Franchisor Stories
Sola Salons Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026
Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Sola Salons is a national salon suites franchise boasting a strong revenue model, deep franchisee support and high occupancy rates.
Sola Salons is a 740-plus-unit salon suites franchise, backed by parent company Radiance Holdings. The real estate forward franchise allows entrepreneurs to provide opportunities for beauty professionals to build their own businesses in turnkey suites without the capital demands and overhead costs associated with owning a traditional salon. For franchisees, Sola Salons is a low-labor model with strong scalability.
1. What Is the Brand Overview for Sola Salons?
About the Brand
Sola Salons was founded in 2004 by Stratton Smith and Matt Briger, who aimed to build a space where beauty professionals could build careers and lives they loved. By offering customizable studio space and increased professional freedom, compared to what beauty professionals traditionally received in standard salon settings, Sola Salons has created a platform for independent beauty pros to build their own thriving businesses.
Mission: To support beauty professionals in chasing their dreams and empower them to elevate their careers while experiencing the freedom of business ownership.
Vision: To create a thriving community of independent beauty professionals who have full autonomy over their services, scheduling and pricing and operate out of their own personalized salon suites.
Unique Selling Points (USPs)
- Full Independence: Beauty professionals who work from a Sola Salons suite operate their own independent business with the freedom to set their own hours and pricing, create a customized service menu and leverage a unique brand identity.
- Move-In Ready Studios: Each suite is fully equipped with the necessary millwork and utilities. Beauty professionals can immediately begin customizing their spaces, allowing them to move in and begin offering services quickly.
- Support Resources Available: Sola Salons leverages technology and has support teams in place through the franchise owner to ensure things run smoothly on-site, meaning beauty professionals can focus on growing their business.
2. What Are the Franchise Opportunity Details?
Why Franchise With Sola Salons?
- Market Leadership: Sola Salons is the largest, most established salon suites concept in the industry. Its dominance in the market helps franchisees to attract top-tier beauty professionals who know and trust the name.
- Comprehensive Support: Franchisees benefit from support with site selection, construction, marketing and ongoing operational guidance.
- Focus on Franchisee and Tenant Success: The Sola Salons leadership team is focused on and has built a business model around the success of everyone in the system, providing extensive resources and education to ensure franchisees are set up for success and able to support their tenants in their career success, too.
Available Territories
Sola Salons has a strong national presence, but it is still expanding in key markets nationwide. Currently, the brand is especially focused on growth in California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Investment Overview
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Sola Salons franchise ranges from $1,181,960 to $1,939,349. The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Expenditure Type | Minimum | Maximum |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $60,000 | $60,000 |
| Improvements/Conversions | $786,134 | $1,159,559 |
| Architectural Fees | $12,500 | $35,000 |
| Site Evaluation Services | $2,000 | $3,500 |
| Rent or Real Estate | $33,600 | $121,000 |
| Furniture and Fixtures | $205,086 | $327,636 |
| Low Voltage | $6,239 | $49,023 |
| Signage | $12,000 | $15,000 |
| Travel and Living Expenses During Training | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| Site Selection Assistance | $0 | $3,500 |
| Property Management Software | $744 | $1,044 |
| Utilities | $1,357 | $21,587 |
| Operating Supplies | $1,000 | $21,200 |
| Market Introduction Fee | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Business Licenses and Fees | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Technology Fee | $750 | $1,500 |
| Insurance | $3,250 | $5,000 |
| Computer Equipment and Software | $1,300 | $2,300 |
| Repairs and Maintenance | $3,000 | $21,000 |
| Labor | $9,000 | $15,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $20,000 | $50,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: Sola Salons assesses a franchise fee of $60,000, due at the time the franchise agreement is signed.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2025 FDD, Sola Salons franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Fee Type | Amount |
| Royalty Fee | 5.5% of gross revenue, minimum of $500 per month |
| National Marketing Fund Contribution/Multi-Area Marketing Program | Up to 2% of gross revenue per month. Franchisees must also participate, at their own expense, in any Multi-Area Marketing programs |
| Computer and Communications Equipment Upgrades and Maintenance | Varied, typically no more than $1,000 per year |
| Technology Fee | Currently $0 per month per the 2025 FDD, expected to be $250 per month starting January 2026 |
| Marketing Cooperative | As established by Marketing Cooperative, not to exceed 2% of monthly gross revenue |
ROI Potential: Sola Salons reports average and median revenues as well as highest and lowest in range for franchised locations:
Average Gross Revenue | Median Gross Revenue | Highest in Range | Lowest in Range | |
