Salon concept with innovative business model continues nationwide expansion

Sola Salon Studios, which offers beauty professions move-in-ready studios in a shared setting, is expanding its footprint across the U.S. via franchising.

The company announced the signing of multi-unit development agreements with eight franchise groups that will bring 22 new locations to key markets throughout the U.S. during the next several years, including Florida, New York City, California, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska. The agreements come after Sola opened 16 new locations in North America in June and July, including sites in California, Arizona, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. The brand also broadened its Canadian presence with a new location in Calgary, Alberta. 

Each of Sola's locations features a collective of 20 to 40 boutique-like, fully-equipped salon suites, all under one roof, where hair stylists, estheticians, nail technicians and massage therapists can individually operate their own businesses without the risk and hassle of traditional salon ownership. The company, which also provides the support and tools the brands need to launch, said it has created “a turnkey solution for beauty professionals to explore a better life as an entrepreneur, and has led the way as the largest and fastest growing salon studios concept.” Currently, there are 519 Sola locations open in the U.S., Canada and Brazil.

"The salon industry as a whole was tremendously impacted by the mandated closures associated with COVID-19,” said Christina Russell, CEO of Sola Salon Studios. “However, what we've seeing since salon businesses have been allowed to reopen is that our model seems to be coming out strong, with demand being incredibly high for salon studios and there being an increased interest in our franchise opportunity.”

Sola Salon Studios leads the largest segment within the $64 billion salon services market, more than doubling in size in the last five years. It was recently named the salon suites category leader on Entrepreneur magazine's 2020 Franchise 500 ranking of the top franchise opportunities.