Is Sola Salons right for you?
High Occupancy
Mature locations reported median occupancy of 88.5 percent and average of 84.7 percent as of December 2024.
Revenue Scale
Average gross revenue reached $442,438 in 2024 across reporting locations open at least 13 months.
Proven Scale
660 franchised units operating at year-end 2024 with consistent net unit growth over the prior three years.
About Sola Salons
Sola Salons, operated by Sola Franchise, LLC under parent Radiance Holdings, LLC, offers franchises for salon studio rental businesses. Founded in 2005 as Sola Franchise Corporation and restructured in 2018, the concept provides turn-key 8x12 ft private studios leased to independent beauty and wellness professionals. As of 2024 the system included 660 franchised outlets in the United States.
Franchisees secure 4,200 to 9,000 square foot commercial spaces and convert them into 18 to 43 individual salon studios. They handle build-out, leasing to stylists, nail technicians, estheticians and massage therapists, plus ongoing facility management, maintenance, internet, events and marketing. Each studio tenant operates as an independent business, setting their own prices, hours and services while the franchisee collects rent and manages the shared environment.
Radiance Holdings, LLC (formerly Sola Holdco, LLC) is a Delaware limited liability company formed on August 30, 2018 and is the top-level U.S. entity in the ownership chain above Sola Franchise, LLC; it is majority owned by TSG9 Glow Group Holdings 2 L.P. whose ultimate parent is TSG9 L.P.
The business model
How a Sola Salons territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Franchise Fee
Single-unit franchise fee is $60,000 for new franchisees and $45,000 for existing franchisees. Multi-unit development agreements range from $120,000 total for two units to $480,000 total for twelve units for new franchisees.
Ongoing Fees
Royalty of 5.5 percent of gross revenue with a $500 monthly minimum. National marketing fund contribution of 1.5 percent of gross revenue, with combined marketing expenditures capped at 2 percent per month. Technology fee currently $0 per month in 2025, anticipated up to $250 per month beginning January 2026.
Total Investment Range
Estimated initial investment per location ranges from $1,181,960 to $1,939,349 for an average 6,200 square foot salon. This includes leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures, rent deposits, software, market introduction fee, insurance and working capital for three months.
Supplier and Design Requirements
Franchisees must use the franchisor's in-house design services and Rent Manager property management software. Approved suppliers are designated for cabinetry, signage and insurance. Franchisor and affiliates receive rebates estimated at 18 percent of establishment costs and 2-5 percent of ongoing expenses.
Protected Territory
Each location receives a protected territory of 0.5, 1 or 2 mile radius in which the franchisor will not open or franchise another Sola Salons under the same marks. No exclusive development area is granted.
Financial Performance Representation
the financial-performance disclosure discloses average and median occupancy rates plus average and median gross revenue for 2023 and 2024 based on 625 reporting locations. 62 percent of locations exceeded the average gross revenue.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$60,000
Total investment range
$1,181,960 to $1,939,349
Royalty
5.50% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
1.50% of gross revenue
Founded
2018
Headquarters
Lakewood, CO
Active US franchisees
35
Total US units
36
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +Virtual introduction to the Sola franchise business: 1.5 classroom hours
- +Franchisee onboarding and development training covering orientation, site selection, commercial leasing, design, construction, marketing, market research and systems: minimum 6 classroom hours
- +Sales and operations training for franchisee and manager covering orientation, marketing, operations, sales and back-office systems: minimum 10 classroom hours
- +All training delivered at Lakewood, Colorado headquarters, virtually or another designated location by the Director of Learning and Development and experienced staff
- +Initial training totals 17 classroom hours with no on-the-job training component
- +Periodic conferences and optional advanced training may be offered, some with attendance fees
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
No on-the-job training is provided in any module. The franchisor does not deliver or install equipment or supplies. Training and assistance do not include conforming the premises to local building codes or obtaining permits.
Multi-unit growth path
Multi-unit development agreements are available for 2, 3, 6 or 12 units with reduced per-unit development fees for existing franchisees. New franchisees pay $120,000 total for two units up to $480,000 total for twelve units. Existing operators receive discounted rates such as $90,000 total for two units. Multi-unit owners benefit from economies in design, supplier relationships and centralized management but must meet development schedules and fund each location independently. The majority of growth in recent years has come from both new and existing franchisees adding units.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
SBA 7(a) Loans
Many Sola Salons franchisees utilize SBA-backed loans for the real estate improvements and equipment portions of the investment. Lenders familiar with the salon studio model can underwrite based on the disclosed occupancy and revenue metrics.
