In the News

Every person, no matter their profession, comes to a turning point in their career where a decision has to be made. They can either stay where they are, and enjoy the success they’ve uncovered at that level. Or they can jump – and hope that the inspired leap of faith pays off in their favor, though the way may not always be so clear. For Kim Bennett Horvath, the moment of that decision came the day she met the founders of Sola Salon Studios in 2004.

Opening a salon is a dream for many. While there’s a plethora of expected pros when going into business for yourself – like controlling your atmosphere, choosing your own retail and back bar, creating a flexible schedule, and branding yourself and your business - there is also a wealth of unexpected benefits that Sola stylists have discovered for themselves. With so much opportunity and support, these stylists have moved their careers in a direction they could once only dream of. It’s evident that going solo was the right move for them…read on to decide if it’s the right move for you, too!

As an independent stylist, you aren’t just creating attention-worthy styles for each of your clients, you’re also responsible for running an entire business. This includes booking all of your appointments, managing your finances and marketing. Sola Salon Studios, the nation’s largest salon suite company, has partnered with GlossGenius, a cutting-edge software solution for beauty professionals to provide you with SolaGenius: an innovative new app, which helps Sola stylists save time on all the busy work so they can focus on what they love doing most.

When making the switch from employee to independent stylist, there’s a lot of factors to consider. Not only are you creating attention-worthy styles for each and every client, but now you have an entire business to run that includes inventory management, marketing and continuing education. And the resources you’re used to may not be as readily available to you.

Sola Salon Studios is proud to announce their support and collaboration with Eyes on Cancer this May during Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Sola is encouraging their stylists across the US to join this potentially life-saving movement!

As a part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Sola Salon Studios will be offering hundreds of their stylists a complimentary voucher for the unique training through their SolaPro App. Eyes on Cancer offers a program specifically designed for hairdressers and beauty professionals to recognize early signs of skin cancers, particularly melanoma, on the head and scalp

It’s liberating to step out on your own as a salon owner, forging your own path to success and setting your own terms for what that looks like. But it can also be overwhelming to balance all those new responsibilities, like marketing, inventory and budgeting, which is what makes successful Sola beauty professionals look like well-groomed super heroes. These individuals have somehow figured out the magic formula that it takes to rise from novice to powerhouse.

Sola Salon Studios kicked off their exclusive “Sola Sessions” event to a full house on Monday, February 13th in Dallas, Texas. With over 200 Sola stylists in attendance from 16 states, the day was filled with expert education on styling, marketing and business topics to enhance the careers of every Sola pro. The Sessions are all about inspiring, motivating and educating Sola professionals, while also learning from and collaborating with others in the dynamic beauty community.

Sola will immediately bring resources like its Sola Pro mobile app to Canada. Sola Pro is a mobile education and industry portal that gives Sola pros access to discounts on equipment and retail products. Sola is also committed to providing exclusive local education opportunities to Sola beauty professionals on an ongoing basis.

Sola has been putting the salon professional first since 2004. During that time, a diverse community of more than 7,000 independent beauty professionals at more than 300 locations across the United States have taken control of their lives and careers at Sola for themselves, but not by themselves. “Sola Salon Studios has always been committed to supporting every beauty professional to pursue their business dreams and goals in a high-end, fully-equipped salon environment,” said Ben Jones, Sola’s Chief Executive Officer. “Over the last few years we’ve received many inquiries from Canadian hairdressers interested in Sola’s concept, and we feel the time could not be better to expand Sola’s mission to Canada.”

With a focus on brand building, marketing and social media in the morning, and artistic learning in the afternoon, the Sola Sessions featured top educators from various aspects of the professional beauty industry. The event featured education delivered by Sola Salon Studios, Passion Squared, Ideas That Evoke,  Wella,  Aquage, theFactory and Redken. Additionally, Hattori Hanzo Shears, Dermalogica, CND and KLASS Beauty hosted “Side Sessions” education throughout the day on a secondary stage.

Sola Salon Studios provides freedom to explore your passions beyond the salon. Sure, one of a stylist’s favorite spots is in the salon, but plenty beauty pros have interests beyond the chair. Many stylists and hairdressers pursue additional passions that enrich themselves, and their communities.

Sola Salon Studios is going big for its third Sola Sessions event of 2016, increasing the number of attendees and expanding education opportunities into the nail, makeup and skincare fields. The event, which is exclusive to Sola entrepreneurs, will be held on September 12, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, California. Sola sold out its first two Sola Sessions in Denver and Minneapolis, respectively, and due to increased demand from Sola entrepreneurs, expanded the event to accommodate more members of the Sola network.

