Joel Libava
What does the future of beauty entrepreneurship look like? If Sola Salons‘ latest move is any indication, it’s bigger, bolder, and more comprehensive than ever before.
The world’s largest studio suite franchise just unveiled its most ambitious project to date: a sprawling 29,903-square-foot facility in Northeast Minneapolis that’s rewriting the playbook for salon ownership models.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Let’s talk scale. This isn’t just another salon location. It’s a statement about where the beauty industry is headed.
The facility features:
- 101 individual studios
- 114 professional chairs
- Nearly three-quarters pre-leased before opening day
That pre-lease rate deserves attention. When 70% of your studios are spoken for before you even open the doors, you’re clearly meeting a real market demand.
Sola Salons Franchise: Beyond Traditional Salon Spaces
Here’s where things get interesting. Sola isn’t just offering beauty professionals a chair and a mirror. They’re building an entire ecosystem designed to support independent business owners.
The amenities read like a startup incubator:
- Fitness center and yoga studio
- Meditation room for mental wellness
- Podcast studio for content creation
- Professional photo nook for social media marketing
- On-site beauty supply store
Think about that for a moment. These aren’t just perks. They’re business tools.
That’s because in today’s beauty industry, your Instagram presence can make or break your client base. A podcast can establish you as an industry authority. Physical wellness directly impacts your ability to perform demanding work day after day.
The Franchise Growth Story
Behind this expansion are franchisees Erin and Patrick Elgin, who now operate 14 Sola Salons locations across the Twin Cities. Together, they’re supporting more than 660 independent beauty businesses.
That’s the franchise model working exactly as intended: experienced operators scaling a proven concept while creating opportunities for others.
“We wanted to create more than a salon space—we wanted to build an entrepreneurial hub,” said Erin Elgin. That distinction matters. A salon space is transactional. An entrepreneurial hub is transformational.”
The Business Case for Sola Salons Studio Ownership
Why is this model resonating with beauty professionals?
Traditional salon employment means:
- Working under someone else’s brand
- Limited control over scheduling
- Splitting revenue with salon owners
- Restricted creative freedom
The Sola Salons model offers:
- Complete business ownership
- No overhead of traditional salon startup
- Built-in support systems
- Professional community
It’s the sweet spot between going completely independent and remaining an employee.
What This Means for the Industry
Sola Salons now operates more than 740 locations across the U.S. and Canada, serving over 22,000 independent beauty professionals. This Northeast Minneapolis flagship, opening October 4, represents their continued evolution.
The message is clear: beauty entrepreneurship is growing up. It’s becoming more sophisticated, more supported, and more accessible.
For anyone considering franchise ownership or independent business ventures in the beauty sector, this expansion demonstrates something important: there’s substantial market appetite for models that reduce entrepreneurial risk while preserving professional independence.
That’s not just smart business. That’s the future of work.
About the Author
The Franchise King®, Joel Libava, is a leading franchise expert, author of "Become a Franchise Owner!" and "The Definitive Guide to Franchise Research." Featured in outlets like The New York Times, CNBC, and Franchise Direct, Joel’s no-nonsense approach as a trusted Franchise Ownership Advisor helps aspiring franchisees make smart, informed decisions in their journey to franchise ownership. He owns and operates this franchise blog.
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