Sola Franchise

The vendor opportunity at Sola Franchise

Sola Franchise operates 744 total locations, 677 of which are franchised, making it a concentrated target for software vendors selling into the personal services franchise segment. The system is built entirely on single-unit operators—23 mapped operators run roughly 23 located units, with no multi-unit franchisees on file. This structure means corporate headquarters in Colorado holds significant sway over technology decisions, creating a single point of sale for vendors.

The average unit volume sits at $447,549, with a 5.5% royalty flowing back to the franchisor. Year-over-year unit growth of 2.576% signals steady, measured expansion rather than explosive scaling. For a software vendor, the addressable market is the 677 franchised locations, though the real gatekeeper is the HQ team that mandates core systems.

Who controls software purchasing

The buying center at Sola Franchise is lean and executive-driven. The 2026 FDD lists five key leaders: CEO Ben Jones, CFO Robert Michael Bell Jr., Chief Development Officer B. Keith Sizemore, COO & Brand President Daryl Hurst, and SVP of Marketing Annie Winship. No dedicated CIO or CTO appears in the filing, which suggests that operational and marketing executives are the likely evaluators and decision-makers for technology investments.

Daryl Hurst, as COO and Brand President, is the most natural entry point for operational software—anything that touches property management, franchisee workflows, or unit-level efficiency. Annie Winship, leading marketing, would own customer acquisition and brand tech. Vendors should tailor outreach accordingly, recognizing that a small executive team means fewer layers but also less dedicated IT bandwidth for evaluations.

Mandated and current tech stack

Sola Franchise mandates Rent Manager Property Management Software across the system. This is the operational backbone for franchisees, handling property management functions specific to the brand's salon suite model. Alongside Rent Manager, the franchisor provides the Sola Pro app, a proprietary tool likely used for franchisee communication, scheduling, or operational support.

Beyond these two named systems, the FDD does not disclose additional mandated technology. There is no mention of a mandated POS, CRM, payroll, or marketing platform. This gap represents a potential opening for vendors whose tools complement Rent Manager or the Sola Pro app without conflicting with existing mandates.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

Item 8 of the 2026 FDD contains no extract regarding procurement rules. This means the franchisor has not publicly committed to a designated supplier model, an approved supplier list, or an open procurement framework. Vendors should approach Sola Franchise with the understanding that procurement processes are likely informal and relationship-driven, at least as reflected in the current disclosure.

Timing a pitch can align with the franchise lifecycle. The initial term is 10 years, with one successive 10-year renewal available to franchisees in good standing. Renewals require refurbishments or modernizations, creating natural trigger points for technology evaluation. Additionally, the franchisor may impose materially different terms in renewal agreements, though the royalty rate cannot exceed what similarly situated renewing franchisees pay. New unit growth, while modest at 2.576% annually, adds a steady trickle of greenfield opportunities.

How to read the Sola Franchise FDD

The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document is embedded below for full review. Key sections for software vendors include Item 11, which details the franchisor's obligations around mandated technology and support, and Item 8, which would outline any procurement restrictions if disclosed. Item 17 governs renewal conditions and can signal when franchisees are contractually required to refresh their operations—and potentially their tech stack.

Sola Franchise's operator footprint is concentrated in Texas (6), New York (3), California (3), Wisconsin (2), and Utah (2), with the remaining units spread across other states. This geographic distribution, combined with a purely single-unit operator base, means any software rollout must be simple enough for independent owners to adopt without multi-unit support structures. For vendors who can navigate a centralized HQ sale and deliver a product that integrates with Rent Manager, Sola Franchise represents a tightly controlled, steadily growing target. FranCloud can help you build a ranked list of similar franchise targets based on tech mandates, decision-maker concentration, and unit economics.