Boardroom Salon Men’s Grooming Franchise Hits Milestone AUV

Brand’s Focus on Unit Economics Yields Seven-Figure Sales for Top-Performing Stores

Franchisors don’t hide it: If you’re a franchisee with ambitions for rapid growth and multi-unit ownership, they’ve got an opportunity for you. But in today’s world of rising labor costs and tighter consumer spending, that thinking is shifting. Instead of chasing new territories, more and more franchisors are zeroing in on how each location performs.

The focus on unit economics isn’t concerning for Jeff Helfgott. As the CEO of Boardroom Salon, an upscale men’s grooming franchise, Helfgott prioritizes strong unit performance over explosive growth. “In franchising, speed is easy, but performance is hard,” he says. “Too many systems grow faster than their infrastructure and leave operators facing the consequences. With Boardroom Salon, we chose to build the foundation first, validate performance at the unit level, and grow at a pace that allows us to support both new and existing franchisees. That discipline gives the brand durability.”

In the case of Boardroom Salon, that approach has also resulted in increased average unit volume (AUV). “Our men’s grooming brand reports average franchised unit sales of roughly $970,000, with top-performing locations exceeding $1.3 million annually,” says Helfgott. That’s a huge win as the $1 million milestone remains elusive for most unit owners in the service sector.

Setting the Stage for Excellence

Service-based franchises often struggle to consistently replicate the client experience, exposing operational cracks and eroding customers’ brand trust. “Consistency is hard, and most service brands underestimate how much discipline it takes to execute well every day,” Helfgott says.

Setting the operational stage for excellence begins long before opening day. “You have to recruit and retain the right people, manage demand, drive repeat visits and deliver a great experience every time. If any one of those breaks down, sales suffer,” he says.

Salon franchises deliver highly personalized experiences, which raises the bar even higher. “Men’s grooming is built on trust and relationships. Brands that treat it like a simple business usually fall short,” Helfgott says. “Many focus heavily on marketing or design but underinvest in operators and stylists. Without engaged ownership and strong teams, it’s difficult to sustain performance.”

More than a Barber Shop

Boardroom Salon is more than a traditional barber shop — it’s a gentlemen’s lounge. Big leather chairs set the ambiance. High-end Jack Black products nurture skin and hair, and simple spa treatments — hot shaves with steamed towels, paraffin hand dips, and eyebrow, nose and ear waxing — allow men to indulge while they decompress. Hair stylists handle everything from quick express cuts to gray camouflaging to Boardroom’s signature Benchmark Cut, a package combining a tailored cut, neck shave, and scalp, facial and hand massage.

The men’s grooming franchise’s exclusive concept is seductive, but it’s execution that drives results. “We kept it simple and stayed disciplined,” Helfgott says of his model. “We invested in recruiting and retaining great stylists because the experience starts with the people delivering it.”

Boardroom Salon leverages memberships to encourage customer retention, and decisions are data driven. “We built a membership model that drives consistent behavior instead of relying on discounts to fill the book. We use data to guide our decisions, and we trust it because it comes from operating our own salons. We have tested what works and built the model around repeatable performance,” Helfgott says.

Focus on Unit Economics

For Helfgott, building a strong operational base before scaling was essential. Franchisees make serious commitments when they invest in a franchise, and their engagement is critical to the brand’s success, as well as unit economics. “Our highest-performing franchisees are the ones who show up. They are present with their teams and engaged with their clients. They care about the in-salon experience,” he says. “Strong financial performance follows strong relationships, and the best operators understand that and lead with that mindset every day.”

Taking care of Boardroom Salon’s franchisees allow both individual businesses and the brand to thrive. “We align completely with our franchisees through royalties tied to revenue. When they succeed, we succeed. It keeps everyone focused on performance.”

Ultimately, the customer is the greatest indicator of success. Are they returning? Are they satisfied when they leave? Franchisors can’t always see the day-to-day operations, so Helfgott encourages listening to their team members who are closest to customers.

Boom in Men’s Grooming

While many franchises struggle with today’s rising costs, Boardroom Salon is positioned to thrive even in challenging times. “In many ways, rising costs favor premium brands like Boardroom,” says Helfgott. “Our men’s grooming franchise serves an affluent clientele that is less price sensitive, which allows us to price appropriately.”

Research backs this up; the global luxury men’s grooming market is projected to expand at a combined annual growth rate of 7.2% to $25.7 billion by 2033, according to DATAINTELO.

The opportunity to scale is critical for most franchisors, but as Boardroom Salon proves, chasing territory is the easy part. Creating lasting success? That’s the challenge. By following Boardroom’s roadmap — focusing on consistent, high-performing unit economics — any service-based franchise can boost average unit volume. And who knows? That just might be the best springboard for growth.

To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit Boardroom Salon’s website.