Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Best beauty and hair salon franchises to buy in 2027
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO Syndicate
Direct Answer
The best beauty and hair salon franchises to buy in 2027 fall into a few clear lanes: value haircut chains like Great Clips, Sport Clips, and Supercuts; salon suite and studio rental concepts like Sola Salon Studios and Phenix Salon Suites where you lease space to independent stylists; blow-dry and styling bars; and waxing, lash, and brow specialty brands like European Wax Center.
The most important early decision is whether you want to run a service operation that employs stylists or a real-estate-style model that rents suites to professionals. Below are real Item 7 investment ranges and royalty structures from recent Franchise Disclosure Documents.
The two main business models in beauty franchising
Beauty franchising splits into two very different jobs.
A service salon (Great Clips, Sport Clips, European Wax Center) employs or contracts stylists and technicians, books appointments or takes walk-ins, and earns revenue per service plus product sales. Your daily work is recruiting talent, managing schedules, and driving repeat visits.
A salon suite model (Sola, Phenix) is closer to commercial real estate: you build out a facility of private studios and rent each one to an independent stylist who runs their own micro-business. Your revenue is rent, and your job is leasing, facility management, and occupancy.
Value haircut and grooming chains
High-volume, lower-ticket haircut brands are the backbone of the category.
- Great Clips — one of the largest haircut franchises. Item 7 total initial investment commonly $146,000 to $309,000 (FDD, 2024), with a royalty in the 6% range plus an advertising contribution. Walk-in, no-appointment model with a check-in app.
- Sport Clips — men's and boys' haircut concept with a sports-themed experience. Item 7 frequently $266,000 to $440,000 (FDD, 2024), royalty around 6% plus brand-fund contributions.
- Supercuts (Regis brand family) — value haircut chain with broad recognition. Item 7 commonly in the $150,000 to $310,000 band (FDD, 2024). Confirm current figures, as the parent system has restructured franchising terms over time.
Salon suite and studio rental
These have grown quickly because they shift staffing risk to the independent stylists who rent the rooms.
- Sola Salon Studios — a leading suite-rental brand. Item 7 total initial investment is commonly $700,000 to $1,800,000+ (FDD, 2024) because you are building out an entire facility of studios; this is a real-estate-scale investment, not a small salon. Revenue is studio rent.
- Phenix Salon Suites — comparable suite model. Item 7 frequently in the $400,000 to $1,000,000+ range (FDD, 2024) depending on facility size and market.
These require more capital but employ far fewer people directly, which appeals to semi-absentee owners.
Waxing, lash, and specialty beauty
Specialty service brands focus on a single recurring treatment with strong membership economics.
- European Wax Center — waxing-focused with a membership model. Item 7 commonly $300,000 to $600,000+ (FDD, 2024), royalty in the 6% range plus marketing. Recurring visits and retail product sales support unit economics.
- Lash and brow studios follow a similar membership-driven model with smaller footprints; confirm each brand's current Item 7 and licensing requirements, which vary by state.
Royalties, fees, and staffing reality
Across the category, expect a franchise fee (often $30,000 to $50,000), an ongoing royalty (commonly 5% to 7% of gross sales), and an advertising or brand-fund contribution (often 1% to 5%). The defining operational challenge in service salons is stylist recruiting and retention — labor availability often determines revenue more than demand does.
Suite models trade that staffing challenge for occupancy risk and a higher build-out cost.
FAQ
Which beauty franchise is best for a hands-off owner? Salon suite and studio rental concepts like Sola or Phenix are closer to real estate and can run more passively once leased, but they require much higher upfront capital than a single haircut store.
Do I need a cosmetology license to own a salon franchise? Owners generally do not need a personal cosmetology license, but the stylists performing services do, and some states have salon-establishment licenses. Confirm your state's rules before signing.
What is the cheapest beauty franchise to start? Value haircut chains typically have the lowest entry among service salons, often in the low-to-mid six figures. Suite-rental facilities cost far more because you build out an entire studio complex.
Are salon franchises recession-resistant? Haircuts are a relatively steady need, which gives value chains resilience, but premium and discretionary beauty services can soften when budgets tighten.
What is the hardest part of running a salon franchise? In service salons it is recruiting and keeping skilled stylists. In suite models it is keeping studios leased at high occupancy.
Sources
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Franchise Rule and FDD requirements (Items 6, 7, 19)
- Great Clips Franchise Disclosure Document, 2024
- Sport Clips Franchise Disclosure Document, 2024
- Sola Salon Studios Franchise Disclosure Document, 2024
- European Wax Center Franchise Disclosure Document, 2024
- U.S. Small Business Administration, franchise financing guidance
- International Franchise Association, franchising industry overview