Beauty Launchpad loves stylist success stories. Like, absolutely adores them. So we polled a group of the most dynamic, passionate and talented beauty professionals around to find out when and why they decided once and for all to go solo. Rather than breaking points, these are “breakout points” – the reasons and moments these go get ‘em stylists, hairdressers and beauty pros decided it was their time to shine by opening their very own salon studios.

 Sola Salon Studios, one of the largest and fastest-growing salon studio franchise in the United States, is going big for its third Sola Sessions event of 2016, increasing the number of attendees and expanding education opportunities into the nail, makeup and skincare fields. The event, which is exclusive to Sola entrepreneurs, will be held on September 12, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, CA.

So there’s a little hype right now. World-class athletes competing in an international arena at the top of their games... Know anything about it? #Olympics. #Winning. They’ve trained. They’ve competed. And now they’re going for the gold. And we’re watching with hashtags at the ready. For us, as stylists, there may not be a podium, or a torch, but we train and we strive to be at the top of our games too. #CareerGoals.

It’s no secret—the industry is changing. Social media has upped the creative aspect and allowed you to build your own clientele, and with that comes new goals and new dreams. Maybe you’re dreaming of bigger things outside of your current salon station—having your own space where you can create, control and decide for yourself how you want to run your business and your time.

The thought of owning your own salon may sound scary, right? Venturing out on your own for the first time can definitely be nerve-wracking, but it doesn’t have to be! Becoming your own boss comes with many benefits- having the luxury of setting your own hours, controlling what products you sell and keeping all of your profits. Beauty Launchpad sat down with five stylists who are KILLING IT at Sola Salon Studios who made the leap to find out exactly how to make the successful transition to salon owner.

Located in Chicago, this brand new nail space is the crown jewel in the Sola Suites building on the corner of Lincoln and Roscoe. Nail techs Ellegra Davis and Nicole Rios specialize in nail art that is truly outside of the box. 

Whether you've been working in a traditional salon environment for a year, five years, 10 years or more, the thought of transitioning to your own salon suite can either be very intimidating or very liberating.

Whichever way you're feeling - these Sola Salon Studio owners say you'll be happier making the switch! Here, we dive into the past and present situations of these "Faces of Sola" and share with you a few of their success stories.

Sola Salon Studios attracted more than 200 Sola salon professionals from across the Midwest to its second Sola Sessions event in Minneapolis, which featured talks and demonstrations from well-known salon industry leaders.

Have you ever fantasized about owning a salon and being your own boss? Twelve years ago, Kim Bennett Horvath made that dream a reality when she became the first stylist to sign a lease at Sola Salon Studios in Denver, Colorado. The moment would be one of the most life changing decisions of Kim's career. Even though no one had done this before, "I just knew right then it was all going to be okay because there was not one thing that felt wrong. It all was just right," she explains. For Kim, the experience has been a journey that is like opening a gift that never stops giving and growing.

Sola Salon Studios, the largest, fastest-growing salon studio franchise in the United States, today announced its second Sola Sessions event, a piece of the organization’s broader initiative to provide Sola Salon professionals with industry-leading experiential educational resources. The event is exclusive to Sola Salon professionals and will be held on April 25, 2016 at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

Sola Salon Studios’ inaugural Sola Sessions event on February 8, 2016, marked the first of Sola’s exclusive events focused on providing education, networking opportunities and inspiration for Sola entrepreneurs from across the United States. The one-day event attracted 250 Sola hairdressers, estheticians and nail technicians from more than a dozen states who attended the event to learn from leading salon professional experts and educators.

Here at BTC, we’re all about celebrating talent, independence and the stylists who have the desire to take their craft to the next level. Which means we’re totally psyched about celebrating the salon professionals below, all of whom are part of Sola Salon Studios 2016 Faces of Sola. These ten stylists, barbers, estheticians and nail technicians were chosen as examples of the opportunity and potential that Sola, the largest, fastest-growing salon studio franchise in the U.S., can deliver to salon industry professionals.

Sola Salon Studios, the largest, salon studio franchise in the United States, has announced its inaugural Sola Session, an event that couples company culture and stylist education to provide a mutually beneficial experience for salon industry leaders and Sola owners. The event is exclusive to Sola professionals and will be held on February 8, 2016 at the Curtis Hotel in Denver, Colorado.

There’s a term to describe the times we’re living in: the Gig Economy. The old paradigm of nine to five no longer applies. People are working from home, working on flextime, working as independent contractors. The shift is also being fueled by technology; Uber couldn’t exist in a world without smartphones. The Gig Economy has come to the salon business in the form of salon suites, an update to the  former “booth rental” model. Suites are pre-equipped rentals that offer a turnkey solution to starting a salon business. Sola Salon Studios, a national suite franchise, leases high-end, fully-equipped suites that include all the major equipment needed for a fully-functional salon, ready for personalization via décor and signage.

