Sola Salons

The beauty and salon industry is entering a transformative phase as it moves into 2025, with significant shifts in both consumer preferences and business models reshaping the landscape. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daryl-hurst-619903137/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=beauty-industry-trends-2025-the-rise-of-independent-professionals-2728348" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Daryl Hurst</a>, president and chief operating officer of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solasalonstudios.com/franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=beauty-industry-trends-2025-the-rise-of-independent-professionals-2728348" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sola Salons</a>, the industry is witnessing an unprecedented expansion of independent beauty professionals offering diverse services beyond traditional offerings, a trend that will be a key driver for growth in the coming years."We see the expansion of more independent beauty providers coming into the industry offering all types of different services," Hurst said. "While more traditional services like hair and nails are still incredibly prevalent in our salons, we’re also seeing a real diversification of the different beauty offerings. We are very excited to support a variety of beauty entrepreneurs in achieving their dreams.”This diversification reflects a broader transformation in the beauty industry, where professionals are increasingly seeking opportunities to build businesses around their specific skills and passions. The trend extends beyond traditional salon services to include specialized offerings such as permanent makeup and permanent jewelry, creating new opportunities for both beauty pros and consumers.The post-COVID era has dramatically influenced how beauty professionals approach their careers, with many seeking greater control over their work lives — something that reaching beyond the traditional salon environment into entrepreneurship provides.&nbsp;"If we zoom out for a minute, we can see how much the world has changed since COVID. From working remotely to being able to control your schedule, all kinds of professionals are putting much more emphasis on a work model that aligns with their lives,” Hurst said. “In the beauty industry, this looks like many professionals moving to a salon suite model where they work for themselves. This trend only helped intensify and amplify what we offer in the industry from a lifestyle perspective.”The flexibility for beauty professionals to control their scheduling gives them a better lifestyle, but it also often creates better flexibility for their clients, too, strengthening business.“Beauty professionals who follow a more traditional nine-to-five-type schedule are often missing out on business and life. The flexibility to create their own hours allows the pros to manage their time how they need while simultaneously catering to clients who would prefer appointments later in the evening or on the weekend,” Hurst said. “Corporate professionals have a harder time getting in for services when the only available times are during their work day. Making that flexibility more accessible is a huge benefit to our model, and I think that will only continue to grow as the world continues to embrace different lifestyles and ways to work.”Consumer behavior is evolving alongside these industry changes. There's a growing trend toward what might be called "high-maintenance solutions for low-maintenance living." People are looking to find beauty services and routines that fit best with their lives. Many are increasingly willing to invest in long-term beauty solutions that save time in their daily routines, like semi-permanent makeup applications and extended-wear treatments.Looking ahead to 2025, the industry is poised for continued growth and innovation.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons/info">Sola Salons</a>, celebrating its 20th year as the largest salon suites provider, is actively investing in technology and processes to support this evolution.&nbsp;"We have aggressive growth plans for the next several years. We are investing in technology, innovative new processes, and enhanced training opportunities for both our franchisees and beauty professionals," Hurst said.This transformation of the beauty industry represents more than just a change in business models — it's a fundamental shift in how beauty professionals can build their careers and how consumers access beauty services. As we move into 2025, the industry's focus on entrepreneurship, flexibility and innovation suggests a bright future for both service providers and their clients.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons">https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons</a>.

Blonde beauty professional holds comb and shears while styling brunette client's hair

Beauty Industry Trends and Predictions 2025 | Sola Salons

1851 Franchise

Sola Salons President and COO Daryl Hurst discusses a strong market primed to grow alongside entrepreneurial beauty pros, largely driven by a universal desire for flexibility and freedom.

