Cosmo Salon Studios vs Sola Salon Studios in Michigan

Cosmo Salon Studios and Sola Salon Studios both lease private suites to independent beauty professionals in Michigan, and both have studios in Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Canton, Troy and West Bloomfield. Sola is a national franchise with more Michigan studios, and each one is independently owned, so pricing, lease terms and extras are set studio by studio. Cosmo runs its own eight locations to one standard: every suite is fully equipped for your specialty and designer-finished with millwork, a luxury light fixture and a full-length mirror, leases are for one year, and sharing your suite costs nothing extra.

This comparison uses what each brand publishes about itself. Sola details come from Sola's own FAQ and location pages, checked October 22, 2026. Because Sola studios are franchises, what one Sola location offers may not match another, so confirm anything that matters to you with the studio before you sign.

Where Cosmo comes out ahead

A finished suite, not an empty room

Your suite is the first thing a client sees, and it shapes what they're willing to pay. Every Cosmo suite includes a design package with custom millwork, a workstation, a full-length mirror and a luxury light fixture. Hairstylists who need one get a freestanding walk-around washbowl. You move into a room that already looks high-end, then make it yours: paint, wallpaper, shelving and fixtures are up to you.

Equipped for your specialty

Cosmo equips each suite for the work you do. That means a styling chair and washbowl for a hairstylist, a massage table for a massage therapist, or a nail station and client chair for a nail tech, and much more. You don't start by buying furniture.

One standard at every location

Sola's franchise model means each studio has its own owner, and its own way of doing things. Cosmo runs all of its locations, so the amenities you see on a tour in Troy are the same ones you get in Canton or Ann Arbor: commercial-grade washers and dryers on site, 24/7 keypad access, and exterior and doorway cameras recording around the clock.

Room to grow, and your name on the door

There's no extra charge to share your Cosmo suite with another professional, which can cut your costs or let you bring on an assistant. Every tenant gets their own signage, so clients find you, not just the building. Alongside the space you get suite personalization, education, mentorship and marketing support, and property maintenance is handled for you.

Cosmo Salon Studios vs Sola Salon Studios, side by side

When Sola might fit

Sola has more studios in Michigan than Cosmo, including outside Metro Detroit, and it is part of a large national network. If you need a suite in a city Cosmo doesn't serve, or you plan to move states and want the same brand, Sola is worth a look. If you want a finished, fully equipped suite close to your Metro Detroit clients, with the same standard at every location and a team that helps you grow, Cosmo is built for you.

How much does Sola cost compared with Cosmo?

Sola doesn't publish a national rate card. Its FAQ directs pricing questions to the local studio, and because each studio is independently owned, rent and fees can differ between two Sola locations in the same area. Cosmo rates and deposits also vary by location and suite, and our leasing team will walk you through them on a tour.

Compare the whole package rather than the rent alone: lease length, how finished the suite is on move-in day, what equipment comes with it, whether laundry and security are included, and what you would still buy yourself. Our salon suite cost comparison breaks down what Sola rent typically looks like and which fees to ask about, and the salon suite calculator shows what you'd keep at Cosmo's weekly rate.

Cosmo and Sola in the same Michigan cities

If you're touring a Sola studio in one of these cities, there's a Cosmo location in the same city to compare it with:

• Cosmo Ann Arbor: 3330 Washtenaw Ave
• Cosmo Birmingham: 255 S Old Woodward Ave, Ste 150
• Cosmo Canton: 42775 Ford Rd
• Cosmo Troy: 829 E Big Beaver Rd
• Cosmo West Bloomfield: 4299 Orchard Lake Rd

Cosmo's other open locations are in Clarkston, Dearborn and Taylor:

• Cosmo Clarkston: 5480 Sashabaw Rd
• Cosmo Dearborn: 22022 Michigan Ave
• Cosmo Taylor: 23600 Eureka Rd

Macomb opens in 2027. See every studio on our locations page.

Questions to ask both before you sign

• What is the lease term, and what happens if I need to leave early?
• What equipment comes in the suite for my specialty, and what do I buy myself?
• Are utilities, Wi-Fi and laundry included in the rent?
• Can I share my suite, and is there a charge for it?
• What security is in place, and can I get in at any hour?
• Will my business name be on the door or the building directory?

Weighing a third brand too? Read our Cosmo vs Phenix Salon Suites comparison. Not sure a suite is the right move yet? Our booth rental or salon suite guide compares the options.

See the difference in person

The best way to compare is to walk through both. Look at the finishes, the equipment and how the room will feel to your clients, then ask each the same questions about lease terms and what's included. Book your private tour of a Cosmo Salon Studios suite.