Salon & Spa Professional Association, Inc.

What Salon & Spa Professional Association, Inc. does

Salon & Spa Professional Association, Inc. (SSPA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional association founded in 1924 and headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. It serves licensed beauty professionals — cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, eyelash technicians, students, salon and spa owners, and industry manufacturers, distributors, and franchisors — primarily in the upper Midwest, with membership available to U.S. residents. The association provides Minnesota Board of Cosmetology-approved continuing education through an Online Learning Center (LMS) and in-person classes at its Knowledge Loop Education Center, alongside legislative advocacy at the Minnesota State Capitol, an annual INsalon Reimagined industry event, and a curated partner benefit ecosystem covering professional liability insurance, payment processing, salon software, financial planning, banking, mortgages, and gift card services.

SSPA's technology footprint is built on third-party SaaS rather than proprietary platforms. MemberClicks powers the association's website (sspatoday.com), membership management, event registration, and the Online Learning Center hosted at sspa.mclms.net. The LMS delivers self-paced CORE Health Safety Infection Control, cosmetology, esthetics, nail, business, and instructor licensure courses on a 24/7 basis with automated enrollment, 30-day completion windows, and digital certificate generation. Integration partners extend the platform with embedded commerce, scheduling, and payment capabilities (Giftbar, Rosy Salon Software, Payroc).

The business model is a hybrid of recurring membership dues ($25–$85 for individuals, $550 for associate/company members), pay-as-you-go continuing education course fees (e.g., $40–$50 CORE for members, $79–$99 bundled courses), and event-driven sponsorship and marketplace revenue from the annual INsalon Reimagined gathering. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer through the website portal, complemented by in-person classes, legislative outreach, and grassroots communications. SSPA claims members can save over $1,000 annually through combined benefit utilization, framing the value proposition as cost savings, license protection, and professional development rather than technology differentiation.

Name

Salon & Spa Professional Association, Inc.

Legal name

Salon & Spa Professional Association, Inc.

Website

https://sspatoday.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Salon & Spa Professional Association (SSPA) is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(6) non-profit founded in 1924 that delivers continuing education, legislative advocacy, and member benefit services to licensed beauty professionals across the upper Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Professional Members ($85), Student Members ($25), Industry Unlicensed Members ($85), and Associate Members ($550). Dues may be deductible as business expense under IRC Section 162.
2. Continuing Education Courses: Revenue from online and in-person continuing education courses including CORE Health/Safety courses ($50/$40 for members), specialized cosmetology courses, and instructor licensure programs.
3. Event Sponsorship and Marketplace: INsalon Reimagined event generates revenue through sponsor positioning, marketplace vendor fees, and attendance, serving as the association's flagship annual industry gathering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Salon & Spa Professional Association (SSPA) is a nonprofit professional association founded in 1924 that sells annual membership subscriptions and continuing education courses to licensed beauty professionals in the upper Midwest. Its core offerings include tiered membership (Professional, Student, Industry Unlicensed, Associate), a Minnesota Board of Cosmetology-approved Online Learning Center delivering CORE Health/Safety/Infection Control and discipline-specific CE courses, and in-person Professional Practice Classes and Instructor Licensure training. Members also gain access to discounted partner services such as professional liability insurance, merchant card processing, salon booking software, and financial planning.

Product overview

Salon & Spa Professional Association (SSPA) is a membership-based professional association offering a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services for beauty industry professionals in Minnesota. The core offering centers on membership programs with tiered categories (Professional, Student, Industry Unlicensed, Associate) that provide access to education, advocacy, insurance, financial services, and networking. SSPA's education platform consists of an Online Learning Center (LMS) delivering CORE Health Safety Infection Control courses and continuing education across cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, business, and instructor training disciplines, supplemented by in-person Professional Practice Classes and the 38-Hour Instructor Licensure Course. Members also benefit from partner services including Elite Beauty Insurance for professional liability coverage, Payroc for credit card processing, Rosy Salon Software for booking and reputation management, Giftbar for gift cards, Anderson Benefit Partners for health insurance, My Credit Union for banking, Guild Mortgage for home loans, and Emma Traun for financial planning. Content resources include Podcast Central and Beauty Blog Live! providing industry education and professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SSPA Membership Programs Tiered annual membership subscriptions for licensed cosmetologists, hair technicians, estheticians, nail technicians, eyelash technicians, students, unlicensed industry workers, and affiliated companies, granting access to education discounts, advocacy, member benefits, and networking.
• Online Learning Center (LMS) SSPA's online Learning Management System providing 24/7 self-paced continuing education courses for licensed beauty professionals, with automated enrollment and certificate generation for relicensure requirements.
• CORE Health Safety Infection Control Course Minnesota Board of Cosmetology-approved 4-hour continuing education course required for relicensure, covering health, safety, infection control, and laws/rules for all licensed practitioners.
• Professional Practice Classes In-person hands-on courses for cosmetology, esthetics, business, specialty services, and instructor clinical practice, available to members at discounted rates across Minnesota locations.
• 38-Hour Instructor Licensure Course Comprehensive 38-hour instructor training program meeting Minnesota Board of Cosmetology requirements for individuals seeking to become licensed beauty industry educators in Minnesota cosmetology schools.
• INsalon Reimagined Annual Event Flagship annual trade show and education event held in Bloomington, MN, featuring marketplace vendors, sponsors, continuing education classes, and networking opportunities for beauty industry professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Save over $1,000 a year when taking advantage of SSPA member benefits