This brand page has been paid for by SOLA SALONS. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Beauty Industry Trends 2025: The Rise of Independent Professionals

beauty-industry-trends-2025-the-rise-of-independent-professionals

FRANCHISE INFORMATION

Own a Sola Salons

Brand Growth

Franchising with Sola Salons

A Six-Stage Process

Franchisee Highlight

Learn

Visit Website

SOLA SALONS

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube

SOCIAL MEDIA

Sola Salons Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

Why a Supercuts Area Developer Bet Big on Sola Salons

Why This Former European Wax Center Franchisee Followed His Top Talent to a New, More Scalable Business Model

SOLA SALONS MOST READ STORIES

1851 LOGIN

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

ABOUT SOLA SALONS

CONTACT SOLA SALONS

facebook

instagram

linkedin

youtube

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

State Of Interest

Country Of Interest

City

Liquid Capital Available

Check one

I'm Interested in Multi-Unit Ownership

Are you opting in to receive emails from Sola Salon Studios?

Own a Sola Salons Franchise

<a href="https://www.solafranchising.com/">Sola Salons</a>, the over-750-unit salon suites franchise, has dominated the industry with a stable, high-support model, offering an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to scale. With the salon suite industry continuing to grow, it’s clear that beauty pros are seeking a more independent model that allows them to build something for themselves. For franchise candidates, there’s never been a better time to join the system.Here are five reasons to invest in a&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons/info">Sola Salons</a> franchise this year:<h2>A Real Estate-Forward Model With High Retention</h2>While Sola Salons holds a place in the beauty and wellness landscape, it’s a sophisticated real estate investment. Rather than managing stylists or focusing on the day-to-day operations of a service model, Sola franchisees serve as landlords and mentors for beauty professionals.&nbsp;“Sola is a recurring revenue model that allows owners to step away from the daily grind of service operations,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlpantera">John Pantera</a>, vice president of franchise development.&nbsp;The ability to step away from the day-to-day details allows franchisees to truly focus on the relationships they hold with the beauty pros in the salon suites, and this boosts pros’ satisfaction and increases retention — ultimately driving stability for the franchisee.“Sola is built on high retention and predictable cash flow,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-finn-9a801914a">Liam Finn</a>, director of franchise sales. “The beauty professional is the heartbeat of the model. We want stylists to stay five years or more. And once franchisees’ suites are full, they’re not constantly cycling through new tenants. They’re building successful businesses inside their space, which makes the portfolio more valuable every year.”<h2>A Low-Labor, Highly Scalable Model</h2>In addition to the financial stability of the model, Sola Salons offers additional predictability with its low-labor model, which Pantera describes as a “zero- to one-employee” model. Because stylists are independent beauty professionals, franchisees are not managing them. Rather, owners are either completing ongoing tasks, like maintenance requests, themselves, or paying a single team member to do so.This keeps the labor burden low, but it also positions franchisees to scale, bringing in additional revenue while enjoying economies of scale with the ability to share labor across multiple locations.“Because Sola doesn’t require much labor, it’s feasible for a new owner to come in and build five to 10 locations in five to seven years,” Pantera said. “With most other franchises, you’re relying on people (or yourself) to be there constantly. That is incredibly hard to scale. At Sola, scaling is a reality.”<h2>Recession-Resilience and a 20-Year Track Record</h2>Sola’s long history and unique position in the market provide additional security for franchisees. Having weathered multiple economic cycles, the model has proven its ability to thrive in any climate.“Beauty services are incredibly sticky,” Finn said. “People continue to get their hair done regardless of economic cycles. Because we empower stylists who run high-margin businesses, our suites stay full even when the economy softens.”<h2>Unmatched Brand Dominance and Support</h2>Sola Salons is the largest player in the industry, and its size and experience allow it to offer a level of support that smaller competitors simply cannot compete with. The brand has become synonymous with the industry itself, giving franchisees an immediate advantage in their markets.“Reputation is everything,” Pantera said. “Sola is by far the biggest player, and people know our name. There are beauty pros who will say, ‘I got a Sola’ in reference to any salon suite space — even one with one of our competitors. That alone is reflective of market dominance, but our scale positions us to continue widening the gap between Sola and our competitors.”With a larger franchisee network and more mature brand, Sola has the resources and expertise to drive continued success, funneling leads to franchisees, reviewing and honing operations, and launching innovative solutions to keep the brand at the forefront of the industry.“Because we’ve passed the 750-unit mark, we’re dealing with a different economy of scale,” Pantera said. “We have a deeper level of digital marketing and operations talent that competitors just can’t touch, and that gap continues to widen.”<h2>Be a Part of a Steadily Growing Brand</h2>While Sola has established a strong national presence, there is still plenty of potential in the industry. Still, Sola is growing steadily with qualified entrepreneurs, and availability in some key markets is dwindling. Entrepreneurs who are interested in investing and scaling with Sola should inquire to secure their prime territory.“I call it a beautiful problem,” Finn said. “We have so many owners who continue to reinvest and buy up more territories and consistent interest from new franchisees that availability is thinning out. In major hubs like Dallas, Houston and parts of California, those multi-unit growth opportunities that will allow you to be the consolidator in the market aren’t going to be around much longer.”“If you want to partner with the best in the industry, you have to recognize that the runway isn’t infinite,” Pantera said.For entrepreneurs seeking a 2026 investment, Sola Salons offers a unique combination of financial predictability, brand strength and economic resilience that will position them well for long-term scale and success. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons">https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