| 2023 | $435,678 | $419,770 | $1,120,811 | $89,730 |
| 2024 | $442,438 | $420,051 | $1,181,814 | $58,506 |
3. What Franchisee Support Does Sola Salons Provide?
Training Programs
Sola Salons offers a one-day onboarding course on business essentials, a two-day sales and operations training and consistent onboarding support through the grand opening.
Operational Support
Throughout the life span of the business, Sola Salons supports franchisees with a dedicated Franchise Business Consultant, marketing guidance, business consulting and access to annual events, conferences and summits for additional education and networking.
Technology and Tools
Sola Salons leverages a ZenDesk ticketing system and proprietary salon management systems and analytics tools. Franchisees also have access to a proprietary learning management system, The Studio by Sola, to empower their training and continued professional development.
4. What Are the Franchise Requirements for Sola Salons?
Eligibility Criteria
Prospective franchisees must have a minimum net worth of $1.5 million and at least $500,000 in liquidity.
Franchisees should have an entrepreneurial spirit and strong business acumen. Skilled communicators, leaders and relationship builders often find success with the model.
Operational Commitments
Sola Salons franchisees are not required to live in the market where they open the salon suites franchise, but they must have a strong manager in place. With the right teams, Sola Salons can be a scalable, semi-absentee model.
Funding Assistance
Sola Salons does not offer direct funding assistance, but it does have preferred lending partners it refers franchisees to.
5. Are There Franchisee Success Stories?
- Marvin Goldfarb and Seth Goldstein
- Kristen Harris
- Larry Lloyd, Loraine Lloyd and Becky McDougall
6. What Is the Market Potential for Salon Suites?
In 2026, the salon suites market is valued at $320.68 billion and is set to reach $595.6 billion by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.46%. As demand rises among beauty professionals for greater independence and ownership, salon suites offer a compelling path forward — fueling continued momentum in the market.
Competitor Analysis
Sola Salons’ market leadership and comprehensive franchisee support offer entrepreneurs significant brand equity and a proven operational model. The franchisor’s support extends beyond just the franchisee, ensuring the system of beauty professionals have access to adequate support, too. The dual focus on franchisee and tenant, all within the context of a network of upscale salon suites, creates a unique ecosystem.
Primary Competitors: Encore Salon Suites, My Salon Suite, Phenix Salon Suites
7. What Is the Application Process for Sola Salons Franchisees?
- Introductory Call: Prospective franchisees can fill out a form to schedule an initial call with the development team to discuss their background and learn more about the brand.
- Financial and Business Overview: Complete a pre-qualification questionnaire to ensure you meet the financial requirements. Then, look at key factors like target markets, real estate and design. This is also the stage where prospective franchisees receive the Franchise Disclosure Document for consideration.
- FDD Review and Planning: Take time to review the FDD and discuss the opportunity with financial and legal advisors. Learn more about the business model, including marketing, training and operational systems. Ahead of attending Decision Day, you will complete the official application and things like a background check and asset verification.
- Firsthand Experience and Decision Day: Visit existing Sola Salons locations to get firsthand insights and connect with existing franchisees. After this, attend Decision Day in Lakewood, Colorado, where you’ll meet members of the leadership team and solidify your investment decision.
- Make it Official: Once approved, you will sign the franchise agreement and officially become a franchisee.
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