Salon Professional Education Company (SPEC) vs Upgrade Labs
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Salon Professional Education Company (SPEC) and Upgrade Labs are healthcare franchises. Salon Professional Education Company (SPEC) requires an investment of $1.0M – $2.0M while Upgrade Labs requires $752K – $1.5M. Salon Professional Education Company (SPEC) discloses average revenue of $1.9M; Upgrade Labs makes no financial performance representation in its Item 19, which is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule. Note: Reported for a subset of outlets rather than the whole system. FranchiseVerdict rates Salon Professional Education Company (SPEC) B (Above average) and Upgrade Labs B (Above average).
| Metric | Salon Professional Education Company (SPEC) | Upgrade Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | BAbove average | BAbove average |
| Investment Range | $1.0M – $2.0M | $752K – $1.5M |
| Franchise Fee | $49K | $65K |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 7.5% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $1.9MOutlet subset | N/ANo Item 19 representation |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | N/A | Limited data |
| Total Units | 34 | 5 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | -2 units | +3 units |
| Year Began Franchising | 2008 | 2021 |
| FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Investment Range
$1.0M – $2.0M
$752K – $1.5M
Franchise Fee
$49K
$65K
Royalty Rate
6.0%
7.5%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$1.9MOutlet subset
N/ANo Item 19 representation
SBA Charge-Off Rate
N/A
Limited data
Total Units
34
5
Unit Growth (YoY)
-2 units
+3 units
Year Began Franchising
2008
2021
FDD Year
2025
2025