Conventional Bank Financing
Commercial banks and credit unions provide term loans and lines of credit for qualified buyers. Strong personal credit, liquidity and experience in real estate or hospitality improve approval odds for the $1.18M-$1.94M range.
Franchisee Rollover & Expansion
Existing operators frequently fund additional units through cash flow from mature studios or by refinancing earlier locations. Development fee discounts for existing franchisees reduce upfront capital requirements.
1031 Exchange or Real Estate Investors
Investors with commercial real estate holdings can use tax-deferred exchanges to acquire and develop Sola locations, leveraging depreciation and rental income characteristics of the studio leasing model.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Discovery & Validation
Review the filed disclosures, speak with franchisor leadership and existing operators, validate the salon studio rental model against personal investment criteria.
Franchise Agreement Execution
Sign franchise agreement and pay the $60,000 initial franchise fee plus $20,000 market introduction fee.
Site Selection & Leasing
Identify and secure 4,200-9,000 sq ft commercial space with franchisor assistance on evaluation and lease negotiation. Typical timeline 4-8 weeks.
Design & Build-Out
Utilize required in-house design services and approved contractors to convert space into 18-43 studios. Construction typically spans 12-20 weeks depending on landlord allowances and market conditions.
Initial Training
Complete 17 hours of classroom and virtual training on operations, marketing, leasing, systems and sales prior to opening.
Pre-Opening Marketing & Staffing
Execute $20,000 market introduction program, hire on-site manager if needed, prepare for tenant recruitment.
Grand Opening & Ramp
Open location, begin leasing studios to independent professionals while providing ongoing management and support.
Match assessment
Are you a Sola Salons match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a Sola Salons franchise cost?
Total initial investment per location ranges from $1,181,960 to $1,939,349 according to the investment disclosure of the the filed disclosures. This includes a $60,000 franchise fee, build-out, furniture, technology and three months of working capital for an average 6,200 square foot salon.
What is the royalty fee for Sola Salons?
The royalty is 5.5 percent of gross revenue with a monthly minimum of $500. Marketing fund contributions are currently 1.5 percent of gross revenue with a combined cap of 2 percent per month.
Does Sola Salons provide financial performance representations?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure reports average gross revenue of $442,438 and median of $420,052 for 2024 among reporting locations open at least 13 months. Median occupancy for mature studios was 88.5 percent. No net profit or expense data is disclosed.
How many Sola Salons locations are there?
There were 660 franchised outlets in the United States at the end of 2024. The system added a net 29 units that year following net gains of 46 in 2023 and 30 in 2022.
What training and support does Sola Salons offer?
Initial training totals 17 classroom hours delivered virtually and in Lakewood, Colorado covering site selection, design, marketing, operations and systems. Ongoing support includes telephone advisory services, optional field visits, conferences and access to proprietary software.
Is territory protection provided with a Sola Salons franchise?
Each location receives a protected territory with a radius of 0.5, 1 or 2 miles. The franchisor will not open or franchise another Sola Salons under the same marks inside this radius but retains rights to alternative channels and different trademarks.
How does Sola Salons compare to other salon suite franchises?
Sola emphasizes turn-key studio leasing with in-house design services, mandatory property management software and disclosed occupancy and revenue metrics across 625 locations. The model focuses on facility management rather than operating salons directly.
Can I own multiple Sola Salons locations?
Yes. Multi-unit development agreements are offered for 2, 3, 6 or 12 units with tiered development fees. Existing franchisees receive discounted fees and many operators expand after proving performance at their first location.
What are typical occupancy rates for Sola Salons?
Mature locations achieved median occupancy of 88.5 percent and average occupancy of 84.7 percent as of December 2024. First-year occupancy ramps monthly and is disclosed in the financial-performance disclosure.
Are there any ongoing technology or software fees?
Property management software is currently $99 per month for a single-user license. The technology fee is $0 per month in 2025 and anticipated to be up to $250 per month beginning in January 2026.
What experience is required to own a Sola Salons franchise?
The the filed disclosures does not mandate specific industry experience. Successful operators typically possess commercial real estate, management or small business ownership backgrounds given the focus on leasing, facility operations and tenant relations.
What do Sola Salons franchisee reviews say?
Prospective buyers should contact current and former franchisees listed in the the filed disclosures. The disclosed system-wide occupancy and revenue metrics provide objective benchmarks, while individual experiences vary by location, market and operator execution.
Brand logos displayed for identification purposes only. Hot N Fresh is not affiliated with the brands listed unless explicitly stated.