IMAGE Studios Celebrates a Powerful First Half of 2025 with a Surge in Franchise Growth

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Leading Salon Suite Franchise Accelerates Growth with 16 New Locations, Multi-Unit Deals, and Entry into Three States

Salt Lake City, Utah— The global salon service market is expected to reach $264 billion by the end of 2025, and IMAGE Studios, the industry-leading franchisor of ultra-modern, upscale, turnkey salon suites, is mirroring this growth with record breaking franchise development year-to-date. The brand is boasting strategic growth in the first half of the year and continues to strengthen its footprint across the U.S. through multi-unit expansion and investments in marketing.

Mid-Year Milestones:

  • As of July, IMAGE Studios has awarded 17 new franchise agreements, opened 16 new locations, and entered three new states – Minnesota, Arkansas, and Illinois – with additional locations slated to open in Louisiana and Rhode Island later this year.
  • In March, IMAGE Studios opened its 100th location in Austin, TX. Since then, the brand has expanded to 112 locations open in 25 states with more than 200 additional units in development.
  • Franchise growth is accelerating, with four new multi-unit franchisees joining the team. At the current pace, IMAGE Studios projects that one-third of all franchise agreements by years end will be multi-unit. This momentum reflects the brand’s strength as both a franchise and a commercial real estate investment, attracting seasoned investors with its scalable model and strong unit economics.
  • Franchisee support continues to be a top priority. Recently, the brand welcomed and celebrated over 200 IMAGE Owners (franchisees) at its 2025 annual retreat, which featured keynote speakers, panel discussions, awards and recognitions, and an abundance of networking and moments for connection.

“With each opening, we’re building something bigger than a business – we are creating spaces where beauty professionals can thrive as entrepreneurs,” said Jason Olsen, Founder and CEO of IMAGE Studios. “Our corporate team continues to strengthen the brand to ensure franchisees have all the tools they need to succeed, whether that’s through real estate guidance, marketing support, or ongoing industry and business education.”

For the rest of the year, IMAGE Studios is focused on continuing to scale with purpose and supporting owners through dedicated marketing investments, streamlined systems, and a stronger franchise community. This includes a rollout of quarterly marketing initiatives to elevate the brand at both the local and national levels. The quarterly initiatives will leverage AI chatbots to improve lead flow and administrative efficiency, enhance SEO and local listings, boost social visibility, and unify the brand’s messaging across all channels.

The impressive growth achieved by the brand has not gone unnoticed, as IMAGE Studios was recently recognized on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2025 Franchise 500® List, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. The brand was also listed on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list.

For more information on IMAGE Studios and its franchise opportunity, visit imagestudios360.com or imagestudiosfranchise.com. To learn more about opening your own salon at IMAGE Studios, visit imagestudios360.com/open-your-salon.

ABOUT IMAGE STUDIOS

Partnered with MPK Equity Partners, IMAGE Studios is the leading franchisor of ultra-modern, upscale, turnkey salon suites for beauty and wellness professionals in the U.S. With 112 stores open across 25 states and more than 200 stores in development, IMAGE Studios is a high-growth platform enabling independent beauty and wellness professionals to pursue the American dream and build their own business without significant capital outlay. Founded in 2009 and franchised since 2015, IMAGE Studios built and refined the business model that franchisees execute today.

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