Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati vs Salon Professional Academy (The)
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati vs Salon Professional Academy (The): Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati costs $167K to $1.4M to open; Salon Professional Academy (The) costs $533K to $1.7M. Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati has 24 units, Salon Professional Academy (The) has 13. SBA loan history: Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati = 24 loans (0.0% default); Salon Professional Academy (The) = 16 loans (6.3% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati vs Salon Professional Academy (The): Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($167K vs $533K for Salon Professional Academy (The)), a 69% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $75K for Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati versus $45K for Salon Professional Academy (The), Salon Professional Academy (The) has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati operates 24 units to Salon Professional Academy (The)'s 13. Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati has been operating 46 years (founded 1980) versus 18 for Salon Professional Academy (The) (founded 2008), a 28-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 24 7(a) approvals compared with 16 for Salon Professional Academy (The).
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati and 6.3% for Salon Professional Academy (The), Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati has the cleaner SBA loss record by 6.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 50 (Moderate) for Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati and 44 (Fair) for Salon Professional Academy (The), giving Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 50/100 | 44/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 24 | 16 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 6.3% |
Peer Tier | growing | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $167K to $1.4M | $533K to $1.7M |
Franchise Fee | $75K | $45K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 24 | 13 |
Franchised Units | 24 | 13 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1980 | 2008 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | MODESTO, CA | Fargo, ND |
Category | Cosmetology | Cosmetology |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati or Salon Professional Academy (The)?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati: $167K starting · Salon Professional Academy (The): $533K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati: 24 SBA loans · Salon Professional Academy (The): 16 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati: 0.0% · Salon Professional Academy (The): 6.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati: 24 units · Salon Professional Academy (The): 13 units
More lender financing options
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati: 19 unique lenders · Salon Professional Academy (The): 9 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati vs Salon Professional Academy (The): Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati and Salon Professional Academy (The) is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $167K to $1.7M.
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati has 24 SBA loans on record and Salon Professional Academy (The) has 16. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati vs Salon Professional Academy (The), Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati or Salon Professional Academy (The)?
How much does a Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati franchise cost compared to Salon Professional Academy (The)?
Can I finance Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati or Salon Professional Academy (The) with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Paul Mitchell Advanced Educati or Salon Professional Academy (The)?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman