What Summit Salon Academy does

Summit Salon Academy is a network of 14 U.S.-based cosmetology and barbering academies (with a 15th location in Weirton, WV announced as coming soon) that delivers licensed beauty education across cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nail technology, full specialist, and instructor programs. Founded in 2006 with its first location in Lexington, KY, the Academy operates as an independently run network under the umbrella of Summit Salon Business Center, which is described as the largest salon and spa consulting company in the world. Students enroll directly at physical campuses across 13 states, including Texas, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, Ohio, Washington, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida.

The Academy's core technology is the proprietary Summit Salon Systems curriculum, a performance-based methodology that combines technical cosmetology training with business-building skills such as daily and weekly financial goal-setting, client development, performance tracking, and mentorship. The stated graduate outcome is earning potential of $100,000 annually, and the network supports a scholarship program administered by Summit Salon Business Center that awards $15,000 per year to qualifying students ($1,500 each) who maintain 90% attendance and GPA. Curriculum is reinforced by brand partnerships with L'Oréal Professional Products (exclusive partnership at the parent level), Redken (Elite Cosmetology school status at Lexington and Tampa), and Dermalogica, Essie, and MUD at select campuses.

The business model is tuition-based, with each academy offering accredited programs that prepare students for state licensing exams. Tuition pricing is not publicly disclosed, though financial aid is available for qualifying students. Revenue is generated across a distributed network of campuses serving aspiring beauty professionals (cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, nail technicians) seeking both technical licensure and career-launch support. The Academy is privately held with no public listing, no disclosed funding rounds, and no reported revenue; corporate-level headcount is reported at 32 employees, which appears to represent network-level staff separate from on-campus instructional teams.

Name

Summit Salon Academy

Legal name

Summit Salon Academy

Website

https://summitsalonacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Summit Salon Academy is a U.S. network of 14 cosmetology and barbering academies that trains aspiring beauty professionals in licensed programs using its proprietary Summit Salon Systems curriculum. Founded in 2006 and backed by Summit Salon Business Center, it serves students seeking licensure and business skills across 13 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetology and Beauty Education

NAICS

Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cosmetology (General) (EDAOALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hair Styling & Cutting (EDAOALAB), Salon & Spa Management / Operations (EDAOALAK), Barber Training, Apprenticeship & Education (HSALABAI)

Keywords

• Cosmetology education
• Beauty school training
• Barber training programs
• Esthetics instruction
• Nail technology courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Mabank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Services: Summit Salon Academy generates revenue through tuition fees charged to students for cosmetology, barber, esthetics, and related beauty programs. The Academy is a network of independently operated franchise-like locations that offer accredited beauty education programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Summit Salon Academy operates a network of cosmetology and beauty education academies across the United States that teach the proprietary Summit Salon Systems methodology alongside technical beauty training. Programs span cosmetology, barber, esthetics, nail technology, full specialist, advanced, and instructor training, delivered at physical academy campuses and bundled with business-building, client-development, and financial performance coaching.

Product overview

Summit Salon Academy is a network of cosmetology and beauty education academies operating across North America, united under the Summit Salon Academy Network brand. The core offering is the Cosmetology Program augmented by specialized tracks (Barber, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Full Specialist, and Instructor programs) available at individual academy locations. All academies utilize the Summit Salon Systems — a proprietary performance-based methodology that blends technical beauty training with business development, client service, and career growth skills. The network also includes advanced programs (Advanced Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Nails) at select locations such as Perrysburg, OH, and a dedicated Summit Barber Academy in Aurora, CO. A scholarship program administered by Summit Salon Business Center provides annual financial awards to qualifying students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cosmetology Program Core cosmetology training covering hair, nails, and skin care, taught alongside the Summit Salon business systems; available at most academy locations and prepares students for state licensing exams.
• Barber Program Barbering and hairdressing training focused on men's cuts and shaves combined with universal styling skills including color, perms/straightening, cuts, and straight blade use; offered at multiple academy locations and at the dedicated Summit Barber Academy in Aurora, CO.
• Esthetics / Skin Care Specialist Program Skin care specialist training covering facials, skincare treatments, and related esthetics services; offered at Tampa, Kokomo, Lexington, Kansas City, and Perrysburg locations, with Dermalogica as a brand partner in Tampa.
• Nail Technology Program Nail technology and manicuring training available at Kokomo, Lexington, and Perrysburg locations, with Essie as a brand partner in Tampa.
• Full Specialist Program Combined cosmetology and skin care specialist training that qualifies graduates as full specialists; offered at the Anderson, IN and Gainesville, FL academies.
• Advanced Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Nails Programs Advanced-level programs at the Perrysburg, OH location that develop professional skills while teaching how to build a salon business, building on foundational training.
• Instructor / Apprentice Instructor Program Instructor training program for licensed beauty professionals who wish to teach in the industry; offered at the Lexington, KY academy.
• Summit Salon Systems Curriculum Proprietary performance-based methodology used across all Summit Salon Academies, teaching business-building skills, client service, financial goal-setting, and career development that enables graduates to earn $100,000 annually.
• Summit Salon Business Center Scholarship Program Annual scholarship program offering $15,000 in total awards; qualifying students receive $1,500 each for demonstrating use of Summit Salon systems, with eligibility requiring 90% attendance and 90% GPA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates have used the Summit Salon Systems to earn $100,000 annually.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• L'Oréal Professional ProductsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit Salon Business Center operates in exclusive partnership with L'Oréal Professional Products. L'Oréal brands support Summit Salon's efforts in elevating the salon industry by making Summit available to salons that have a desire to become a trusted partner.
• Redken 5th Avenue NYCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSummit Salon Academy Tampa partners with Redken 5th Avenue NYC as part of its educational experience.
• DermalogicaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSummit Salon Academy Tampa partners with Dermalogica for its skin care and esthetics programs.
• EssieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSummit Salon Academy Tampa partners with Essie for nail technology programs.
• MUD Make-up DesignoryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSummit Salon Academy Tampa partners with MUD Make-up Designory for makeup education programs.
• RedkencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSummit Salon Academy Lexington is a Redken Elite Cosmetology school, offering programs endorsed by the Redken brand.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/summit-salon-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Summit Salon Academy