee in July 1974, the company licenses the Fantastic Sams / FS Cut & Color trademarks, operating system, and proprietary FS Haircare product line to independently owned franchisees who operate over 800 salon locations across North America, primarily in the United States. The franchise system is positioned in the value tier of the salon services market, emphasizing "affordable luxury" with a complimentary FS Shampoo Therapy included with every haircut.

The company's core offering spans six service categories delivered at franchised salons: haircuts (including kids and men's clipper cuts), hair coloring (highlights, balayage, ombre, fashion colors), styling (blowouts, updos, special occasion), treatments (clarifying, color protect, repair, FS Shampoo Therapy), texture services (perms, relaxers, keratin smoothing), and facial waxing and hair extensions. Revenue is generated through initial franchise fees, ongoing royalties from franchisees, sale of the proprietary FS Haircare line (including Moisture Lock, FS Curl, and Color Protect sub-lines) via franchised salons and a direct e-commerce storefront (shop.saloninteractive.com), and corporate services such as training, marketing support, and operational systems.

The technology stack is conventional rather than proprietary: a Drupal-based consumer website (fantasticsams.com), iOS and Android mobile applications, third-party Stripe payment processing, and Google Analytics. Distribution is the primary moat, with the 800-plus location footprint providing consumer reach that would be capital-intensive to replicate, supported by multi-channel marketing across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter, plus a dedicated franchise opportunity website. In 2025 the company executed a brand refresh to "FS Cut & Color," expanded its partnership with SalonCentric for franchisee product and education access, and appointed Kimberly Amadon as CEO of DESSANGE Group North America.

Name

Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation

Legal name

Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation

Website

https://fantasticsams.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation, doing business as FS Cut & Color, is a privately held full-service hair salon franchisor founded in 1974 and owned by DESSANGE International. It licenses its brand, operating system, and FS Haircare product line to over 800 independently operated franchise salons serving individual consumers across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hair Salon Services

NAICS

Beauty Salons (812112), Hair, Nail, and Skin Care Services (81211), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Haircutting & Styling Services (HSALAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hair Coloring & Highlights Services (HSALAAAE), Professional/Salon Haircare (Backbar & Retail) (CRABABAK), Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling, Treatments) (CRADANAE)

Keywords

• Hair salon franchise
• Professional haircare services
• Hair color services
• Salon retail products
• Franchise licensing system

Headquarters

HQ city

Beverly

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Royalty Revenue: Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation licenses the right to use its franchise system, trademarks (Fantastic Sams, FS Cut & Color), and proprietary operating procedures to independent franchisees who own and operate individual salon locations. The company generates revenue through initial franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments from franchisees.
2. Product Sales: Sale of professional haircare products including the FS Haircare product line sold through franchised salons and the online e-commerce platform (shop.saloninteractive.com/store/FSCutColor). Products include shampoos, conditioners, styling products, and treatments.
3. Corporate Services and Support: The company provides various services to franchisees including training programs, marketing support, operational systems, and technology platforms, which may include fees for such services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation, doing business as FS Cut & Color, is a franchised full-service hair salon chain offering haircuts, hair color, styling, treatments, texture services, facial waxing, and hair extensions to men, women, and children across more than 800 independently owned salon locations in North America. The company also develops and sells the proprietary FS Haircare Product Line through franchised salons and a direct e-commerce platform, and licenses its brand, trademarks, and operating system to franchisees for initial and ongoing royalty fees.

