Sport Clips: Building a 30-Unit, People-First Franchise in Louisiana

Scaling a franchise operation to 27 locations is not about speed alone. For Jeremy Aydell and Adam Moskowitz, it has been about building the right foundation and then growing from there.

Today, the duo operates a 27-unit Sport Clips Haircuts portfolio across Louisiana and Mississippi, supported by a long-tenured team, a strong leadership bench and a culture that prioritizes both personal and financial success for Team Members. Their journey offers a clear case study in how investing in people drives sustainable, multi-unit growth.

Aydell’s path into franchising was driven by a desire for control and long-term stability.

“I went to Louisiana and became a CPA. I eventually wanted something different and was able to dive into franchising, which had always been appealing to me,” Aydell said. “It was a proven business model, and I figured with my background, it was smart to ensure the future.”

After experiencing uncertainty in the corporate world, he began exploring industries that offered resilience and long-term demand. “I started looking into the hair care niche. It was recession-proof and couldn’t be taken away by technology,” he said. “I loved meeting the Sport Clips team, and the team was very instrumental in having me sign on because they seemed like good people.”

Starting with a three-pack in Louisiana, Aydell and his wife, Lori, who joined the business as chief financial officer, built their Sport Clips operation methodically. “We took the leap of faith and started with a three-pack, and opened up our first location in Louisiana,” he said. “Then we opened up the second location, and moving forward, we were able to acquire three additional stores. We went from two to five and started adding units.”

That steady, disciplined growth became a defining characteristic of their operation. “For me personally, the slow but steady growth was best,” Aydell said. “We set ourselves up financially to continue growing and pay down debt.”

Partnership and growth

The addition of Moskowitz marked a turning point for the business, bringing a new level of operational depth and scalability.

“For the last 22 years, I’ve been involved in franchising, both on the franchisee and the franchisor side,” Moskowitz said. “From 2015 until the end of 2024, I was working with Sport Clips and really fell in love with the brand.”

Having worked inside the system at the franchisor level, he saw firsthand what differentiated top-performing operators. “I was looking at way too many opportunities for the brand to be operated at a higher level,” he said. “When you fully embrace the business model, you can really see it at a higher level.”

The partnership came together through a shared opportunity to acquire 10 additional locations in 2025. Now serving as chief operating officer of their group, Sport Clips Team Aydell, Moskowitz has helped streamline operations and improve performance across the portfolio.

“This was a pivotal moment for us. I was at a crossroads of scalability. I wanted to grow more, but I needed a strong operating partner to help manage the bandwidth and support the vision over the long term. Investing time and resources into the right people is one of the greatest long-term investments you can make because the return compounds far beyond today’s results. Having him come on board has completely changed the game and given me another decision maker to bounce ideas off of,” Aydell said. “He has really enabled me to grow much quicker and with far more confidence in the future.”

People first culture

At the core of their success is a clear, consistent philosophy: build a culture where employees want to stay. “The best businesses have a documented structure and best practices,” Moskowitz said. “But it’s a people business. It’s all about people — service, relationships, Team Members.”

That philosophy aligns closely with the broader Sport Clips system, which emphasizes leadership, team development and a manager-driven operating model. “I loved the core values of the company,” Moskowitz said. “Do what’s right, do what’s best, treat others the way they want to be treated. All of those things really tie back to people.”

That focus on people has translated directly into long-term retention and operational stability across their locations. “Having great people on the team is essential,” Aydell said. “You can’t run a multi-unit operation of 27 stores without having great management.”

The structure of the Sport Clips model has also played a significant role in enabling Aydell and Moskowitz to scale. “Because this business isn’t usually owner-operated, it’s much easier to scale,” Moskowitz said. “You have to be present for your teams, but you don’t have to go in and cut hair every day.”

Instead, the model allows Team Leaders to focus on operations while licensed Stylists deliver the service. “As a multi-unit Team Leader, this is an easier business to operate than most,” he said. “But it also comes with its fair share of challenges.”

That balance of simplicity and scalability has made it possible to grow to 27 units while maintaining operational consistency. “As with any franchise, your first one is the most important one,” Moskowitz said. “If you don’t have it right the first time, your chances of expanding are much lower.”

Long term impact

As their operation continues to grow, both partners remain focused on long-term impact.

For Moskowitz, the decision to become an owner was about more than growth. It was about control and quality of life. “This was all about finding work-life balance for my family while also taking a significant leap of faith to invest in myself, my future, and the people around me,” he said. “I’ve always believed that when you invest time and money into people today, the long-term return comes back even greater in the future. Seeing both of those things come to fruition has made the journey incredibly rewarding.”

For Aydell, success has created the opportunity to give back and advocate for the industry. “My focus now is on advancing the cosmetology industry. It’s been great to bring focus to what a great industry it is,” he said. “It’s a fantastic business with fantastic people.”

Aydell and Moskowitz’s 27-unit operation demonstrates how the Sport Clips Haircuts model, when paired with strong leadership and a people-first mindset, can create a highly scalable and sustainable business.