Sola Salons Franchise

Sola’s operating history dates to 2004, when its predecessor began managing locations for an affiliated salon studio company. Franchising began in March 2005 through Sola Franchise Corporation. The current franchisor, Sola Franchise, LLC, was formed in January 2018, acquired the predecessor’s franchise assets that month and began offering franchises in February 2018. Based in Lakewood, Colorado, Sola is part of the Radiance Holdings organization.

The business has a distinct role within the beauty industry: owners create and manage a collection of individual salon studios, then license those spaces to independent salon professionals. Each professional controls their own business and schedules their appointments. The location owner provides general management, studio and common-area maintenance, wireless internet and other specified services. Typical locations occupy approximately 4,200 to 9,000 square feet and contain 18 to 43 studios.

The April 30, 2026 FDD estimates a single-location initial investment of $950,214 to $1,748,296, including a $60,000 initial franchise fee for a new franchisee. Build-out estimates reflect tenant improvement allowances received by recently developed locations; the timing and availability of an allowance vary. The estimate excludes impact fees and payroll within the initial additional-funds allowance. Multi-unit development has separate fees and schedules. More information about the concept is available in the official Sola overview.

Sola’s training starts with a virtual introduction to the franchise business. Onboarding and development training then covers the industry, site selection, commercial leasing, design, construction, market research, promotion and operating platforms. Sales and operations training adds studio sales, marketing, daily operations, back-office systems and technology. The scheduled minimums are 1.5 hours for the introduction, six hours for onboarding and development, and ten hours for sales and operations. Training is offered in Lakewood, Colorado, virtually or at another designated location.

The owner or designated manager must complete the required program before opening. Initial training for up to two attendees has no additional tuition charge; franchisees pay travel and living expenses. Launch assistance includes site-analysis advice, review of proposed locations and designs, advice on lease negotiations when requested, access to the operating manual, and information about approved design firms, equipment vendors and supplies. The owner selects and secures the property, manages construction and obtains permits. The required market introduction campaign promotes the location before and after opening.

Once the business opens, Sola provides a reasonable amount of telephone advisory support during normal business hours, a listing on the brand website, and marketing materials and services. These can include print-ready materials, photography, video and digital collateral. Additional field visits or requested consultation may carry fees. Sola may hold regional or national conferences and require participation in advanced training, with applicable conference and travel costs paid by franchisees. Brand marketing programs and franchisee advisory groups complement the owner’s local studio-marketing and relationship-building work. Sola also maintains an official franchise FAQ.

Sola offers a way to participate in the beauty industry through the workspace and business environment that independent professionals use. The owner’s focus is developing the site, attracting studio occupants, maintaining the property and supporting the location’s professional community. Individual studio users retain control of their own services and appointments, creating a clear division between the franchise operation and the beauty businesses within it.

The model can appeal to someone who enjoys commercial property projects, sales and long-term professional relationships. A defined studio layout, specialized training and brand resources provide a framework for building that operation. Sola requires the owner or a fully trained, qualified manager to supervise and participate in daily operations full time, making active local management a central part of the opportunity.

Explore the operating model in Sola Salons Franchise: Salon Suite Costs, Fees and Operations.