image of sola salons franchise operations

5 Reasons to Buy a Sola Salons Franchise in 2026

sola-salons-reasons-buy-2026

<a href="https://www.solafranchising.com/">Sola Salons</a> recently opened a new location in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, bringing the brand to 750 locations. Reached in November, this milestone represents more than just a number. It’s a testament to two decades of growth and the thousands of beauty professionals who’ve built their careers within one of the fastest-growing salon suite brands in America.&nbsp;Entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/haynes-chidsey-6a36a06/">Haynes Chidsey</a> opened his first&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons/info">Sola Salons</a> location nearly two decades ago as one of the earliest Sola franchisees. Today, he owns 58 locations, including the downtown Greenville opening that marked the milestone.“It is rewarding. It certainly allows you to stop and think about the progress we’ve made as a system,” Chidsey said. “I don’t think the number itself is what has really resonated with me or our team. It’s what that number represents. That’s more than 20,000 beauty professionals who call Sola the place they want to own and operate their own business. So,&nbsp;it’s also a milestone from the perspective of the people who have confidence in Sola being the place where they want to be.”<h2>Why Greenville Is the Perfect Spot for the 750th Salon</h2>The downtown Greenville location highlights Sola’s strategy of matching salon suites with growing urban markets. Between 2010 and 2022, Greenville’s population&nbsp;<a href="https://usafacts.org/data/topics/people-society/population-and-demographics/our-changing-population/state/south-carolina/county/greenville-county/">grew by more than 20%</a>. Chidsey pointed to that growth as well as the city’s entrepreneurial energy as perfect complements to Sola’s mission.“Greenville is a fast-growing city. It’s fun, it’s dynamic and, from Fortune 500 companies to local businesses, there are a lot of businesses opening and relocating there,” Chidsey said. “The entrepreneurial spirit of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/growth-club/sola-salons-studio-franchise">Sola Salons</a> and downtown Greenville fit together very well.&nbsp;We’re excited. It’s our third location in Greenville.”<h2>Keys to Growth: Talent and Teamwork</h2>Founded in Denver, Colorado in 2004, Sola Salons has grown into a franchise business touting 750 locations across three countries in less than two decades.&nbsp;Chidsey attributes Sola’s success to attracting talented beauty professionals and building strong internal teams. The system also now offers a broad range of resources, including insurance, technology, marketing support and community engagement initiatives, that are designed to help salon owners thrive.“Two primary things have supported our success,” Chidsey said. “It’s the range of services we provide. The sense of community, participation in community events and the culture we’ve built. And the second cornerstone is our team, both within our organization and across the Sola system. Those are the two foundations of our success.”<h2>The Future of Sola Salons</h2>Following the downtown opening, Chidsey sees the opportunity for continued growth, further cementing a franchising partnership two decades in the making.“It’s been a journey. And a good one. We certainly see opportunities for more Sola Salons locations both nationally and within the markets where we already operate. That’s what gets us excited every day,” Chidsey said. “We were certainly one of the earliest franchisees. And I feel like we were among the earliest to scale the business with a purpose behind that growth. There’s no doubt we’re a better business today than when we started.”As Sola Salons marks 750 locations, the milestone reflects not only expansion but also the brand’s deep impact on the entrepreneurs and stylists building their futures within its salon suites.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons">https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons</a>.&nbsp;ABOUT SOLA SALONS:In 2004, Sola Salons was established with the opening of its first location in Denver, Colorado. Now with more than 750+ locations open in the U.S. and Canada, Sola is proud to offer 22,000+ 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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solasalonstudios.com/">https://www.solasalonstudios.com/</a>.

