awful job - Anonymous employee Great Clips Employee Review

1.0
May 15, 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

depending on your manager, you may get good flexibility with the schedule. All my managers were sympathetic to my schedule needs for class at college. if you don't have a clientele, this is the place to start. Great walk-in traffic, since great Clips does its own advertisements.

Cons

You will not make beyond hourly + tips. They want you to cut hair faster and faster, but all the money goes to the profits of the franchise owner. The company sees their stylists as robots in an assembly line. Because of a tax law about tips, Great Clips pays UNDER MIN WAGE. we were paid $8.50 an hour while the min in cook county is $10 or $12. The company is insane. You must repeat the exact same script do every customer that walks in, even when its socially awkward. "Hi, welcome to Great Clips! Did you check in online?" There is no HR department when stylists want to report their franchise owners. I bet a good lawyer would find many workers rights violations. I actually liked Great Clips,I think its the franchise owners who ruin it. You can't stay their for long when you realize, your never going to get paid more. It becomes a game of cutting hair faster for the tips. it becomes insulting. Salon clientele. When the good stylists realize they can't really make that much, they began to look at the competition. When the stylists leave, new hires show up. Clients hate new hires, they're afraid everyone is from out of hair school. When the clients see new hires in the salon, they leave Great Clips. This becomes a downward spiral until the store closes. I have see solid case studies of this, one owner I worked for closed at least three stores. She's killing Great Clips from the inside out, and the company doesn't seem to care or notice. It is coo-koo land.

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Great Clips Response
8y
We are sorry that this was your experience in the salon. Since each salon is independently owned and operated, franchisees may use a number of different factors to determine stylist's total compensation and benefits. If you would like, you can email Jeanne@greatclips.com. We will forward it to the franchisee for follow up with you regarding your feedback and comments. Thank you.

Explore other reviews about Great Clips

5.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible schedules, 401k, health, & dental benefits, bonuses (based on salon performance, base wage with poetional to hit commission on service & product sales, fun friendly & welcoming environment for employees/customers, continuing education for growth in the industry, professional career growth with Great Clips (depending upon your franchise)

Cons

Haircutting exclusive so if you enjoy other services in the industry (chemicals, waxing, updo styling) this is not the place Franchised salons, so salons are ran differently.

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Great Clips Response
1w
We appreciate you sharing your experience and all that you do to support your salon every day. Thank you for being part of the team and for everything you do to create a GREAT experience in the salon.
3.0
Jul 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Advanced education by Great clips inc is some of the best in the industry.

Cons

Work-life balance. Heavy focus on weekends and holidays make it difficult to spend time with family and friends.

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