Sola Salons

Sola Salons works as a suite model rather than an employer: it leases private suites to independent beauty and wellness professionals. The company says it has partnered with salon and wellness professionals for more than 20 years and reports a network of over 21,000 professionals and 20,000 business owners. Each location is run by a franchise owner, and every salon professional or business inside is independently owned and operated.

Suite holders set their own service and product prices and keep all of their profits, and they choose the brands they sell. Each suite has a glass door with an individual lock and key and comes equipped with a styling chair, shampoo bowl, full-spectrum lighting, ventilation and instant hot water. Holders decide on their own artwork, music, furniture and decor.

A single weekly fee covers utilities and Wi-Fi, and the company says the cost is similar to renting a chair or booth. Shared facilities include on-site laundry, bathrooms, a breakroom, janitorial service, 24/7 security and sound-insulated walls. Suites can be accessed around the clock, though hours vary by location. The company calls its suites outstanding value and describes its support and hospitality as unparalleled; those are its own claims.

Each suite holder runs an independent business, setting their own hours, prices, product lines and supplies, while the building supplies the space and its shared facilities.