How a Kansas Farmer Turned Tech Executive Built a Thriving Sola Salons Franchise Empire

Growing up on a Kansas wheat farm, Myrle McNeal learned the values of independence and hard work from his father. Despite a successful tech career, McNeal always aimed to start his own business, saving money for this purpose since the late 90s without a clear vision of exactly what that business would look like. In 2008, while coaching youth basketball, he met a parent who introduced him to Sola Salons. 

By 2010, McNeal had signed franchise papers and opened his first Sola Salons location in Portland, Oregon. Balancing his tech career, he built several more locations. Recognizing his operational expertise, the founders of Sola Salons brought him on to help manage their rapidly expanding franchise network, eventually making him president and COO. This role allowed him to leverage his hands-on experience to improve system-wide operations.

In 2011, McNeal and his wife Julie transitioned to full-time franchisees, expanding to 17 Sola Salons locations across various states. They focused on long-term investments, ensuring their salons provided stable, high-quality environments for beauty professionals to build their careers. 

McNeal’s journey emphasizes a strong work ethic, a passion for process improvement and a commitment to helping others achieve entrepreneurial success. Now, with his son joining the business, McNeal envisions a generational enterprise. He remains involved, valuing the blend of operational tasks and personal interactions that make his work fulfilling. 

A transcript of McNeal’s interview with 1851 Franchise Founder and Publisher Nick Powills has been provided below. It has been edited for clarity, brevity and style.

Nick Powills: What's your franchise story? 

Myrle McNeal: I grew up on a wheat farm and cattle ranch in western Kansas, and my dad was a fiercely independent man. I learned from him along the way. I think the only bosses he had were my grandmother and his bankers. I decided not to stick with farming and studied business and computer science in college. I became a network planner with AT&T and then worked for a variety of IT and telecommunications companies. At one point, we patented technology that's still in use for voice-over-the-internet calling.

Along the way, I always knew that I wanted to do something on my own. I started saving money probably in the late 90s, knowing I would eventually do my own thing. Fortunately, I had a successful tech career, and in the early 2000s around 2008, there was a transition from one company to another. While coaching youth basketball, I met a parent who explained Sola Salons to me. I told him it made no sense, but we had lunch to discuss it further. He explained the concepts, and I realized it was similar to running internet data centers.

So, I decided to invest in it. In 2008, I signed franchise papers and finally got under construction in 2010 after a couple of missteps. We opened in Portland, Oregon, in 2011. I continued my tech career while building the business. Later, the founder, Stratton Smith, asked for help operating local units in Denver. I joined as an operator and eventually became COO of Sola Franchise. In 2020, I had the opportunity to buy seven units in Kansas City, adding to the eight my wife and I already owned. I stepped out of the corporate world to be a full-time franchisee.

Since the early 90s, I knew I wanted something of my own. I exposed myself to experiences with P&L ownership and decision-making responsibilities while saving money. Meeting Stratton Smith and understanding Sola was my "aha" moment. Now, my wife and I own 17 Sola Salons locations—six in Portland, Oregon, two in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and nine in the Kansas City metro area.

Powills: What did you learn from your father about being an entrepreneur?

McNeal: My father taught me a lot about independence and work ethic. Farming is a very volatile business, and my brother and nephew are still involved. On a farm, you're a veterinarian, agronomist, mechanic, bookkeeper and more. This helped me develop a process-oriented mindset. Good farmers find small ways to improve every year, and I've applied that to my business. I always consider myself a process geek, analyzing why things happen and making improvements to the business.

Powills: Do you identify more as a franchisee or a franchisor?

McNeal: I probably always identified more as a franchisee. My operational experience was valuable in the home office, solving problems I knew were issues in the field. I felt fortunate to be in a position to improve the system for everyone.

Powills: How do you view the value of a dollar in franchising?

McNeal: I always looked at the value of a dollar long-term. Our business requires substantial capital. We usually sign 10-year leases with options for 20 years, so we plan long-term. For example, we have a location that's been open for 12 years in Louisiana. We negotiated a new 10-year lease with two five-year options, and we're doing a major renovation now to ensure it lasts another 20 years. It's about creating the right experience for our clients.

Powills: Are you proud of what you've built?

McNeal: Absolutely. Our business helps beauty professionals develop independence and create their own businesses. This is life-changing for many, like working parents who can now create their own schedules and earn more. It's incredibly rewarding to see the impact we have on their lives.

Powills: What's the dream now for your business?

McNeal: The dream is generational. My son is joining the business, having worked for me during summers in high school and college. While I'm not looking to step away entirely, we're figuring out what he wants for his future and how it aligns with what my wife and I want. Being a 17-unit operator is different from being a 30-unit operator, so we're navigating that transition together.

Powills: Do you have any advice for those looking to transition from a corporate career to owning a franchise?

McNeal: It's like jumping over the Grand Canyon—make sure you have enough momentum (capital) to make it to the other side. There will be a dip in the middle, and it's a big decision. But once you make it through, the rewards are immense. Make sure you're well-capitalized and find a business aligned with your financial situation. Aim to own multiple units and have enough for a rainy day. This increases your chances of success.

Powills: How has your background influenced your approach to business?

McNeal: Growing up on a farm taught me work ethic and risk management. My father involved me in banking from a young age, making me comfortable with financial relationships. More importantly, I became at peace with taking risks. When I started with Sola, many friends said I'd fail, but I was determined to prove them wrong. The mindset that I can succeed, even if it looks risky to others, has been crucial.

To watch the full video, click here.

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/sola-salons. 

About Sola Salons:

In 2004, Sola Salons was established with the opening of its first location in Denver, Colorado. Now with more than 725 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.