IMAGE Studios Launches Academy to Empower Solo Beauty Entrepreneurs

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – January 12, 2026 – As the beauty and wellness industry continues its decisive shift toward independent entrepreneurship, IMAGE Studios today announced the launch of IMAGE Pro Academy, a comprehensive education platform designed to arm solo professionals with the business and marketing skills essential for success.

The move by the leading salon suite franchisor addresses a critical need in the market. While beauty professionals are experts in their craft, many lack the formal business training required to manage finances, market their services, and scale their operations. IMAGE Pro Academy aims to bridge that gap with a robust curriculum available to its network of thousands of professionals, known as IMAGE Pros.

"IMAGE Pro Academy is the heart of how we support our Pros," said Jason Olsen, CEO of IMAGE Studios, in a statement. "It's our way of investing directly in their growth. When our Pros feel supported and connected, they build better businesses, which leads to stronger renewals, more referrals, and a community of entrepreneurs who thrive."

Beyond the Suite: A New Toolkit for Success

The academy is more than just a collection of tutorials; it's an integrated ecosystem of educational resources. The platform combines live virtual courses, on-demand classes, and practical digital tools. Live classes, which began today, cover essential topics in marketing, business strategy, and personal development. A library of on-demand, self-guided classes designed for the demanding schedules of beauty professionals is slated to launch in February 2026.

A key feature is the inclusion of Master Classes taught by industry leaders and expert guest educators, providing advanced insights into branding, financial planning, and leadership. To make the learning immediately applicable, the academy also provides a suite of digital tools, including calculators and worksheets for pricing services, creating budgets, and developing a unique brand identity.

This initiative directly responds to a market trend accelerated in the post-pandemic era. A growing number of stylists, estheticians, and wellness practitioners are leaving traditional salon employment to become their own bosses. This migration toward the salon suite model offers greater freedom, flexibility, and earning potential, but also places the full burden of business management on the individual. Platforms like IMAGE Pro Academy are becoming a crucial part of the value proposition for salon suite companies looking to attract and retain top talent.

"One of the most important things to me has always been the dedication to the long-term success of our Pros, both personally and professionally," commented Matthew Landis, Director of Education at IMAGE Studios. "IMAGE Pro Academy is a product of years of cultivating the best resources to create a thriving collective of the most brilliant salon suite entrepreneurs."

A Strategic Play in a Competitive Market

The launch of IMAGE Pro Academy is also a significant strategic move for the company in the competitive salon suite landscape. Major competitors like Sola Salons, with its Sola Pro app and Sola Sessions events, and MY SALON Suite, with its scholarship programs, have long recognized the importance of providing business support. IMAGE Studios' new platform is a clear effort to set a new standard for what that support looks like—centralized, digitally native, and deeply practical.

This educational infrastructure serves as a powerful tool for franchisee success and professional retention. By equipping its professionals with the skills to build more profitable and stable businesses, IMAGE Studios strengthens its entire ecosystem. Successful tenants are more likely to renew their leases, refer new professionals, and contribute to a vibrant and collaborative community within each location, ultimately benefiting the franchisee's bottom line.

This strategy is further illuminated by the company's partnership with MPK Equity Partners, a Dallas-based private investment firm that acquired a stake in IMAGE Studios in March 2024. MPK has a strong track record in the franchise sector, particularly in the health, wellness, and beauty industries, having previously invested in a portfolio that included Sola Salon Studios. Their investment was intended to provide strategic growth capital and enhance operational support for franchisees. The launch of a high-caliber educational platform like IMAGE Pro Academy aligns perfectly with this goal, demonstrating a commitment to fortifying the brand's core offering and ensuring its market leadership.

The Future of Beauty Education is Business

Traditionally, professional beauty education has focused almost exclusively on technical craft. The rise of the independent professional has exposed a significant gap, creating a demand for modern, accessible business training. IMAGE Pro Academy's model, with its blend of live virtual instruction, on-demand content, and expert-led masterclasses, reflects a broader shift in professional development toward flexible and practical learning.

By offering its full suite of resources to IMAGE Pros at no cost, the company makes a substantial investment in their success. Furthermore, by making classes and memberships available for purchase to non-members, IMAGE Studios not only creates a potential new revenue stream but also positions itself as an educational leader for the entire industry. This approach serves as a powerful marketing tool, introducing external professionals to the supportive environment IMAGE Studios cultivates, potentially drawing them into its network of over 125 locations across 28 states.

With more than 200 additional stores already in development, the impact of IMAGE Pro Academy is poised to scale rapidly. The platform represents a forward-thinking vision for the salon suite industry, one where providing a beautiful, turnkey space is just the beginning. The real differentiator is the ongoing investment in the person renting it, empowering them not just to work for themselves, but to build a lasting and prosperous business.