Erik Van Horn and Jeff Herr break down one of the most explosive franchise categories ever created: salon suites. They reveal how the model went from unknown to industry-dominating, why private equity rushed in, and what made it one of the highest-leverage real estate plays in franchising. From early headwinds and financing challenges to scaling 10,000–29,000 sq ft locations, this episode offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at disruption, growth, and building enterprise value in a new market.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Creating a Disruptive Franchise Category

02:50 – Storytelling Lessons From Napa

05:10 – Discovering the Salon Suite Opportunity

08:20 – The Real Estate Insight Behind Salon Suites

11:50 – When Sola Took Over the Industry Conversation

17:10 – Industry Resistance & Stylist Education Challenges

23:00 – The Million-Dollar Buildout Era Begins

27:30 – Financing Breakdowns and SBA Pullback

31:50 – Why Private Equity Loves This Model

38:40 – Scaling Into 10,000–29,000 Sq Ft Mega-Locations

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

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#Franchising #Growth #Disruption