Top Personal Services Franchises

Still trending up

By Callie Evergreen

The wide-ranging personal services category took a slight dip in overall sales growth from its notable 14.3 percent boost in 2018 but continued trending positive 8.5 percent in 2019. Eyelash service franchises posted the best performance with a whopping 37 percent sales growth, led by Amazing Lash Studio and The Lash Lounge and showing the growing demand within beauty. The new “animals” subcategory stood out with 23 percent sales growth, and all three dog-focused franchises posted double-digit sales increases ranging from 48.4 percent (Dogtopia, up to $65 million) to 13.8 percent (Wag N’ Wash Natural Food & Bakery). Junk removal was another standout with 22 percent sales growth, led by College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving and Junk King. Trampoline parks, a new subcategory last year, grew in sales by 17.3 percent in 2019. The fitness segment, while still posting a gain of 14.7 percent from 11,960 units, slowed slightly from its nearly 25 percent increase in 2018. Anytime Fitness lost some steam as it approached the $2 billion milestone, up just 6.7 percent versus 19.5 percent the previous year. Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa’s 21.1 percent sales increase brought its systemwide sales to $499 million to lead the massage segment, which grew 5.2 percent overall. Sales for DIY class franchises dropped by 2.1 percent, and tax services saw the bleakest performance with a 2.7 percent decline.

Slight Trim

By Callie Evergreen

Phenix Salon Suites leads hair care franchises in percentage sales growth at 20.8 percent, though Great Clips still holds the highest hair rank of No. 81 on our Top 200+ list. With $86 million in sales in 2019, Phenix Salon Suites ranks at No. 347. “Having Gina Rivera as the founder and face of our brand provides that connectivity to salon professionals that our other competitors don’t have,” said Brian Kelley, president and chief operating officer at Phenix. “We’ve been moving so fast and didn’t have a huge infrastructure in place, so our growth comes down to two things: people and process. We hired a few good, high quality people that have franchise development experience, as well as on the construction side.” Phenix finished 2019 with 260 units, and Kelley was brought in last year to help negotiate favorable terms with landlords when developing. He also emphasized the trend of salon professionals wanting to “liberate themselves from a chair or booth rental and split commission structure and have their own business with four walls.” Kelley introduced a project management tool that offers franchisees with locations under development guidance during each step of the process, from franchise agreement signing to lease to opening. About 30 locations are in development using the tool, which cuts down on development time and helps ‘zees stay on track and on budget. Notable elsewhere in the category is the performance of budget conscious concepts Smartstyle and First Choice, both hit with sales declines of 4.8 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively.