Startup costs from franchise filings
How much does it cost to open a salon suite business?
Opening a salon suite business costs $945,028 to $1,748,296, going by the 5 salon suite franchises whose current disclosure documents are on file in Minnesota: those are the medians of their low and high estimates for one new location, from the franchise fee to the first months of working capital. The biggest single cost is build-out and construction, typically $566,633 to $1,146,784. An owner opening independently pays no franchise fee and can often spend less on the space, which the budget below lets you test line by line.
- Typical range
- $945,028 to $1,748,296
- Lowest to highest filed
- $675,106 to $2,301,538
- Filings compared
- 5 brands
Read from Minnesota's franchise registry on October 16, 2026. Build your own budget · Download every line (CSV)
By brand
What 5 salon suite franchises say it costs to open
Item 7 of each franchise disclosure document, the legally required estimate of the initial investment for one new location, low and high.
| Brand | Total initial investment | Franchise fee | Build-out | Unit described |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Salon SuiteFDD issued May 2025 | $675,106 to $1,682,095 | $50,000 | $353,351 to $984,638 | 5,039 to 7,940 sq ft |
| Phenix Salon SuitesFDD issued May 2026As printed in the filing, its low total ($945,028) is $1 less than its lines add up to ($945,029); the table shows the printed total. | $945,028 to $2,301,538 | $52,500 | $734,947 to $1,416,029 | 5,166 to 10,000 sq ft |
| Salons by JCFDD issued Apr 2026 | $1,352,200 to $1,900,500 | $60,000 | $875,000 to $1,260,000 | 5,000 to 7,000 sq ft |
| Sola SalonsFDD issued Apr 2026 | $950,214 to $1,748,296 | $60,000 | $566,633 to $1,146,784 | 4,200 to 9,000 sq ft, 18 to 43 studios |
| The Look Salon SuitesFDD issued Sep 2025 | $676,081 to $1,217,272 | $55,000 | $444,580 to $904,934 | 3,500 to 6,000 sq ft |
By cost
Where the money goes when you open a salon suite business
The median low and high of each kind of cost across these brands. A brand that folds a cost into another line is left out of that line's median, so the lines are a checklist, not a sum.
| Cost | Median low to high | Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Build-out and constructionLeasehold improvements, plumbing, electrical, flooring, lighting and finishes, less any landlord allowance. | $566,633 to $1,146,784 | 5 |
| Furniture, fixtures and equipmentChairs, stations, shampoo units, treatment beds or devices, reception and waiting furniture. | $173,881 to $295,000 | 5 |
| SignageExterior sign and interior graphics. | $6,900 to $25,000 | 5 |
| Computers, POS and softwarePoint of sale, computers, phones, music and security systems, software set-up. | $2,624 to $9,663 | 4 |
| Opening supplies and retail stockBackbar and service supplies, linens, sanitation, retail products for the shelf. | $10,000 to $10,000 | 3 |
| Grand opening marketingPre-opening and launch advertising, promotions and events. | $15,000 to $20,000 | 5 |
| Rent and deposits before openingSecurity deposit, rent before opening, utility deposits. | $10,630 to $54,030 | 5 |
| Professional fees, permits and licensesArchitect and design, legal and accounting, building permits, business and establishment licenses. | $23,724 to $79,756 | 5 |
| InsuranceFirst premiums or deposits for liability, property and workers' compensation cover. | $1,200 to $4,000 | 5 |
| Working capital (first months)Cash to cover payroll, rent and bills until the business pays for itself, usually the first three months. | $20,000 to $65,000 | 5 |
| Other opening costsTravel, utilities set-up, uniforms and costs the filing does not put elsewhere. | $4,699 to $4,699 | 3 |
| Franchise feeFranchisees only. The one-time fee paid to the franchisor for the right to open. | $55,000 to $55,000 | 5 |
| Franchise training and travelFranchisees only. Travel and living costs to attend the franchisor's training. | $1,500 to $3,000 | 5 |
Your budget
Budget a salon suite business of your own
Start from the filed medians, without the franchise fee or the franchisor's training travel, and replace each line with your own quotes.
Each line starts at the middle of the brands' low estimates across 5 filed salon suites disclosures, with franchise-only costs left out. Replace any figure with your own quote; switching the business or the starting point resets the lines.
Build-out and construction
Leasehold improvements, plumbing, electrical, flooring, lighting and finishes, less any landlord allowance.
$566,633 to $1,146,784median of 5 filings
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Chairs, stations, shampoo units, treatment beds or devices, reception and waiting furniture.
$173,881 to $295,000median of 5 filings
Signage
Exterior sign and interior graphics.
$6,900 to $25,000median of 5 filings
Computers, POS and software
Point of sale, computers, phones, music and security systems, software set-up.
$2,624 to $9,663median of 4 filings
Opening supplies and retail stock
Backbar and service supplies, linens, sanitation, retail products for the shelf.
$10,000median of 3 filings
Grand opening marketing
Pre-opening and launch advertising, promotions and events.
$15,000 to $20,000median of 5 filings
Rent and deposits before opening
Security deposit, rent before opening, utility deposits.
$10,630 to $54,030median of 5 filings
Professional fees, permits and licenses
Architect and design, legal and accounting, building permits, business and establishment licenses.
$23,724 to $79,756median of 5 filings
Insurance
First premiums or deposits for liability, property and workers' compensation cover.
$1,200 to $4,000median of 5 filings
Working capital (first months)
Cash to cover payroll, rent and bills until the business pays for itself, usually the first three months.
$20,000 to $65,000median of 5 filings
Other opening costs
Travel, utilities set-up, uniforms and costs the filing does not put elsewhere.
$4,699median of 3 filings
Your startup budget
$834,900
Franchised salon suites units disclose a median of $945,028 to $1,748,296, franchise fee included.
Reading the filings
What these numbers mean for a salon suite business
- These filings are for the landlord's side: a building of private studios that stylists, estheticians and other beauty professionals rent from you. Sola's units hold 18 to 43 studios in 4,200 to 9,000 sq ft, which is why the totals pass a million dollars at the high end.
- The build-out is $566,633 to $1,146,784 at the median, because every studio needs its own walls, door, lighting and, for hair, a shampoo bowl.
- For a stylist, renting a suite costs far less than any of this: weekly rent, your own chair and products, and your license. Compare it with commission using the stylist pay calculator, and set the terms in writing with the booth rental agreement.
Questions
Opening a salon suite business: costs, answered
How much does it cost to open a salon suite business?
What is the biggest startup cost for a salon suite business?
How much working capital do you need to open a salon suite business?
Is it cheaper to open a salon suite business without a franchise?
Plan the rest
Before you sign a lease
- Write it up with the booth rental agreement template
- See what the business could pay you once it is open
- Check what salons keep after costs, from Census data
Startup costs for other beauty businesses
Ready when you are
Open with the website and the bookings ready
SalonAI plans the digital side of a salon suite business before you open: a website clients can book from in one tap, online booking, your Google profile, reviews, and client follow-ups. Founden builds and runs it.
Built with Founden. Review your setup and running costs before activation.