SPEC
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching SPEC franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
SPEC, or Salon Professional Education Company, franchises beauty and wellness schools under The Salon Professional Academy and Elevate Salon Institute brands. Schools train students in fields that may include cosmetology, hairstyling, esthetics, barbering, nails and massage, and existing schools may convert using a Powered by SPEC designation.
Headline figures
SPEC quick facts
- How much does it cost to open an SPEC franchise?
- The SPEC Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $1,052,420 for new school initial investment minimum (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 20); $2,073,674 for new school initial investment maximum: $2, 073 , 624 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 20). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the SPEC initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee is $49,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 11). Details
- What ongoing fees does SPEC charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 6% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 11). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does SPEC disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The SPEC FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 48). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- Is SPEC a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 lists every recurring fee beyond royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $1,052,420 (New school initial investment minimum); $2,073,674 (New school initial investment maximum: $2, 073 , 624).
- 2Item 19 covers 3 separate groups: revenue and other measures for 6 Franchised locations locations; revenue and other measures for 7 Franchised locations locations; revenue and other measures for 26 Franchised locations locations. They are not combined.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 2 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- New school initial investment minimumPDF p. 20$1,052,420
- New school initial investment maximum: $2, 073 , 624PDF p. 20$2,073,674
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty rateMain ongoing fee
11 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
3 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Revenue and other measures · 6 locations
- Who is counted
- 26 franchised B&W school locations with audited financial statements operating in 2024
- Period
- first quartile
- Excluded
- Three schools that joined the franchise during the year or lacked audited financial statements excluded; 3 locations ESI and 23 TSPA
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Revenue and other measures · 7 locations
- Who is counted
- 26 franchised B&W school locations with audited financial statements operating in 2024
- Period
- second quartile
- Excluded
- Three schools that joined the franchise during the year or lacked audited financial statements excluded; 3 locations ESI and 23 TSPA
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Revenue and other measures · 26 locations
- Who is counted
- 26 franchised B&W school locations with audited financial statements operating in 2024
- Excluded
- Three schools that joined the franchise during the year or lacked audited financial statements excluded; 3 locations ESI and 23 TSPA
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Coverage not stated in the reviewed record · counts as of year end of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 ·
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($1,052,420 – $2,073,674) vary most by market, and why?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 11
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 26 franchised B&W school locations with audited financial statements operating… · PDF p. 48; PDF p. 49
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 26 franchised B&W school locations with audited financial statements operating… · PDF p. 48; PDF p. 49
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 26 franchised B&W school locations with audited financial statements operating… · PDF p. 48; PDF p. 49
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
No territory or operating requirements have been reviewed yet.
36 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format and overlapping investment range. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
Head-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Not reviewed
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Reader notes on wording
Our automated check found that these summaries may not match the FDD's exact wording. Read the FDD excerpt itself; it is the authoritative text. Core cost, fee, Item 19 and outlet figures are not affected.
Item 6 · PDF p. 12 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Technology fee maximum monthly
“we may charge you a monthly fee to reimburse us for the costs and expenses we incur, including an administrative fee for us, of up to $250.”
Note: The quoted technology-fee wording does not appear verbatim in the provided excerpt, so the $250 maximum is not verified by the quote as written.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.