SPEC provides specialized pest control services with a focus on integrated pest management, offering customized solutions to protect homes and businesses from pests.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
Franchisees
?
34
+
0%
0%
Franchise fee
?
$49,000
Investment
?
$582,000 - $2,023,000
Revenue (AUV)
?
Undisclosed
$1,728,000
+
16.0%
16.0%
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SPEC (Salon Professional Education Company) is a beauty-education franchisor founded in 2004 in Minnesota and reorganized as an LLC in North Dakota in 2015. It is headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota. SPEC operates well-known brands such as The Salon Professional Academy, Elevate Salon Institute, and Academy for Salon Mastery.
These schools offer professional training in cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nails, and massage therapy.
The company began franchising in 2008 and now has over 30 franchise units across the U.S. All locations are franchise-owned, with no corporate-owned schools.
SPEC differentiates itself through strategic partnerships with major beauty brands such as L’Oréal Professionnel and Redken, depending on the school brand. These partnerships enhance the curriculum and elevate the professional value of graduates.
Initial investment
The initial investment required for a SPEC franchise is
$582,000 - $2,023,000.
That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise.
These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$49,000
Website Fee
$1,800
Real Estate Improvements
$390,600 to $1,254,000 (with hairstyling), $183,700 to $604,800 (without)
Equipment/Furnishings
$392,000 to $411,600 (with hairstyling), $156,800 to $173,250 (without)
Exterior Building Signage
$14,000 to $40,000
Initial Training Attendance
$5,000 to $7,500
Computer Equipment/Phone and Alarm Systems
$35,000 to $45,000
Inventory to Begin Operating
$25,000 to $30,000 (with hairstyling), $20,000 to $25,000 (without)
Insurance
$6,000 to $10,000
Utility Deposits and Other Prepaid Expenses
$2,000 to $6,000
Licenses and Permits
$3,500 to $7,500
Professional Fees
$5,000 to $10,000
Initial School-Opening Marketing and Advertising Funds
$25,000 to $30,000
Additional Funds (3-month initial phase)
$75,000 to $120,000
Total
$1,028,900 to $2,022,800 (with hairstyling), $581,800 to $1,129,850 (without)
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Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$49,000
Website Fee
$1,800
Real Estate Improvements
$390,600 to $1,254,000 (with hairstyling), $183,700 to $604,800 (without)
Equipment/Furnishings
$392,000 to $411,600 (with hairstyling), $156,800 to $173,250 (without)
Exterior Building Signage
$14,000 to $40,000
Initial Training Attendance
$5,000 to $7,500
Computer Equipment/Phone and Alarm Systems
$35,000 to $45,000
Inventory to Begin Operating
$25,000 to $30,000 (with hairstyling), $20,000 to $25,000 (without)
Insurance
$6,000 to $10,000
Utility Deposits and Other Prepaid Expenses
$2,000 to $6,000
Licenses and Permits
$3,500 to $7,500
Professional Fees
$5,000 to $10,000
Initial School-Opening Marketing and Advertising Funds
$25,000 to $30,000
Additional Funds (3-month initial phase)
$75,000 to $120,000
Total
$1,028,900 to $2,022,800 (with hairstyling), $581,800 to $1,129,850 (without)
Franchise Disclosure Document
Below is SPEC's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.
Number of units
SPEC had 34 total units in 2025, of which 34 were franchised-owned and 0 company-owned.
The franchise provides comprehensive training programs for franchisees. Here's a breakdown of the training initiatives offered by the Franchisor:
Initial Franchise Training: This is a mandatory 178-hour pre-opening program provided by the Franchisor. It includes classroom training covering topics such as site selection, marketing, management, beauty school education, recruiting, operations, and computer applications. This training is conducted online, onsite, or at Franchisor's facilities, and may include multiple franchisees at once. Trainees must complete this training to the Franchisor's satisfaction before the business opens. The Franchisor covers instructional costs, while franchisees bear travel and accommodation expenses.
Post-Opening Training: Following the opening, the Franchisor offers continued instruction termed “Regular Training,” amounting to:
164 hours in the first year,
121 hours in the second year,
100 hours in the third and fourth years,
76 hours annually in subsequent years.
Territory Protection
The franchise provides its franchisees with a designated "protected territory." This territory is typically defined by geographic and demographic factors, such as a population range between 600,000 and 1 million people.
The franchisee may conduct business solely from the approved premises, and although the franchisor will not open a competing school under the same brand within that territory, the protection is not absolute.
Franchisees do not receive an exclusive territory and may still face competition from other franchisees or company-owned outlets operating under different trademarks. Additionally, the franchisor retains the right to conduct sales through different channels such as the Internet or telemarketing, even within the protected territory.
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