Sola Salons Marks 750 Locations With New Opening By Haynes Chidsey, One of the First Franchisees With Nearly 60 Locations

sola-salons-750th-location-greenville-south-carolina-haynes-chidsey

Sola Salons Marks Major Milestones in Q3: 21,000 Pros, New Tech Innovations and a National Philanthropic Partnership

sola-salons-marks-major-milestones-in-q3-21000-pros-new-tech-innovations-and-a-national-philanthropic-partnership

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sola Salons logo

franchise-deep-dive-sola-salons-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

<a href="https://www.solafranchising.com/">Sola Salons</a>, the salon suite franchise with more than 750 locations nationwide, continues to be the leader in the space, offering entrepreneurs a smart, real estate-forward investment opportunity and beauty professionals a platform that empowers them to succeed in business for themselves. Generally, the brand seeks spaces between 4,200 and 9,000 square feet to support this mission, accommodating 35 to 50 suites per location.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-elgin/">Patrick</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-elgin-a17bb554/">Erin Elgin</a>, multi-unit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons/info">Sola</a> franchisees, are meeting a growing demand with a much larger space in the Twin Cities.In October, the team opened their 14th Sola location and the system’s largest, which is home to 101 suites and 114 professional chairs. It was about 75% leased before opening day with the support of Sola’s corporate team, CRM tools and centralized marketing efforts, and is now at nearly 90% occupancy, with 102 of the 114 chairs filled.<h2>Choosing the New Site: A Data-Driven Expansion</h2>The decision to pursue the Northeast Minneapolis location followed years of market analysis by both the franchisees and the corporate team, including an evaluation of local demographics, density of independent beauty professionals, consumer demand and site-specific factors like visibility and parking availability.“This part of Northeast Minneapolis, particularly the arts district, has been on the radar for Sola since we opened our first one in 2013,” Erin said. “It was always a target, but there’s no parking in that area, so it’s very hard. This building popped up, and it had a parking lot with over 100 spots, which just does not exist in that part of the city, but it was 30,000 square feet. I thought, ‘Well, that’s too bad. If only it was 10,000 or 20,000 square feet.’”After initially determining that 30,000 square feet was too big, given it far exceeded the brand’s typical footprint, the team began to consider whether the site’s unique characteristics could support a larger-format location with new amenities. While in the area for a personal commitment, Erin went by the site again to reassess it within the larger strategic context.“I drove by, and I just loved it,” she said. “I got a really good feeling from the building, and, of course, the parking was outstanding. I really liked the neighborhood. I booked a tour the next day with the listing agent, and when I walked in, it was even better. I just imagined the whole place transformed into a very happy salon. It checked all the boxes, and it was fun to build the biggest Sola and beef up the amenities to take up some of that space.”The project moved forward with the support and approval of the Sola corporate team, which validated the site based on market data, projected demand and the opportunity to test a first-of-its-kind large-format location within the system.<h2>Diversity of Amenities and Services Creates a Healthy Ecosystem</h2>In addition to the 101 suites, Erin and Patrick added seating alcoves throughout the location; a fitness center, including a yoga studio, meditation room and showers; a content creation space, including a podcast studio and professional photo space; a large break room; and an on-site beauty supply store.While such a large location may feel like a liability to some entrepreneurs, Erin used it as a foundation for a professional ecosystem that goes far beyond the industry baseline for a salon suite building.“The most popular amenity is a tie between the beauty supply store and the fitness center,” she said. “People just absolutely love that they can walk down the hall and get everything they need, and the barbers, especially, love the fitness center. Many of the women also use the fitness center and appreciate the yoga and meditation spaces. It’s just something that hasn’t been seen before, so they’re really excited about it.”The sheer scale of the location and the thought put into the amenities have been attractive to professionals from a range of industries. Currently, the location hosts hairstylists, barbers, nail techs, traditional tattoo artists, permanent makeup artists, massage therapists and medspa providers.<h2>The ‘Heart-Led’ Philosophy Backed by Structure and Strategy</h2>While Erin often describes her approach as people-first, that philosophy operates within a disciplined framework of site selection, operational systems and corporate support that enables long-term, scalable success.&nbsp;Erin and Patrick’s decision to build this location and include the amenities and support they did for the beauty pros can be tied back to a combination of this strategic approach and the philosophy that has driven her growth and success over the lifetime of her Sola ownership journey.The scale of this particular location and Erin’s general reach in the Sola Salons system are what grab attention, but her thoughtful approach to this development has been the quiet driver of success for over a decade.“We’re putting our professionals first; they come before profit,” she said. “People over profit. I’ve trained my staff to have that Sola Pro-first attitude in everything we do, and then it pays off — the profit comes. The personal touches make a big difference, and I’m big on showing the love.”From celebrating the longest-tenured professionals from previous locations to thoughtfully establishing amenities at her newest location that support both the pros’ businesses, with the beauty supply store and content creation space, and personal wellness, with the fitness space, it’s clear Patrick and Erin consistently prioritize the people that drive the business.“I think this is a lesson for people that you don’t have to nickel and dime the pros for profit,” she said. “Be choosy with your site selection, put your Sola professionals first and the profit and abundance come naturally.”&nbsp;<h2>Continued Growth With Sola Salons</h2>While Erin and Patrick are currently taking a break after the “mountain climb” of opening a record-breaking location, her vision for the Twin Cities is continued growth.&nbsp;“I don’t think we’re done yet,” she said. “I think the sky’s the limit, and there are other parts of the Twin Cities where we could expand.”For Sola Salons, this 30,000-square-foot milestone is a victory for the larger system, and it’s proof of concept for the entire industry. It demonstrates that, when leading with heart and providing an environment that nurtures beauty professionals’ growth and wellness, suites are full, ecosystems are built and there’s an opportunity to sustain growth at a scale never seen before.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons">https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sola Salons Veteran Franchisee Opens System’s Largest Location With 100+ Suites

