Unlike most small business owners, Ben Davis was not chasing his passion when he decided to open The Gents Place in Frisco. He was instead trying to fix a problem.

Davis could not get what he considered a good haircut for a decent price. Inexpensive chains left him disappointed, and he thought expensive salons never gave him his money's worth.

"I decided I probably wasn't the only person with this problem," Davis said. "So I went after it."

Davis is passionate about the concept he developed—a place where men can feel good about themselves—country club meets barbershop. Not only can a customer get his hair styled, but he can have a drink with friends, smoke a cigar, get his shoes shined, and have his hands and feet healed and pampered.

"We are not in the hair business, contrary to popular belief," Davis said. "We are in the business of making men look and feel confident about themselves. We sell confidence. What we know with absolute certainty is that confidence always makes a difference in the world. Different backgrounds, different colors, different age—it doesn't matter. Successful people are confident."

While looking good is important, so is feeling good, Davis said. The idea is to look and feel good for that big business meeting or important trip out of town.

A desire to be the best led Davis to start his own business.

After graduating from The University of Texas, Davis worked for an online insurance company. He was a top employee, but not the owner. The bigger the company got, the more he wanted to branch out on his own.

"It's just the way I am wired," Davis said. "Being No. 2 isn't good enough."

The Gents Place almost did not get off the ground. Davis acquired a Small Business Administration loan to open in 2008, but got a call from his banker as he moved forward with starting his business.

"I remember my banker calling me and telling me that I better start spending my loan," Davis said. "I bet not many people have ever got that call but the Lehman Brothers had gone bankrupt and it looked like the whole world was caving in. We were fortunate to open at the right place at the right time."

Davis admits he made plenty of mistakes, but starting his business in Frisco wasn't one of them. In fact, it might have saved his business, as the demand for his concept was strong. While The Gents Place was under construction, he had so many inquiries about the business that he started selling gift cards for when it opened. He sold $10,000 worth of cards before he opened.

His business has quickly grown as he took over a similar operation in Kansas City and opened a second Texas location off Preston Road in North Dallas. Davis plans to expand again, but he will probably keep the business primarily in Texas.

"What we are doing is giving our customers a better life," Davis said. "We make them a better businessman, a better husband, a better father."

At The Gents Place

• The Gents Place is so similar to a country club that it offers memberships. There are seven different plans, with the biggest package called The Fat Cat. Members can visit every other week for barber services, plus a variety of other benefits ranging from straight razor shaves to hour-long massages.
• "It has worked out really well for us," owner Ben Davis said. "It is really popular with someone [who] wants to drop in frequently and make sure they look good for a big meeting the next day."
• The Gents Place holds special events, beginning with a monthly happy hour. It has held wine-tasting and scotch-tasting parties, a charity shaving contest and education events. The Gents Place also hosts a charity golf event annually.

• 6975 Lebanon Road, Ste. 303, Frisco
• 469-579-4417
• www.thegentsplace.com