A Modern Take on the Classic Barbershop
Starks Barber Company was started when Ryan McLachlan and Steve Tallis decided to leave the corporate ladder and start a small business. Coming from a family of immigrant small business owners, Steve knew firsthand the effect a small business has on a community. Wanting to replicate that process, Steve and Ryan decided to go into business for themselves, meeting a need they knew was past due for an update: the classic barbershop. Their idea? Take the business model of the barbershop that has for centuries worked for shaves and haircuts, but update the look, feel, and customer experience to meet today’s upscale customer expectations.
“This business matters,” says Steve. “Starks is built for the future. It’s the modern take on a traditional barbershop, while respecting the tradition and culture of the original. So we’re not trying to get cocky here and reinvent everything— we’re just updating it, and I think we’re the best ones at doing that.”
The Starks name came to be when Ryan and Steve got together over what they love best: sports and pizza. With the goal of deciding on a name by the last buzzer of the game, Ryan and Steve got to thinking about the type of customer their business would attract, with two names sticking out: Jim Stark, played by James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause, and Tony Stark, played by Robert Downy Jr. in Iron Man, which had, at the time, just released in theaters. Both characters embodied the stylish persona of the ideal Starks customer from the past and in the present, both with great hair and unique personalities that resemble and inspire the ideal Starks customer. And so, before the last buzzer sounded and the last slice of pizza was eaten, Starks Barber Company was founded.
Business Partners Turned Franchisors
After several years of growth and local popularity, in 2019, Ryan and Steve decided to franchise Starks. With an emphasis on customer experience, Starks Barber Company started to grow, with franchises opening all over the Greater Toronto Area. Now, with a proven and recession-resistant business model and a service that never goes out of demand, Starks is ready to expand on a global scale. As both Ryan and Steve would put it, “The sky’s the limit!”
Starks is an upscale barber experience that caters to working professionals that want more than the rushed and impersonal in-and-out barbershops that have saturated the market.
A Brand that Builds Loyalty
One element of the Starks business model that sets us apart from our competitors is our membership model. With three tiers of membership based on frequency of visit, our membership models offer our franchise owners an additional steady revenue stream that can supply a dependable cash flow.
- Classic: Monthly Starks treatments, 25% off all other services & 10% off products
- Premium: Bi-weekly Starks treatments, 40% off all other services & 20% off products
- Elite: Weekly Starks treatments, 50% off all other services & 25% off products
“For franchise owners, the membership is a key component, especially in the first year. When starting a new business, everybody’s looking for cashflow positivity as soon as possible,” Ryan explains. “So of course, the memberships help early on to capture that cash, but they also help you with your customers because of the loyalty that a customer will give you. It’s very nice to know as business owners that our renewal rate on memberships is really high.”
Barbershop revenue is forecast to grow in the coming years, as the focus on self-care continues to become a more of a priority to individuals from all backgrounds.
Join Starks Barber Company Today
Starks Barber Company has emerged as a beacon of excellence in the barbering industry. With our unwavering commitment to exceptional craftsmanship, personalized service, and community building, Starks Barber Company has not only transformed the way men experience grooming, but also fostered a network of thriving entrepreneurs who share our vision. As we continue to expand, we invite you to join us in the celebration of tradition, style, and the pursuit of remarkable barbershop experiences.
To get started, fill out our form here, and we’ll be in touch with a complimentary copy of our Franchise Information Report, containing more details about the Starks Barber Company franchise opportunity.