How much does a My Salon Suite franchise cost?
My Salon Suite has three materially different capital paths in its 2026 U.S. Franchise Disclosure Document. A New Location has an Estimated Initial Investment of $994,971 to $1,820,417. A Conversion Franchise, including an Acquisition Conversion, is estimated at $66,490 to $312,685. A three-unit Development Agreement requires $1,064,971 to $1,895,417 for the Development Fee and the first Franchised Business; that range does not include opening the second and third locations.
This is not one interchangeable franchise-cost range. It spans a Conversion Franchise at the low end and a Development Agreement plus the first location at the high end. The New Location range sits between them. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 20–30.
The $50,000 Initial Franchise Fee is only one component of the investment. Construction, Furniture and Fixtures, real-estate deposits, professional design services, permits, signage, opening advertising, insurance, and three months of Additional Funds can account for substantially more cash. The official My Salon Suite franchise cost page currently publishes the New Location range, while the 2026 FDD separately discloses the lower Conversion Franchise range and the Development Agreement structure.
- Legal franchisor
- Suite Management Franchising, LLC
- Parent entity
- Propelled Brands Franchising, LLC
- FDD issuance date
- May 1, 2026
- Formats analyzed
- New Location, Conversion Franchise including Acquisition Conversion, and three-unit Development Agreement
- Primary FDD sections
- Items 5, 6 and 7; cost-relevant provisions from Items 8, 10, 11 and 17
- FDD page ranges
- Item 5 pp. 9–11; Item 6 pp. 12–20; Item 7 pp. 20–30; Item 10 pp. 35–36; Item 11 pp. 36–46
- Information checked
- July 18, 2026
No matching public copy of the May 1, 2026 FDD was located on a franchise-controlled domain when this article was checked. FDD citations are therefore shown as unlinked Item and page references. Official website links are used only for the statements those pages support.
Which figures matter most before comparing formats?
The most useful starting figures are the Initial Franchise Fee, the three-month Additional Funds allowance, and the franchisor’s current financial qualifications. The qualifications are screening thresholds, not substitutes for the Item 7 Estimated Initial Investment.
My Salon Suite also states a minimum 700 credit score and the ability to maintain personal lifestyle costs for 9 to 12 months during pre-opening and ramp-up. Those current screening criteria appear on the franchisor’s candidate qualification page. The 2026 FDD’s Item 7 Additional Funds allowance covers only three months of business working capital and expressly excludes salaries, benefits, and personal living expenses for the franchisee, Managing Principal, and managers.
$500,000 of available capital does not mean a New Location can be opened for $500,000. It is a financial qualification published by the franchisor. The 2026 FDD’s New Location Estimated Initial Investment begins at $994,971, and financing terms, landlord allowances, and other capital sources determine how much cash must be contributed directly.
Why are the three investment ranges so far apart?
The ranges represent different contracts and asset conditions. A New Location requires a full premises build-out and a large Furniture and Fixtures package. A Conversion Franchise may reuse an existing location, lease, equipment, and operating infrastructure. The Development Agreement substitutes a $125,000 Development Fee for separate Initial Franchise Fees, but its Item 7 total includes only the first Franchised Business.
Scale: $0 to $1.9 million. Each bar starts at the disclosed minimum and ends at the disclosed maximum.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 20–30. The Development Agreement range excludes the costs of opening the second and third Franchised Businesses.
Development Agreement: the published total is not a three-location build budget
The Development Agreement grants the right and obligation to establish three My Salon Suite franchises according to a development schedule. The $125,000 Development Fee is paid at signing, and no Initial Franchise Fee is charged for each location if the development obligations are met. Item 7 then adds the first unit’s investment excluding its $50,000 Initial Franchise Fee.
What is included in the New Location range?
The $994,971 to $1,820,417 New Location total includes 16 disclosed expenditure categories. The dominant variables are Improvements and Furniture and Fixtures, followed by premises deposits, professional design and permitting costs, opening advertising, insurance, and three months of Additional Funds.
Premises, construction and opening assets
| Item 7 category | Low | High | Payment timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $50,000 | Upon signing the Franchise Agreement |
| Rent or Real Estate Deposits | $6,927 | $27,636 | Before opening, as determined by the lessor |
| Improvements | $584,031 | $1,163,497 | As incurred before opening |
| Furniture and Fixtures | $250,111 | $357,007 | Before opening or as arranged with vendors |
| Freight | $3,812 | $10,042 | As determined by vendors before opening |
| Signage | $7,490 | $10,185 | Before opening or as arranged with vendors |
| Architectural Services Fee | $11,100 | $44,800 | Before opening or as arranged with design vendors |
| Permit Expeditor | $1,000 | $10,000 | Before opening or as arranged with the approved vendor |
Pre-opening services, supplies and working capital
| Item 7 category | Low | High | Payment timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel and Living Expenses | $1,000 | $3,000 | As incurred |
| Professional Fees | $6,200 | $10,200 | Before opening |
| Operating Supplies | $10,000 | $10,000 | Before opening through Approved Vendors |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $20,000 | $20,000 | Before opening |
| Insurance, first 3 months | $1,400 | $7,500 | Before opening or as arranged by the insurer |
| Additional Funds, first 3 months | $35,000 | $65,000 | As incurred during initial operation |
| Design Standards Fee | $1,500 | $2,500 | Within 5 days of invoice before opening |
| Project Management Fee | $5,000 | $5,000 | Invoiced within 30 days after lease signing |
| Licensing and Permitting | $400 | $24,050 | As incurred |
| Total Estimated Initial Investment | $994,971 | $1,820,417 | Official Item 7 total |
The FDD describes a suitable facility as approximately 5,000 to 8,000 square feet. It states that build-out cost varies with geography, existing premises conditions, Landlord Improvements, landlord concessions, and square footage. The franchisor’s site-selection information explains the brand’s role in identifying and negotiating premises, but Item 11 assigns the franchisee the costs and responsibility for locating, obtaining, constructing, equipping, remodeling, and building out the Approved Location.
Item 7 reports tenant-improvement observations, including allowances that ranged from $0 to $509,460, but it does not promise a landlord allowance for a new project. A lease concession affects the franchisee’s financing and cash schedule; it should not be treated as a guaranteed reduction to the official investment range.
What changes for a Conversion Franchise?
A Conversion Franchise can be substantially less expensive because an existing salon suite business may already have a location, lease, improvements, Furniture and Fixtures, insurance, and operating infrastructure. The 2026 FDD therefore permits several Conversion Franchise categories to begin at $0. The same table also covers an Acquisition Conversion, where an independent business is acquired and converted.
| Conversion-sensitive category | Low | High | Why the amount varies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent, Security Deposit and Other Deposits | $0 | $18,000 | Existing lease may continue, or amendment, assignment, replacement and deposits may be required. |
| Improvements / Conversions | $0 | $50,000 | Depends on compliance with brand layout, construction and mechanical standards. |
| Furniture and Fixtures | $0 | $50,000 | Existing assets may be reused or may require replacement and upgrades. |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $7,000 | $15,000 | Lower disclosed Conversion Franchise range than the New Location minimum. |
| Insurance, first 3 months | $0 | $4,000 | Existing compliant coverage may reduce the initial amount. |
| Additional Funds, first 3 months | $0 | $30,000 | Existing operations may continue, but transition costs and reduced activity can require working capital. |
| Design Standards Fee | $0 | $2,500 | Depends on the design work required for the conversion. |
| Buyer’s Side Broker Fee | $0 | $75,000 | Applies only when a Buyer’s Side Agent is used and the acquisition closes. |
The remaining Conversion Franchise table includes the $50,000 Initial Franchise Fee, Travel and Living Expenses of $1,000 to $3,000, Signage of $7,490 to $10,185, and Professional Fees of $1,000 to $5,000. The total is $66,490 to $312,685. The official Conversion Franchise program page confirms that the brand is actively promoting this format.
Conversion Franchise fee financing disclosed in Item 10
For a qualified Conversion Franchisee meeting the franchisor’s credit standards, Suite Management Franchising, LLC may finance part of the $50,000 Initial Franchise Fee. This is direct franchisor financing for the conversion fee only, not financing for the full Conversion Franchise investment.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 10, pp. 35–36. Approval is conditional, the franchisor does not guarantee other notes or leases, and default can accelerate the unpaid balance.
When is the money paid before opening?
My Salon Suite does not collect the full Item 7 range in one payment. The cash schedule begins with the Franchise Agreement or Development Agreement, moves to lease-triggered design and project-management invoices, and then expands into vendor, construction, permitting, advertising, insurance, and working-capital payments.
A limited rollover-payment accommodation may apply when a franchisee uses funds from a 401(k), IRA, or another qualified retirement account. Item 5 states that the franchisor may accept a $20,000 deposit at signing and the balance within 30 days after the Franchise Agreement’s effective date. That accommodation does not apply to an additional Franchised Business or a Conversion Franchised Business.
The FDD’s estimated 12-to-18-month opening period for a New Location means the buyer may need to fund personal living costs well before the business opens. My Salon Suite’s current qualification page separately asks candidates to maintain their lifestyle for 9 to 12 months during pre-opening and ramp-up.
Which fees continue after a My Salon Suite location opens?
The core recurring obligations are the Royalty Fee, Brand Building Fund Contribution, Technology Fee, and optional Suite Relief Fund contribution. The Royalty Fee changes by operating month and has a minimum payment from month 13 onward.
Column height represents the disclosed percentage of Gross Revenues. The month-13-and-later column also carries a $1,000 monthly floor.
new or conversion
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 12 and 19. The reduced first-six-month rate does not apply to a Resale Franchised Business. Royalty Fees are based on the prior month’s Gross Revenues and are due on or before the 10th day of each month.
| Recurring obligation | Amount or basis | Timing and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 2.75%, then 5.5%, then greater of $1,000 or 5.5% | Monthly, based on the prior month’s Gross Revenues |
| Brand Building Fund Contribution | Currently $200/month; may increase up to 2% of monthly Gross Revenues | Same timing as the Royalty Fee |
| Technology Fee | Currently $170/month | For custom or proprietary software; same timing as the Royalty Fee |
| Suite Relief Fund | $50/month | Franchisee is opted in but may opt out |
| Computer System maintenance and support | Estimated $500/year | Item 11 estimate; required systems, upgrades and replacements can change |
| Local advertising | Recommended $300/month when fully occupied or $400 per vacant suite/month | Item 11 recommendation, not a required minimum expenditure |
“Gross Revenues” includes revenue from services and products sold at or from the Franchised Business and other revenue related to operating it. It excludes sales and similar taxes transmitted to taxing authorities and excludes sales by tenants to their customers. The franchisor’s franchise fee FAQ also describes the ongoing royalty and current Brand Building Fund Contribution, but the FDD controls the staged rate, minimum payment, exclusions, and due date.
- Initial Franchise Fee
- A one-time entry fee paid at signing; it is not the total initial investment.
- Estimated Initial Investment
- The Item 7 range for opening and the stated initial operating period for a specified format.
- Available Capital
- A current franchisor screening threshold; it does not represent the complete project cost.
- Net Worth
- Assets minus liabilities; it is not the same as cash available to spend.
- Additional Funds
- Three months of estimated business working capital already included in the relevant Item 7 total.
Which costs arise only after a specific event?
Item 6 contains event-triggered charges that are not part of the ordinary monthly fee stack. They become material when a franchisee requests extra support, uses a non-approved process, misses a deadline, transfers or relocates the business, renews the Franchise Agreement, or defaults.
Operating, training and compliance triggers
- Extra site-selection or project visitsCurrently $500 per day plus travel and living expenses. The initial site tour and training session are provided without charge; extended Project Management visits can also trigger the daily fee.
- Additional initial trainee$2,000 per person beyond the two people whose tuition is included.
- Additional Assistance and TrainingCurrently $500 per day plus travel and living expenses; other training tuition may apply.
- Annual ConferenceCurrently $750 during registration, $850 for late registration, or $950 on site, per person. Non-attendance adds $2,000.
- Unauthorized Advertising Fee$500 per occurrence for non-approved advertising, websites, or social-media use.
