From Italy to LA: Mirko Marrone To Open His 13th Sola Salons Location This August

When Mirko Marrone moved from Italy to San Diego at the age of 20, he didn’t speak a word of English and never imagined owning a franchise. But through hard work, a strong partnership with Ken Hwang and the power of the Sola Salons model, he’s built a thriving business that just keeps growing.

This August, Marrone and Hwang will open their 13th Sola Salons location in Los Angeles. The milestone reflects more than just expansion — it shows how a clear vision and strong partnership can fuel long-term success in franchising. Marrone’s story stands out not only because of his growth, but because of how deeply he believes in what Sola offers beauty professionals: freedom, flexibility and a better future.

From a background in real estate to a hands-on role in a Sola franchise group, Marrone learned the ins and outs of the business before taking the leap as an owner. Now, with 12 studios already open and a growing presence in the LA market, he continues to support beauty professionals who are ready to take control of their careers — just as he did years ago.

1851 Franchise spoke with Marrone about his franchising journey with Sola Salons. Here’s what he had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Mirko Marrone: I came from Italy in 2000. I moved from Italy to San Diego when I was 20 years old and didn’t really know any English. I went to school here in America, then worked for a real estate company for about 15 years. I started a family during that time.

When I left that company, I went to work for a different employer in a Sola Salon franchise group in Orange County, Southern California. I did that for about three years. It gave me a front-row seat to the business model and to business ownership. That franchise group gave me a lot of flexibility and responsibility. Looking back, it was a great learning experience and prepared me to become a franchisee myself.

In 2017, my wife and I decided to move from San Diego to Bakersfield and become Sola Salon franchisees. We opened three locations here and really liked the business model. We see Sola as a bridge between real estate and ownership. It still requires a lot of attention, but we liked it and wanted to grow. Sola requires significant capital to invest.

Through Sola conferences and connecting with other franchisees, I met another Sola franchisee based in Los Angeles — his name is Ken [Hwang]. Back in 2019, we started talking about the idea of merging and partnering. I had three locations, he had three, and we both wanted to grow. We realized we’d rather grow together than alone. We formalized the partnership in 2018–19 and continued opening new Sola locations.

Now we have 12, with a 13th under construction. It hasn’t always been smooth — COVID was rough, especially in California — but we made it through, and we hope to keep growing in the next three to five years.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Marrone: I thought franchising was only about fast food. When you think about franchising, you think McDonald’s or Subway, and that was my perception. I was intrigued by business ownership, but I didn’t realize how many different opportunities franchising offered.

Interestingly, about two years ago I became a franchise consultant because I truly enjoy franchising. When I talk to people, it feels like I’m reliving my original perception. Most people think the same — it’s all fast food. So maybe I wasn’t wrong back then. It seems like a common misconception.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Marrone: Sola is a unique business model because you can see the results firsthand from the beauty professionals who come to Sola. Back in 2018–20, many beauty professionals didn’t have options beyond conventional hair salons, which often limit their growth.

It’s rewarding to see professionals come to Sola and, two months later, tell us, “This was the best decision ever. I wish I’d done it sooner.” That side of the business is really rewarding. It’s also simple to operate with fewer moving parts and not many full-time employees. The drawback is the need for significant capital, but once it’s up and running, it offers many advantages over other businesses.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Marrone: My business partner and I are considering growth through acquisition. Construction costs are high, and starting a business comes with risk. Now that we have a strong operational team and know the business well, we’re exploring the idea of acquiring existing franchisees who might want to move on.

The brand is 14 years old, and for some franchisees, it might be time to step away. We’re looking at acquisition as a major growth opportunity in the next three to five years. We’re also open to developing new sites, especially in the Los Angeles market, but it feels like acquisition will allow us to grow faster.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Marrone: On a personal note, my wife and I have five kids, so we’re always busy. Looking back, I’m happy with the decisions I’ve made. The biggest takeaway is that having a business partner — like in life — makes a huge difference.

Joining forces with Ken made both of us stronger and better. We grew faster because of that partnership. So my advice is, it’s okay to start solo, but having a long-term plan to partner with someone can be a smart strategy as a business owner.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Marrone: Do all the research you possibly can. I’ve invested in brands that didn’t work out as well as Sola, so I’ve made my share of mistakes. As a consultant, I see new brands every day.

Don’t fall in love with the product or service. Really peel back the layers. Look at the management team, how many units are actually open and operating, and talk to as many franchisees as possible. That’s the best investment of your time.

There’s a misconception that you can spend just a couple of hours a week and the business will run itself. That’s usually not the case. Be ready to put in the time, effort and capital. Often, people fail because they underestimate the time commitment. It’s not that the business is bad — it just needs more than what they’re able to give. So do your research and make sure you have all the resources — time and capital — to make it work.

ABOUT SOLA SALONS:

In 2004, Sola Salons was established with the opening of its first location in Denver, Colorado. Now with more than 735 locations open in the U.S. and Canada, Sola is proud to offer 20,000+ independent beauty professionals the freedom and benefits of salon ownership without the risk and overhead of opening a traditional salon. Its innovative salon model empowers hairdressers, estheticians, nail techs, massage therapists and other like-minded professionals to take control of their lives and their careers. Sola provides beauty professionals with beautiful, fully-equipped salon studios alongside the support and tools they need to launch their salon business in no time. For more information about Sola Salons, please visit https://www.solasalonstudios.com/.