Why Sola Salons Is a Good Investment to Build Your Portfolio
With a low-maintenance, scalable model and extensive support from the brand, here’s why Sola Salons is a smart investment for 2024 and beyond.
Sola Salons presents a highly attractive investment opportunity for those looking to diversify their business portfolios, offering a unique combination of scalability, low overhead and strong industry growth. Whether you're a seasoned franchisee or a first-time investor, Sola's proven model provides numerous advantages for expanding your business endeavors. Here's why investing in Sola Salons is an excellent move to build and strengthen your portfolio.
Low Employee Dependency and Simplicity
Sola Salons offers a distinctive franchise model that combines the appeal of real estate investment with the satisfaction of helping beauty professionals achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.
As a Sola Salons franchisee, you provide move-in ready, private salon suites where beauty professionals can operate their own businesses independently. The Sola Salons franchise owner manages 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.
One of the standout aspects of this unique model is its high-retention, low-staffing requirements. “One reason this is a great addition to an existing portfolio is because this model is very simple,” said Lori Merrall, vice president of franchise sales for Sola Salons. “You have no employees, so if you are looking to diversify, it’s better to have one that isn’t employee-heavy.”
The absence of on-site staff not only reduces labor costs but also simplifies day-to-day management. This makes Sola Salons an ideal investment for those who want to balance multiple business ventures without the hands-on requirements of other industries.
“It doesn’t require the full-on time commitment that a lot of other businesses do,” said Merrall. “Once you are at full occupancy, the time commitment is reduced.”
Cost Efficiency and High Scalability
Sola Salons also offers a highly scalable business model, allowing franchisees to control costs while expanding their footprint. Merrall notes that one person can manage multiple locations, which significantly reduces overhead. “You can have one leasing manager or person to take care of three to five locations, and you can share that cost across the different locations,” she said.
Mitch Cohen, a seasoned franchisee with multiple brands, including Sola Salons, highlights the financial appeal of the business model. After years of owning franchises in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, Cohen was drawn to Sola because of its simplicity and cost control.
“When someone in the finance industry says they will finance a concept all day long, I run to that brand,” Cohen said. “If you came from the QSR business, one of the reasons it is a good addition to your portfolio is because there are few to no employees and controlled expenses. Once the operation is open, you can control your revenue with full occupancy.”
Sola Salons represents a strong investment opportunity with a total estimated investment ranging from $924,021 to $1,957,824. The ideal franchisee possesses a minimum net worth of $1.5 million and $500,000 in liquid assets. While franchise ownership experience is beneficial, no prior experience in the beauty industry is required.
Cohen's experience underscores the scalability of the model. With two Sola Salons units at 100% occupancy and a third opened recently, Cohen is already building his fourth location and is set to develop six more. This ability to grow rapidly with minimal overhead is a key reason why many investors find the Sola Salons model so appealing.
Recession-Resistant and Strong Support
Another advantage of the Sola Salons franchise is its stability in the face of economic uncertainty, Merrall says. Beauty services — such as hairdressing, esthetics, nail services and massage therapy — are continually in demand and can only be delivered by trained professionals. That creates an industry that’s resilient, with services that cannot be replaced by automation or artificial intelligence.
Sola Salons also provides franchisees with extensive support, from real estate selection to marketing. “We have a very strong team of people with a lot of franchise experience and experience in opening brick-and-mortar locations,” Merrall said. Sola’s real estate team ensures that franchisees get the best lease terms, and its marketing assets help drive inquiries from beauty professionals.
Franchisee Mitch Cohen also praises the support from Sola and how the brand helps create a community for beauty professionals.
“Sola has been great thus far,” Cohen said. “If people want to get into the beauty professional business, they need to remember that the more you invest your personal time into the business and location, I believe it will create a better sense of community. Once you are at 100% occupied, you have to ensure you are treating your beauty professionals with respect.”
A Proven Model for Growth
Overall, Sola Salons provides an opportunity for real estate investors, private equity firms and seasoned business owners to diversify their portfolios while enjoying a steady stream of revenue. With a model focused on maintaining high occupancy rates, managing costs efficiently and fostering strong relationships with beauty professionals, Sola offers both stability and growth potential.
For investors seeking a franchise opportunity that combines the stability of real estate with the recession-resistant beauty industry, Sola Salons offers an ideal pathway to building a strong, diversified portfolio.
To learn more about this franchise, please visit https://www.solafranchising.com/.