Kim Bennett Horvath: Kim Bennett Studios. One of the innovators of the booth rental model is Sola Salon Studios, which has over 200 suite rental salons in 36 states. In 2004, founders Stratten Smith (a former salon owner in St. Louis) and Matt Briger (an entrepreneur) created the first Sola Salon Suite in Denver. The concept was so successful that they built a few more locations before widely franchising. Kim Bennett Horvath, a Sola Studio owner and Senior National Educator for Paul Mitchell, shares her story about how partnering with the Sola brand has helped her business to thrive. 

One of the greatest benefits for owning your own boutique salon is the opportunity to increase your revenue through retail sales. At Sola Salon Studios, the possibilities are endless—from handpicking the professional brands of your choice to deciding how to market your products to clients. The intimate atmosphere provides a comfortable place to discuss your clients’ needs, allowing a level of ease for making product recommendations throughout each area of the salon.

When you’re ready to forge your own path in the salon world, there are endless choices and decisions to be made. Should you start small? Do you hire a staff? Do you buy,  or should you lease? What should your hours be? Do you have the ability to manage your own book? It's overwhelming, for sure, but finding the right partner able to offer a helping hand can make all the difference. Sola Salon Studios takes the guesswork out of salon ownership, giving stylists the freedom and opportunity to make their own way without the worry of doing it all alone.

Kim Cline, a licensed hair stylist for more than 10 years, always wanted to run a salon without having a boss or employees to worry about. A new trend transforming the beauty industry is letting her do just that. Cline rents a salon suite from Denver-based Sola Salon Studios. Salon suites are individual salons that share a building, similar to a co-working space, where the stylists each run their own business without the costs and risk associated with a traditional salon.

If you’ve ever dreamed about owning your own salon, but weren't sure where to start., here's a foolproof guide to getting started. First, consider the idea of owning a space at a salon studio like Sola. That way the responsibility of building management and upkeep falls on the facilities manager, and not on you, leaving you with more time to design your space to look and feel like you. Follow these 8 simple steps to turn your dream of salon ownership into a reality.  

Sola Salon Studios has grown to 5,000 salon professionals in more than 230 locations nationwide in the last 11 years, and it’s no surprise why—salon professionals have the opportunity to call their own shots and live the life they have always wanted. Freedom, flexibility and pride are what each of these talented Sola stylists have gained since making the switch. Here, a few of the 5,000 salon professionals provide 8 top reasons for becoming a business owner at Sola and how their lives have changed.  

Sola Salon Studios is having quite the year—they recently achieved an impressive 5,000 stylists in more than 230 locations, and now they have been named Top Franchise To Buy from Forbes Magazine.

 Sola Salon Studios was recently named a top franchise to buy by Forbes Magazine. The accolade and success of the company is all credited to the more than 5,000 salon professionals at 230 locations nationwide and growing.

Sola Salon Studios was recently named a top franchise to buy by Forbes Magazine. The accolade and success of the company is all credited to the more than 5,000 salon professionals at 230 locations nationwide and growing.

Sola Salon Studio owner Holly Santelli may have named her Park Ridge, Illinois, suite “Serendipity Beauty Parlour,” but finding her best solo-artist life didn’t happen by chance. After a hiatus to have children, the 24-year industry veteran got back in the professional swing at an employee salon, then moved to a business that let her build on commission before eventually renting a chair.

Salon Suites are changing the way beauty professionals conduct businesses, offering stylists the opportunity to be their own bosses and control their own schedules. Leaving a traditional salon is a big decision and there are many crucial questions to ask to help determine if transitioning to a salon suite is the right move for you. We spoke to haircare line founder and Sola Salon Studios stylist Brandie Kekoa to get her insight on the Salon Suite experience.

Describe your business.

We put salon professionals into business for themselves by providing elegantly furnished, stand-alone salon suites.

Who are your customers?

Our customers range from traditional stylists, estheticians, manicurists and massage therapists to niche service providers and smaller beauty retailers.

The Best Franchises To Buy 2015 – Sola Salon Studios Named Number 1 With Initial Investment > $500K

One of the top performers on Forbes’ best franchises list, Sola Salons brings a different approach to the hairdressing business. In fact, on its balance sheet it hardly looks like a hair salon at all.

That’s because Sola Salons has a coworking-style business model. Its franchisees lease large retail spaces, then subdivide them into individual salon shops. The chain isn’t selling hair styling—it’s selling stylists. Sola recruits top performing stylists at neighborhood shops who already have a significant following. Those stylists can set up at Sola, paying rent for the opportunity to operate their own one-person business.

Sola Salon Studios has changed the lives of thousands of salon professionals in the last 11 years. This summer, Sola is celebrating its community of more than 5,000 hairstylists and beauty professionals who are part of their family. Salon professionals come to Sola Salon Studios from every walk of life. Some are industry veterans, others have recently finished school, but they’re all looking for the same thing: To take the leap to independence by starting their own business.

Sola Salon Studios, which has 230 locations nationwide, is celebrating a company milestone in June — more than 5,000 salon professionals owning their own businesses at Sola locations across the country, 435 of whom are nail techs.

Sola Salon Studios is celebrating a very special milestone—5,000 salon professionals finding the freedom that comes with owning your own business. "Being able to give the American dream to thousands of stylists' has been the most rewarding business endeavor we've ever done," says Stratton Smith, Co-Founder of Sola Salon Studios. "It's all about experiencing the freedom to live the live you love."

When you own a commission salon, attracting new clients is usually pretty simple—if your salon is located along a busy street, that is. But when you work in a salon studio, such as Sola Salon Studios (the largest salon studio concept in the country, home to nearly 5,000 providing salon professionals!) you have to focus on specific marketing tactics to successfully gain and sustain your client base.

It’s a dream come true. You’ve signed the lease on your very own salon suite—and you’re ready to create a beautiful, inviting and private space for all of your clients. Or you’ve had a suite for a while and it’s time for a refresh. Your suite must reflect your style, your personality, your taste. It must be functional and comfortable. It must be on-trend, because after all, you’re in the style business. So… where to start? Here are guidelines from design pros to get you started on the road to designing a suite that’s totally sweet!

You’ve been dreaming about owning your own salon, about the flexibility and autonomy of being your own boss. But, how do you know if you’re really ready?

It’s that time of year again, when we focus on making (and keeping!) various New Year’s resolutions that support our personal goals and business endeavors. If past resolutions have fallen flat, perhaps it’s time to shift your focus. Sola Salon Studios Director of Education, Kim Bennett Horvath, looked to the Sola community—now comprised of 4,000+ salon professionals—when setting her 2015 goals, and discovered there are no limits when you’re met with Sola-style freedom. Here, Kim shares the five resolutions she has added to her list—which might, in turn, inspire you.

Sola Salon Studios offer salon professionals the benefits of salon ownership in a salon model in which beauty professionals come together under one roof. On October 12-14 2014, in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, 175 Sola Salon Studios franchisees and managers joined vendor partners that included insurance providers, construction companies, the Sola cabinet design company and real estate professionals, to talk about their successes in growing the salon studio business.

So you want to go out on your own, but can’t afford to open your own salon. No problem, a salon studio, like Sola Salon Studios, might be the place for you. YOU get to be the boss and make all the decisions, including setting your own schedule, picking what products to carry and decorating the space to fit your personal style. Sounds pretty good, right? But how do you successfully make it in a salon suite? We reached out to six successful Sola Salon Studios owners to find out just how they made the transition from a commissioned salon environment to a studio, and what they did to make their businesses thrive.

You may think that a salon's success comes from its image, but it all comes down to client retention. As a boutique salon owner, your repeat clients are essential for building a booming business! Attracting new customers takes a significant amount of time and money. Instead of putting all of your energy into increasing your client base, focus on satisfying and retaining your current customers so that they never have a reason to go anywhere else.

Sola will celebrate the opening of its 200th location this summer, providing nearly 4,000 salon professionals with fully- equipped salon spaces in which they own and operate their individual boutique salons.

One of the best attractions for owning your own boutique salon is the opportunity to increase your revenue through retail sales. At a salon studio, the possibilities are endless—from handpicking the professional brands of your choice to deciding how to market your products to clients.

Sola Salon Studios is among new trend of owner-operated businesses in the beauty industry.

It’s a new year and that means new resolutions. Perhaps you have always dreamed of opening your own salon, but aren't sure exactly where to start. No worries, there are lots of ways to experience the freedom and benefits of salon ownership—one of which is to open a salon studio. If you think you have outgrown your current situation and are ready to be your own boss, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the successes of your own.

The hairstylists at Sola Salons love coming to work. You would, too, if your employer told you how awesome you were the moment you arrived. The newest location, on The District's east side, greets visitors with a sign on the door that reads "The best stylists deserve their own salon." A nice pat on the back for the stylists...

It started with a couple of serendipitous postcards addressed to two local hair stylists in pursuit of a dream: owning their own salon. Color specialist Tami Turczyn and hair stylist Jackie Rylander were working in a busy downtown Boulder salon when the December 2004 mail brought an offer by Sola Salon Studios LLC...