Great Clips was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1982.
Steve Lemmon and David Rubenzer opened the first Great Clips salon in Minneapolis in 1982. Their concept focused on convenient, affordable haircuts in a salon environment rather than on appointment-only service or premium styling.
The company expanded through franchising and developed a recognizable high-volume operating model. Great Clips salons commonly use online check-in and standardized service processes, allowing customers to reduce waiting time while visiting locations in many communities.
The founding year is sometimes confused with the dates of later expansion milestones. Great Clips began in 1982; its national growth and technology initiatives happened afterward. The business is a hair-care franchise, not a conventional fast-food or retail franchise, but it uses the same franchised-location model.