largest-location-minneapolis

LAKEWOOD, Colo.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solafranchising.com/">Sola Salons</a>, the 750-plus-unit salon suites franchise, finished 2025 with&nbsp;19 new openings and over 125&nbsp;more locations in the pipeline, including new flagship sites in Denton, Texas; Athens, Georgia; and Naples, Florida. The brand also surpassed&nbsp;21,000 Sola Pros systemwide, reflecting steady occupancy gains during the year.“2025 was a pivotal year for<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons/info">&nbsp;Sola</a>, and it set us up for an even better 2026.We saw so much growth in our franchise system, tremendous growth with our pros and a lot of great systems and technology implemented,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daryl-hurst-619903137">Daryl Hurst</a>, president and chief operating officer. “Our team has been working hard to provide the best possible support to the franchise system, and the best validation is franchisees continuing to reinvest, along with high occupancy levels. Each step forward sets us up for success as we walk into the coming years, and there's even more in the pipeline to support the entire Sola family."The scaffolding built in 2025 includes a strategic partnership with Vagaro, providing industry-leading booking and payment software, and the rollout of The Studio, a customized&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons/sola-salons-franchisee-training-platform-2730136">learning management system</a> to streamline training for franchise owners.Looking to 2026 and beyond, Hurst is excited to accelerate Sola’s development pace while crossing new thresholds of community impact.“I’d love to see us get to the 22,000 pro mark in 2026; I think it’s very possible,” he said. “On the development side, our goals are centered on growing the pipeline for future years to keep Sola steadily expanding. Our model will remain the same, but we’re looking at meaningful adjustments to strengthen an already solid core. Our mission is to grow our people’s businesses, and 2026 will be about providing the footprint and support that make it happen.”ABOUT SOLA SALONS:In 2004, Sola Salons was established with the opening of its first location in Denver, Colorado. Now with 750+ locations open in the U.S. and Canada, Sola is proud to offer 22,000+ 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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solasalonstudios.com/">https://www.solasalonstudios.com/</a>.&nbsp;