Product overview

Fantastic Sams Cut & Color is a franchised full-service hair salon chain offering a comprehensive portfolio of hair care services and proprietary products. The core offering consists of haircuts (adult, kids, buzz, clipper cuts), hair coloring (highlights, balayage, all-over color, fashion colors), styling (blowout, updos, special occasion), treatments (shampoo therapy, clarifying, color protect, repair), texture services (perms, relaxers, keratin smoothing), facial waxing, and hair extensions. The company also sells the FS Haircare Product Line including Moisture Lock, FS Curl (with hyaluronic acid and silk protein), and Color Protect sub-lines. Services are available at independently owned and operated franchise locations across North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FS Cut & Color Haircut Services Precision haircuts for women and men, including adult cuts (bobs, layers, and more) plus Kids Haircut (11 and under), Buzz Cut, Clipper Cut, Bang Trim, and Line Up / Edge Up services. Every adult haircut includes a consultation, complimentary FS Shampoo Therapy, conditioning rinse, and tousle dry.
• FS Cut & Color Hair Color Services Comprehensive hair color services including all-over color, root touch-up, grey blending, bleach and tone, partial and full-head highlights, balayage, low lights, ombre, and fashion colors (purples, blues, greens).
• FS Cut & Color Styling Services Professional styling services including blowout, roller set, hot tool finish, special occasion styling, and updo services for everyday pampering or special events.
• FS Cut & Color Treatment Services Luxurious hair treatments including FS Shampoo Therapy (with 3-minute scalp massage), clarifying treatment, color protect treatment, and repair treatment for hydration and damage restoration.
• FS Cut & Color Texture Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Complimentary FS Shampoo Therapy with every haircut service enhances customer value perception

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SalonCentriccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2025Expanded partnership announced in August 2025, effective June 1, 2025. FS Cut & Color franchisees across North America gain access to SalonCentric's extensive portfolio of premium professional hair product brands, innovative business tools, and world-class education and support. SalonCentric is described as the leading distributor of salon professional products in the U.S.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ulta Beauty: Largest U.S. beauty retailer (~1,400 stores) offering salon services in-store alongside cosmetics, skincare, and haircare retail. Overlaps with Fantastic Sams on haircare product sales (FS Haircare competes on shelf with Ulta brands) and salon service category.
• Regis Corporation: Publicly traded parent of Supercuts, Cost Cutters, SmartStyle, and other salon brands (~5,800 locations worldwide). The dominant scaled incumbent in the value salon category against which Fantastic Sams competes for franchisees and consumers.

Direct peers

• Supercuts: Value-priced walk-in hair salon franchise owned by Regis Corporation with roughly 2,400 U.S. locations. Overlaps directly with Fantastic Sams on haircut, color, and styling services targeted at price-conscious consumers.
• Great Clips: Largest U.S. hair salon franchise with ~4,400 salons, focused on value-priced haircut services. Directly competes with Fantastic Sams in the affordable full-service salon category with a similar franchise model and walk-in service approach.
• Sport Clips: Men's and boys' hair salon franchise with ~1,900 U.S. locations focused on sports-themed experience. Comparable franchise model and overlapping service offering (cuts, neck shaves, MVP services) with portions of the Fantastic Sams menu.
• Cost Cutters Family Hair Salon: Regis Corporation-owned value salon franchise offering affordable cuts, color, and styling. Competes with Fantastic Sams on price point and franchise-based distribution in suburban and small-town markets.
• SmartStyle by Regis: Salon-in-Walmart concept operated by Regis Corporation providing value haircuts and color inside Walmart stores. Direct competitor for budget-conscious shoppers and franchise recruitment pipelines.
• Hair Cuttery: Largest privately held U.S. salon chain with ~700 company-owned locations offering cuts, color, and styling. Comparable service menu, mid-market pricing, and East/Midwest U.S. geographic density to Fantastic Sams.

Others

• Great Expressions Dental Centers: Dental support organization using a similar franchise/multi-site consumer services model. Listed as a thematic comparator for franchise service businesses but not a direct competitor.
• SalonCentric: Leading U.S. distributor of professional salon products and a strategic partner to Fantastic Sams franchisees since June 2025. Listed as an ecosystem enabler — a supplier channel — rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fshairsalons
• YouTubeyoutube.com/fantasticsams
• Facebookfacebook.com/FantasticSamsFranchise
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fantastic-sams-franchise-corp
• Instagraminstagram.com/fantasticsams
• TikToktiktok.com/discover/fantastic-sams
• Pinterestpinterest.com/fantasticsams

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation