Health and Beauty Franchise Opportunities in the United States of America

The health and beauty industry, or as it’s officially known – the personal care service industry – is booming and is showing no signs of slowing down as demand for personal care and men’s grooming skyrockets.

Worth a whopping $53.6 billion in 2022, there are strong signs that the global spa and salon market will grow at a CAGR of around 4.7% by 2025. However, there are more optimistic expectations as other sources place this figure at 7.11% by 2026. All this is being driven by the fact that Americans are increasingly opting to pursue healthy lifestyles, achieve stress relief from their busy lifestyles, and the rise in male self-image care.

But this industry is split into numerous subcategories that you can consider as beauty salon franchise opportunities, among which are:

• Barber shops
• Beauty parlors
• Body care centers
• Cosmetic and skin care lounges
• Diet and weight reduction centers
• Massage centers
• Makeup salons
• Med spas and wellness centers
• Nail salons
• Tanning salons

However, that’s not all. According to the North American Industry Classification System, other establishments that are considered a part of the industry include day spas, hair replacement services (except by physician offices), steam or Turkish baths, and even tattoo parlors.

Of these, the largest segments are skin care (36%), hair care (23%), and make-up (18.2%). In terms of skin care, these cosmetic franchises offer services that include light facials, hair removal, the application of makeup, etc.

As of 2020, the hair and beauty industry in the US employed nearly 700,000 people. Of these, over 77% were hairdressers, hair stylists, and cosmetologists. And looking at the revenue these salons bring in, the average salon earns approximately $245,000, resulting in around $63 billion in total annual salon revenue.

Health and beauty trends in 2025

Just like all industries experience trends and new developments, the aesthetic care industry is no different. In fact, there are some interesting trends that are expected to continue well into 2025 and beyond, making beauty franchises a highly lucrative industry to join. Here are a few worth considering:

• Men’s grooming: traditionally perceived to be a luxurious practice that was reserved for those of a certain age, class, and/or wealth, today, men’s grooming no longer has stigma attached to it, and men of practically all socio-economic backgrounds are pampering themselves and looking after their image a lot more.
• Children’s hair salon franchises: once considered an intimidating and unpleasant experience for children, they can now have a fun-filled adventure as many salon chains seek to make children feel more comfortable when getting their hair styled. It’s all about creating the right environment and offering children the opportunity to entertain themselves and be entertained.
• Speed: many salon franchises recognize their clients’ lack of time and need for a speedy and efficient service that fits in with their lifestyle. That’s why these salons often offer services that can be booked online and performed in less than one hour, which is usually during the customer’s lunch break. This means clients don’t compromise on their commitments and can still look their best.
• Specialized services: other salon franchise opportunities that are seeing success are those that offer highly niche and specialized services. Examples include those that lift lice, do hair blow-outs, and give haircuts for kids. The more specialist a beauty lounge is, the better results for the business.
• Industry innovations: Every salon business recognizes that there is a need to constantly innovate and introduce new products and services to its clientele. This means anything from eyebrow threading to “gourmet” body waxing. In turn, these innovations give the business a cutting edge over its competitors, and this means that you can benefit from this.
• Skin care, hair care, and makeup are the largest revenue drivers, with skin care leading at 36% market share.
• The rise of med spas and wellness-focused concepts (such as IV therapy and fitness plus health franchises) is leading growth trends.
• Popular business models include blowout-focused salons, salon suites, and hybrid wellness-spa operations.​

Most profitable beauty franchise models in 2025

• Fast-growing concepts in 2024–2025 include boutique fitness (Crunch Fitness, Strive 11 Fitness), medspa/IV therapy (Prime IV, Facial Mania Med Spa), and creative, low-overhead opportunities like children’s salons (Pigtails & Crewcuts).​​
• Franchise systems with strong corporate support, advanced training, and flexible studio space offer lower risk for first-time owners.