Sola Salons Closes 2025 With 19 New Openings and Over 125 Units in the Pipeline

2025-franchise-growth

LAKEWOOD, Colo. —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solasalonstudios.com/franchising">Sola Salons</a>, the leading salon suites franchise, has been recognized on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 ranking for 2026. Ranked No. 80 on the Franchise 500, the brand is celebrated for its growth and strength, and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons/info">Sola Salons</a> was also recognized as the No. 1 player in the salon suites space.Entrepreneur’s annual rankings are among the most competitive and comprehensive in the industry. Each brand is evaluated on its costs and fees, size and growth, support, and brand strength. Through the analysis of over 150 data points, each brand receives a cumulative score, which is then used to establish the rankings.“Maintaining our position as the top salon suites franchise is a testament to the strength of the Sola model and a reflection of the continued emphasis we’ve placed on franchisee support and success,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daryl-hurst-619903137">Daryl Hurst</a>, president and chief operating officer.&nbsp;Sola Salons enters 2026 with strong growth momentum, including 19 new salon suites opened in 2025; a new learning management system, The Studio by Sola; and additional tech partnerships that drive the success of Sola Pros nationwide. Last year, Sola Salons also surpassed 21,000 independent beauty professionals served nationwide, reflecting steady occupancy growth throughout the year.&nbsp;“The level of support and infrastructure we provide our franchisees and independent professionals is a key differentiating factor for Sola in the broader salon suites landscape,” Hurst said. “As we look toward another year of growth, we remain dedicated to these types of advancements, and there are many more resources in the pipeline.”Sola Salons’ 2026 ranking underscores the brand’s sustained dominance in a consistently growing franchise category. With enhanced technology, an expert leadership team and a strong, scalable model, the brand continues to serve not just as a participant in the salon suites space but as the industry’s clear pace-setter.ABOUT SOLA SALONS: In 2004, Sola Salons was established with the opening of its first location in Denver, Colorado. Now with more than 750+ locations open in the U.S. and Canada, Sola is proud to offer 21,000+ independent beauty and wellness 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 independent 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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solasalonstudios.com/">https://www.solasalonstudios.com/</a>.&nbsp;

Photo of lobby of Sola Salons location with pink wall and floral wallpaper

Sola Salons Recognized in Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500, Ranked No. 1 in the Salon Suites Category