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PayroccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSSPA partnered with Payroc to offer members merchant card services and financial technology solutions including virtual terminal, point-of-sale systems, mobile payments, online invoicing, and eCommerce management. Contact: 847-720-1141 or [email protected]
• Elite Beauty SocietycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSSPA partnered with Elite Beauty Society to offer members A-rated professional liability insurance coverage at $159/year (vs $179 standard rate). Coverage includes $3 million annually, $2 million per occurrence, 500+ modalities, $25,000 identity theft protection, and mobile coverage.
• Anderson Benefit PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMike Anderson's firm helps SSPA members find affordable health plans via MNSure, individual market, Medicare, and small business benefits. Located at 11670 Fountains Drive, Suite 200, Maple Grove, MN 55369.
• My Credit Union (RBCU)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMy Credit Union MN offers members checking, savings, auto/home loans, small business accounts, VISA credit cards, IRAs, and free online/mobile banking. All SSPA members are eligible to join. Located at 9550 Lyndale Avenue, Bloomington, MN 55420.
• Rosy Salon SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationSSPA offers members access to Rosy Salon Software, a state-of-the-art salon booking system to streamline operations. Also includes Rosy Reputation Manager for online review management.
• Guild MortgageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTyler Peters at Guild Mortgage offers SSPA members $500 discount on closing costs. Specializes in first-time homebuyers and self-employed borrowers, including those with non-traditional income from salon/spa work.
• GiftbarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSSPA offers members seamless gift card service through Giftbar to enhance client experience and encourage repeat business.
• MemberClickscoreTechnology or IntegrationMemberClicks provides SSPA's website platform, membership management system, and event registration infrastructure powering the association's digital operations.
• AvedaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAveda appears as a supporter and logo partner on SSPA website, indicating industry support relationship.
• CosmetProfminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCosmetProf appears as a supporter logo on SSPA website, indicating industry support relationship.
• Great ClipsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreat Clips appears as a supporter logo on SSPA website, indicating industry support relationship.
• Jim Hirst, Government Affairs SpecialistcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSSPA works with Jim Hirst as Government Affairs Specialist to channel advocacy efforts and amplify collective membership voice at Minnesota State Capitol for cosmetology matters.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Modern Salon Media: Established beauty industry media brand covering salon ownership, education, and trends — comparable audience of salon professionals with broader national reach than SSPA.
• National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC): National organization of state cosmetology boards that establishes model licensing standards — comparable regulatory focus that overlaps with SSPA's advocacy and CE mandate work.

Direct peers

• Milady: Leading cosmetology curriculum and continuing education provider serving beauty schools and licensed professionals — directly competes with SSPA's course offerings while operating at a national, digital-first scale.
• Associated Hair Professionals (AHP): Provides professional liability insurance and member benefits to cosmetology and beauty professionals — closely comparable to SSPA's Elite Beauty Society partnership and overall member benefits stack.
• Intercoiffure America/Canada: International salon owner association offering education, networking, and prestige affiliation — comparable membership-association model with focus on higher-end salon professionals.
• American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS): National association representing cosmetology schools and instructors, with overlapping education, accreditation, and advocacy missions for the cosmetology training ecosystem that SSPA also serves.
• Professional Beauty Association (PBA): National trade association serving beauty industry professionals across the US through education, advocacy, and events — directly comparable in mission, member tiers, and CE offerings, but at a national scale rather than SSPA's upper Midwest focus.
• Beauty Changes Lives: Non-profit foundation promoting beauty profession careers through scholarships and awareness — comparable 501(c)-style mission serving the same licensed professional population as SSPA.

Emerging players

• Behind the Chair: Digital media platform for salon professionals offering education content, community, and event properties — competes for SSPA members' attention and education spend through modern content formats.
• Salon Today: Business publication and community platform targeting salon and spa owners — comparable audience of beauty professionals with content and business resources that overlap with SSPA's salon owner benefits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sspatoday
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salon-spa-professional-association-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/salonspaprofessionalassn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Salon & Spa Professional Association, Inc.