Why you should consider wellness and beauty salon franchise opportunities

It’s not just because of the great demand for salon services that you should consider a franchise business in the aesthetic industry. There are many other reasons to consider these opportunities. Just a few of the most important ones include the following:

• A recognized brand: Whether you choose to open hair salons, nail parlors, or spas, a beauty franchise means that you can take the shortcut to brand recognition and start out with an existing client base and a well-recognized and established brand right from the get-go. This means a lot of the legwork is done for you, and you can also reduce your advertising and marketing costs based on customers who already know and trust your brand.
• Immense business support: Franchisees who opt in to purchase a beauty salon franchise opportunity benefit from extensive and ongoing support to make the most out of their business, according to the franchisor’s business model. You’ll also get exposure to the wider franchisee network, where you can have access to advice and assistance. In addition to this, you could also get support with training materials, equipment, a business plan, and even supplies as part of your franchise fee.
• The chance to buy in bulk: As a franchisee that is part of a wider franchisee network, you often get the benefit of buying products in bulk quantities and also at discounted prices, which can ultimately help strengthen your bottom line. When many franchisees buy in bulk, the prices are often lower than if you were to supply your salon individually.
• No experience is required: If being in the beauty industry is something you’ve always been passionate about but have not had the skills to join, you don’t have to worry. In many cases, you can choose beauty and personal care franchise opportunities that enable you to run the business like a manager (if you wish) or hire one to run it for you. Furthermore, you get extensive support, which means you can start and hit the ground running.
• It involves less risk: A franchise is more often than not a much less risky investment because the business model has been tested nationally and locally with proven results. In fact, research shows that a franchise beauty business has at least an 8% higher success rate than an independent business.
• More personal freedom for you to enjoy: As your own boss, without being on your own completely, you can manage your lifestyle and your time more effectively due to the fact that you get access to a lot of helpful resources and assistance from your franchisor.
• Profitability is lucrative: We already mentioned that an average hair and beauty lounge can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue. And this is a true testament to a franchise opportunity’s benefits.
• Proven business systems: You will be able to avoid common business mistakes that new business owners make because you’ll have access to a proven business model that has shown its worth in other markets.
• National marketing efforts: National marketing campaigns trickle down locally, meaning that whatever you put in your franchisor’s marketing and advertising fund will work in your business’ favor. You’ll also receive guidelines to help you promote your business locally.

How much does it cost to open a health and beauty franchise?

Initial investments vary depending on the franchise brand, target market, setup location, and size of the operation. The average initial investment, as reflected by leading franchises featured on Franchise Fame, ranges from $30,000 (Pigtails & Crewcuts) for entry-level operations to over $500,000 for advanced spa and salon studios (Sola Salon Studios). These totals include franchise fees, build-out, equipment, and working capital. It’s crucial to review each brand’s Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with current franchisees for deeper insights.

Key investment ranges for franchise opportunities

• Low-entry: $30,000–$85,000;
• Mid-range: $150,000–$300,000;
• High-end: $300,000–$545,000+​;

Pros and cons: salon suite rental vs. franchise ownership

Salon suite rental is ideal for experienced beauty professionals seeking autonomy, but requires strong marketing and business management skills.
Franchise ownership provides brand power, proven systems, and support. Franchises best suit entrepreneurs seeking lower risk and higher scalability.​​

Regional opportunities for health and beauty franchises

To help you find the most promising markets for your health and beauty franchise, we’ve divided the United States into four key regions—Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Each offers distinct opportunities for business growth in the health and beauty sector.

Northeast:

• New York
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• Rhode Island
• Maine
• Vermont
• New Hampshire

Midwest:

• Illinois
• Ohio
• Michigan
• Indiana
• Wisconsin
• Minnesota
• Iowa
• Missouri
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Nebraska
• Kansas

South:

• Florida
• Georgia
• South Carolina
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• Maryland
• West Virginia
• Kentucky
• Tennessee
• Alabama
• Mississippi
• Arkansas
• Louisiana
• Texas
• Oklahoma

West:

• California
• Nevada
• Arizona
• Washington
• Colorado
• Oregon
• Utah
• Idaho
• New Mexico
• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Montana
• Wyoming

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