franchise-500-2026

For nearly four decades, Steve Breuner has lived and breathed the beauty industry, but before his introduction to the industry and franchising, he spent a decade in advertising. After working with major franchise brands like Burger King and Baskin-Robbins, Breuner realized he had a knack for driving traffic and was fascinated by consumer behavior. Over time, he began to take note of the money he was making for his clients, and he started to think it might be time to make money for himself through franchising. Sitting in a chair one day, having his hair cut, he felt the beauty industry was clearly calling him.&nbsp;"I was completely entranced by the recurring demand,” he said. “Looking out the window of my car, everyone I see has to get a haircut every month. It can’t be outsourced overseas, and Amazon won’t bother the category. And maybe best of all, there are no receivables.”At the time, Breuner was a regular customer of Supercuts, and he admired that they created a new, convenient option between the old-fashioned barbershop and the high-end beauty salon that didn't require an appointment and was open seven days a week. He thought it was a “brilliant” idea, and he began researching opportunities with the brand.&nbsp;Breuner learned that his home market was already saturated. But he was committed to the dream and dedicated to making a path for himself in the beauty space, so he signed on as an area developer and relocated his young family to Pittsburgh. Breuner was warned that the people would be unreceptive in his new market, and he found that to be true. Though he was partnered with a relatively established franchise brand, Breuner was still new to the market, and he had a lot of development to do."It was extremely difficult to launch it,” he said. “I opened the first store and it was dead. The second and third were also fairly slow. We were doing two haircuts a day, and the breakeven is around 45. It was grim."Notably, the biggest challenge was attracting quality people. At Supercuts, success required hiring, training and retaining employees. As the new guy in town, many stylists were hesitant to take the leap and join a new salon operation. Slowly but surely, though, he built a reputable culture, focusing relentlessly on his team while interviewing primarily for “attitude and ambition.”As he grew, he employed 500 stylists, but this required consistent, hands-on management."Being a Supercuts owner was like being a college football coach,” he said. “You have to make a connection with each and every player to light their fuse and drive their total potential. I needed team members, and it really takes a unique individual to succeed in an environment like Supercuts."After learning about culture and team growth through experience, a divorce led to the sale of his 58-store Supercuts empire. Around the same time, a fraternity brother called Breuner about a new concept:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solafranchising.com/">Sola Salons</a>, which leases turnkey salon suites to beauty professionals. At first, he was unsure."I thought, 'Are you kidding me? You're going to put competing hairstylists right next to each other — 25 of them?’ You’ll create a cataclysmic free-for-all!" he said.Then, he visited a&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons/info">Sola</a> in Denver. That visit changed everything."Once I visited it and came home, I realized this is one of those clarion moments in a category where everything is going to change,” Breuner said. “When I returned from visiting, I thought it was an ingenious idea and that it would reshape everything in the beauty industry."So, he partnered up and opened Sola locations in Nashville and San Francisco. Similar to his experience with Supercuts, Breuner interacted with many beauty professionals who were hesitant to pursue work in the salon suites model — just for a slightly different reason. They feared going out on their own and being independent beauty professionals. Over time, though, they began to realize the benefits of working for themselves, and the salon achieved 100% occupancy.For a former beauty or hair salon owner like Steve, the Sola model shifts the entire business equation. You are no longer a "coach" managing employees. You are a partner to entrepreneurs."Your customers are the entrepreneurs, and they need a supportive partner. They need a collaborator,” Breuner said. “Leasing them a clean, well-lit studio is just the beginning. You’re going to partner with them to help them grow their businesses. If they’re successful, you are successful. It’s that simple."You trade the headache of employee scheduling and performance reviews for the rewarding challenge of supporting independent business owners.Breuner’s love for the salon suites model and commitment to his future wife in Pennsylvania put him in an interesting position when he tried to bring the Sola model home. Pennsylvania prohibited “booth renting,” which regulators insisted encompassed the salon suites model. Additionally, it required a bathroom “continuous to every single salon.” In the context of a Sola building, this would mean a bathroom would need to be built contiguous with each salon suite.These restrictive regulations, which Breuner notes were originally authored by established salon operators to create a "captive labor pool," made opening a multi-suite Sola location with a central restroom nonsensical as it would never pass license inspection. That’s precisely when the challenge became personal for Breuner.“I’m a real patriot and a dramatic, emotional guy,” he said. “These rules really agitated me. I kept thinking, ‘This is restraint of trade.’ And I realized, sometimes you do things not because they make financial sense but because you’re the one who’s going to make a difference.”With this theory in mind, Breuner and his partner, David, did “the scariest, most expensive thing” they had ever done. They sued the state of Pennsylvania. After countless attorneys, a major risk in building a Sola location before the rule was amended — just to get a state inspector on site to see it for themselves, and over a quarter-million dollars spent, they succeeded. In August 2017, the Pennsylvania court ruled in Sola’s favor, declaring the bathroom regulation was preempted."It was an incredible moment," he said. "Not just for Sola ... but for the single mom in Harrisburg that now can use her spare bedroom and the bathroom down the hall as her home salon. It prevented people from illegally doing hair in their basements.”Breuner and his partner continued to grow their Sola empire to over 40 units across multiple states. Though he has now taken a step back from the business, functioning in more of a board role, Breuner’s journey exemplifies a key philosophy: “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little ‘extra,’” he said.Breuner encourages entrepreneurs considering the leap to Sola Salons to keep this in mind."You can be successful in Sola without this love and support that I'm talking about. But you'll be&nbsp;pretty successful," he said. "If you want to be&nbsp;extraordinarily successful, which is a giant difference, you’re going to need a lot of passion, effort and love.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons">https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons</a>.&nbsp;

Design with Sola Salons logo and photo of Steve Breuner

why-a-supercuts-area-developer-bet-big-on-sola-salons

Beauty Industry Trends 2025: The Rise of Independent Professionals

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS