Sola Salons: Transforming Beauty Entrepreneurship

Leaving a traditional salon environment to launch an independent business is often a leap of faith — sometimes into a world of isolation and overwhelm. But Sola Salons franchisees are flipping this script, creating thriving communities where independent beauty entrepreneurs can grow their businesses while supporting each other. The result? A unique investment opportunity that delivers both financial and personal rewards.

For Tanner Holmes, a multi-unit Sola Salons franchisee, the impact goes far beyond simple business ownership.

"You get to really watch both businesses and individuals grow and thrive and succeed and connect, and the Sola community becomes a life of its own," Holmes said. "Operating Sola contributes to my life, both in tangible ways, but also in intangible ways. It's a feel-good business."

The power of this model lies in its ability to create organic, self-sustaining communities of beauty professionals. While traditional salons often see their top performers leave for other opportunities, Sola Salons provides a platform where beauty professionals can grow their own businesses while remaining part of a supportive network.

"The culture of my two studios, even though they're 15 miles apart, is different because they're in different communities,” Holmes said. “The stylists and service offerings that each Sola attracts will be different, and that’s part of what makes Sola so special.”

This adaptability allows each location to develop its own unique character while maintaining the core values that make the concept successful.

What makes Sola Salons particularly unique is its emphasis on mutual support and growth. Holmes shared how the community aspect manifests in practical ways. For example, an extremely high-end esthetician may be receiving a lot of inquiries from people looking for more basic services or options at a lower price point.

If they’re well-integrated within the Sola ecosystem, they can refer these prospective clients to another esthetician in the building who can meet this specific demand. And when this esthetician receives inquiries about luxury-type services, they can reciprocate the favor, referring these clients back to the first provider.

These connections between professionals create opportunities for mutual success, as providers can refer clients to colleagues who better match their needs and price points.

The success stories are compelling. Holmes recounts one particularly moving example of a stylist who, faced with difficult circumstances following a local crisis, was ready to give up her business entirely. Through supportive conversations and flexible solutions, she not only stayed but thrived.

"Three years ago, she was absolutely ready to quit the industry, quit her business," Holmes said. "Now, she has grown from a large to a double-window suite. She has my largest suite up front in the windows."

Perhaps most remarkable is how the community becomes self-sustaining. As Holmes describes, "One of the nicer things as you operate a location where you have stylists that have been there for a while, is they really start to step up and support the newer stylists."

This organic mentorship creates a powerful support system that extends beyond what any single operator could provide.

"I'm no longer hosting just a one-on-one onboarding meeting,” Holmes said. “It feels like they're getting onboarded by 20-plus stylists in the space, which is what makes Sola so special."