- Vendor or product inspectionEstimated $100 to $500 when the franchisor tests a proposed product, service, or vendor nominated by the franchisee.
- Payment and reporting failuresCredit-card payments may carry up to 4%; late amounts accrue the lesser of 1.5% per month or the legal maximum; a returned payment is $100; late required payments are $50 per day; a missing report is $100 plus $50 per day.
- Non-Compliance Fee and audit costsAn uncured default may add 2.5% of Gross Revenues until cured. An audit finding more than a 2% understatement, or failure to submit reports, can produce estimated audit and related costs of $1,000 to $15,000 plus understated amounts.
Resale, renewal, transfer and exit triggers
- Resale Consulting Fee$15,000 when optional resale-marketing services are used: 50% at the consulting agreement and 50% at closing.
- Renewal Franchise Fee50% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee when a qualified franchisee signs the renewal agreement.
- Transfer FeeThe greater of 50% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee or 2% of the total gross sales price, with the percentage component capped at 100% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee, plus broker fees and the franchisor’s out-of-pocket costs.
- Relocation FeeThe franchisor’s costs, payable upon an approved relocation.
- Early Termination DamagesA formula based on Royalty Fees and Brand Building Fund Contributions, generally multiplied by the lesser of 36 or the months remaining in the term; payment is due 30 days after early termination caused by breach.
- Other reimbursement obligationsInsurance obtained after a coverage failure, customer-complaint resolution, indemnification, and legal or accounting enforcement expenses vary with the circumstances.
Lifecycle fees use the then-current Initial Franchise Fee or a transaction value, so the dollar amount at renewal or transfer may differ from today’s $50,000 fee. Item 17 and the attached Franchise Agreement should be reviewed together before modeling an exit or renewal.
What does the official investment range not settle?
The Item 7 total is an estimate, not a fixed construction contract or financing commitment. The largest unresolved variables are the premises condition, lease economics, landlord concessions, local permit process, required conversion work, lender interest and fees, and the franchisee’s personal cash needs during the pre-opening period.
- Owner and manager compensation: salaries, benefits, and personal living expenses for the franchisee, Managing Principal, and managers are excluded from Additional Funds.
- Taxes: the Conversion Franchise table excludes sales, use, and similar taxes assessed by state or local authorities.
- Loan costs: interest and lender charges are not included in the Item 7 estimate, except the disclosed 0% Conversion Franchise fee note when approved.
- Future locations: the Development Agreement total omits the second and third Franchised Businesses.
- Personal reserve: the current official qualifications call for 9 to 12 months of lifestyle support, while Item 7 includes only three months of business Additional Funds.
- Required supplier updates: Item 8 permits the franchisor to designate Approved Vendors and require conforming fixtures, furnishings, equipment, signs, supplies, Computer System components, software, and insurance coverage.
- Technology replacements: Item 11 estimates the current Computer System at $0 to $2,000 and annual maintenance at approximately $500, but required upgrades and substitutions can change during the agreement term.
The Federal Trade Commission’s franchise buying guide explains why a prospective franchisee should separate the franchise fee, other start-up costs, ongoing obligations, and personal living reserves. The FTC Franchise Rule also establishes the disclosure framework under which Items 5, 6, and 7 are provided.
What capital question should a buyer resolve first?
The first decision is the format. A New Location requires $994,971 to $1,820,417 under the May 1, 2026 FDD, with Improvements and Furniture and Fixtures driving much of the range. A Conversion Franchise requires $66,490 to $312,685, but its lower end assumes that existing premises and assets reduce several categories to zero. A Development Agreement requires $1,064,971 to $1,895,417 for the $125,000 Development Fee and the first location only.
After choosing the applicable contract, the buyer must separate four figures: the Estimated Initial Investment, the $50,000 Initial Franchise Fee or $125,000 Development Fee, the franchisor’s current $500,000 available-capital and $1.5 million net-worth qualifications, and the monthly Royalty Fee, Brand Building Fund Contribution, Technology Fee, and other continuing obligations. The remaining unresolved question is how the specific lease, premises condition, landlord allowance, conversion scope, financing terms, and personal living reserve affect the buyer’s actual cash schedule.