Sport Clips Haircuts Testimonial: Colorado & Wyoming

Before franchising, Riley McMurdo worked in personal banking. His dad, a longtime T-Mobile executive, had been inspired years earlier after hearing Magic Johnson speak about his franchise ventures with Burger King and Starbucks. “He’d always wanted to get into franchising,” Riley said. “So when the timing was right, he approached me about doing it together.”

They already knew which brand made sense. “We were customers of Sport Clips," he said. “We knew we didn’t want to get into food. We liked the service and the model.”

That familiarity gave them confidence to take the leap. “We built it out and opened our first store in July 2010,” Riley said. “It was our first store, and it did well.”

Finding a Formula That Worked

Just a year later, they bought an existing location in Castle Rock, Colorado. “It was already a profitable store,” he said. “We got it appropriately staffed, and it really took off.”

Growth came quickly after that. “We were flying high,” Riley said. “It doesn’t always happen that easily, but we were in a position where cash flow was very strong.”

By 2015, the family’s business expanded to eight stores. “My sister came on and took over the back office,” he said. “She got it a lot more organized and online. My wife does payroll, my mom handles employee welfare and my dad helps with maintenance and financial analysis.”

Over time, Sport Clips became a true family business. Riley and his brother-in-law now run operations, while his sister manages administration. “We love it,” Riley said. “It’s great to have everyone involved.”

Ten years into the business, the McMurdos now operate 20 stores in Colorado and Wyoming. Their growth reflects years of steady work and family commitment.

Hard Years, Stronger Comeback

When COVID hit, everything paused. “We were shut down for six weeks,” Riley said. “We kept everyone on payroll because we were applying for PPP loans. By 2022 and 2023, things started to tick back up again.”

Coming back from that slowdown wasn’t easy. “The challenges with staffing are probably harder than I would have imagined,” Riley said. “But the growth opportunities have been better than what I thought they’d be.”

Even through those ups and downs, Riley points to the consistency of the Sport Clips system as a major advantage. “They have a very detailed opening playbook that outlines everything down to the last detail,” he said. “They really care about the success of their franchisees.”

That structure, combined with steady innovation, helped the business stay resilient. “When they developed the online app in 2018, everything went digital,” Riley said. “Before that, it was paper. If it wasn’t done, I can promise you the margins would have been worse.”

Riley’s Take on Franchising

“You bought into this franchise for a reason,” Riley said. “You need to trust the process. Don’t buy in and then think you have better ideas. The sooner you start accepting the model you bought into, the faster you’ll become more profitable and grow.”

He encourages new owners to stay close to what they know. “Buy into an area you understand,” he said. “Know where people go in that town, where the main trade area is. Staffing will be difficult, but it’s the most important thing.”

Still Grateful for the Ride

More than a decade later, Riley still finds fulfillment in what he and his family have built. “It’s been great,” he said. “We love it. Sure, there are challenges, but the opportunities have been better than I ever expected.”