Why Sola Salons High-Retention, Low-Staff Franchise Is Dominating the $100 Billion Beauty Industry

Sola Salons is not your average salon franchise. In fact, it’s not your average franchise at all. Instead of providing a service to consumers, Sola Salons is on a different mission — to inspire and support beauty professionals to chase their dreams, elevate their careers and experience the freedom of salon ownership. The brand provides move-in ready, private salon suites for rent within beautifully designed commercial spaces, enabling beauty professionals to run their businesses with complete autonomy. The result is a simple, flexible and meaningful franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to enter the $100 billion U.S. beauty industry. 

“Sola Salons offers an incredible franchise opportunity because it allows beauty professionals to thrive independently while providing franchisees with a straightforward and scalable business model,” said Scott Thompson, chief development officer. “With our extensive support, proven track record and strong community, there’s never been a better time to join the Sola family.”

Building a Legacy of Beauty and Independence

In 2004, founders Stratton Smith and Matt Briger wanted to create a space where beauty professionals could have a life and career they loved. With this, Sola Salons was born. One year later, the team recognized they were onto something and began franchising. 

“They really invented this category,” said Lori Merrall, vice president of franchise sales. “Since day one, we have stayed true to our mission of putting the beauty professional first, offering beautiful salon spaces for rent to stylists and salon professionals.”

With the launch of its franchise, Sola not only created a turnkey solution for beauty professionals to explore a better life as entrepreneurs, but also franchising opportunities to business owners and developers seeking to grow their financial portfolio with a brand that has a meaningful mission.

In 2020, parent company Radiance Holdings was created with the acquisition of Woodhouse Spas, the leading luxury spa franchise, bringing curated experiences to communities across the country. Today, Sola Salons has expanded to over 700 locations nationwide and over 20,000 beauty professionals. The brand was recently ranked No. 72 on Entrepreneur’s 2024 Franchise 500.

A Lucrative and Low-Maintenance Investment

So, how does it work? Sola Salons is a turnkey salon rental service. Imagine a collective of 25 to 40 move-in-ready salon suites all under one roof where hairdressers, estheticians, nail technicians and massage therapists can each individually operate their own businesses without the risk and hassle of traditional salon ownership.

Once a location is built, beauty professionals will be able to move into the space and run their business out of their suite. Sola Salons are typically 5,000-7,000 square feet with up to 40 fully equipped upscale suites able to fit inside, with included amenities like high-end cabinetry, floor-to-ceiling walls with sliding glass doors, Wi-Fi and all utilities.

The Sola Salons franchise owner takes care of all common areas, including entryways, bathrooms and break rooms, ensuring that beauty professionals can focus entirely on their clients and their craft. Suites can be modified to accommodate each individual professional.

For franchisees, this real-estate-like model offers a predictable revenue stream with high retention rates among leases. “If you build out a Sola with 30 suites, you only need 30 customers,” said Merrall. “And retention is very high.”

Simplicity is another key advantage for franchisees. Unlike other franchise models that require extensive hands-on management, Sola Salons allows owners to enjoy a flexible and scalable business model.

“There is no on-site staff, minimal equipment maintenance, no inventory or receivables and predictable expenses,” said Merrall. “That is why over 75% of Sola Salons franchisees own multiple units, many of which choose to expand their existing franchise portfolio with the concept.”

Franchisees also benefit from comprehensive training, robust marketing support and ongoing operational advice. When franchisees are ready to take the leap with Sola, the brand is there every step of the way, providing assistance with site selection and identifying competitive locations and markets. Moreover, franchisees can leverage national marketing initiatives at a local level with guidance from Sola’s in-house marketing team. The brand’s robust national marketing fund ensures a steady stream of leads to fill suites, bolstering recruitment and retention rates and reinforcing the strength and recognition of the Sola Salons name.

“To broaden our books of business, restaurant operators like myself are attracted to the simplicity of Sola’s model when compared to the complexity of today’s food service concept,” said Mitch Cohen, a multi-unit Sola Salons owner in New York. “It’s a no-brainer.” 

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Join Sola Salons

Looking ahead, Sola Salons shows no signs of slowing down — the brand hopes to reach the 1,000-unit mark within the next few years. The team has identified several key markets primed for growth, including many major cities across the U.S., such as San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Miami, Boston, and more. Additionally, the brand is targeting Canada for strategic growth in Toronto and London, Ontario; Calgary, AB; and Vancouver, BC.

With a proven business model and a rapidly expanding network, now is the ideal time to invest in a Sola Salons franchise. “This is a great industry to be in right now because you don’t have to worry about being replaced by Amazon or AI,” said Merrall. “Our services can only be delivered by another person and that is why there will always be a need for them.”

The total estimated investment necessary to begin a Sola Salons franchise ranges from $924,021 to $1,957,824. The ideal Sola Salons franchisee is someone with a minimum net worth of $1.5 million and $500,000 in liquid assets. Franchise ownership experience is a plus, but no beauty industry experience is required.

“Our franchisees really make the Sola Salons brand because they actually care about the beauty pros in their facility,” said Thompson. “Our owners get satisfaction in elevating someone to become an entrepreneur. It’s not just a real estate play — there is a joy that a lot of owners get in being able to support that community. Other franchises are about filling seats, but Sola is about being a true business owner.”

For more information on franchising with Sola Salons, visit: https://www.solafranchising.com/.