Sola Salons Wicker Park

Sola Salons rents individual salon suites and studios to independent beauty professionals, and says it has a community of more than 20,000 independent business owners. Each Sola Salon Studios location is independently owned and operated, and each professional at a location runs their own business inside their suite.

Renters set their own service and product prices and keep the profits from them. Each renter receives a key to their suite, sets their own working hours, has exclusive use of the supplies and equipment in the suite, and chooses which brands and products to sell. Rent is a single weekly fee that includes utilities and Wi-Fi, and the site states there are no surprise fees. Sola says a personal suite can cost about the same as renting a chair or booth.

The Bronzeville location at 460 E. 35th St. is in the Lake Meadows Shopping Center, near Hyde Park and downtown, with free parking and 26 individual studios. Its suites include sound insulated walls, full-spectrum lighting, 24/7 security, a shampoo bowl, a styling chair, instant hot water, ventilation and on-site laundry, and access is 24/7 although hours vary by location.

The South Loop location at 558 W. Roosevelt Rd. is at street level and near major highways and public transit, with free parking. Sola describes it as its flagship. The Gold Coast location at 1163 N State St. sits at State and Division Streets, within walking distance of designer stores and restaurants, and Sola calls it its newest. The Wicker Park location at 1425 N Milwaukee Ave. is in a restored historic building and offers 33 suites, from standard single rooms to specialty spa suites. West Lakeview at 3355 N. Lincoln Ave. is near the Paulina L station, and Sola describes it as its first Chicago location.

Sola provides the space, utilities and security, and each renter runs their own business, pricing and product choices.