TLDR – Revealing the Truth Behind the Start Your Salon Suite Challenge (Skool)
| Factor | Rating | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Time Investment | High | While the challenge itself runs for five days, launching a real salon suite requires months of permitting, build outs, and hands-on management, often demanding full-time focus. |
| Level of Command Required | High | Best suited for beauty professionals who already understand their industry and can handle financing, contractor coordination, and tenant management. |
| Ease of Implementation | Low | The process involves commercial leases, plumbing, ADA compliance, and inspections, making execution involved and difficult to simplify. |
| Profit Potential | Medium | Gross rental income can reach six figures, but real profits depend on occupancy, debt load, and ongoing operating costs. |
Start Your Salon Suite Challenge teaches beauty professionals how to move from service-based income to owning salon suites by renting space to independent stylists.
The program outlines legal setup, funding, build outs, and tenant recruitment, offering a clear picture of what ownership involves.
The biggest challenges come from the capital required, long timelines, and the active nature of managing a physical property.
This path works best for experienced stylists who are ready to take on a major real estate-style business, not those looking for something lightweight or quick.
Most participants should expect a long ramp up period before earning consistent income and should plan for hands-on involvement well beyond the initial challenge.
The upside can be meaningful, but it comes with real operational and financial pressure.
For readers seeking a more manageable side system that creates steady recurring income without construction, permits, or physical tenants, Digital Leasing offers a simpler alternative.
It still requires work, but it focuses on building digital assets that deliver financial breathing room without the same level of risk or layers.
Who Benefits From the Start Your Salon Suite Challenge (Skool) & Who Doesn’t?
This program works best if you already have hands-on experience in the beauty industry and feel physically or financially capped by trading time for money.
Many of Patrice McKinney’s students are barbers, stylists, or estheticians who have built a loyal client base but feel worn down by long hours behind the chair.
If you regularly turn clients away, feel the strain on your body, or worry about what happens if you get sick or injured, the salon suite model can feel like a logical next step.
It also fits people who are comfortable with big projects and long timelines.
Opening a salon suite is not just a mindset shift, it’s a commercial real estate process.
This program suits students who can tolerate months of planning, inspections, and construction delays without losing momentum.
If you already think in terms of leases, build outs, and managing multiple moving parts, the challenge content will feel aligned with how you operate.
Financial readiness matters here.
While the entry challenge is low-cost, the real-world application assumes access to business credit, savings, or financing options to cover build out costs that often run into the tens of thousands.
Students who have decent credit, some capital, or the confidence to pursue funding will be better positioned to act on what’s taught.
Mindset-wise, this works best for people who want to become operators and landlords, not hands-off owners.
You will be managing tenants, handling disputes, and responding to issues that come with physical property.
If you like the idea of building something tangible and don’t mind being the point person, the program’s approach can make sense.
Who This Isn’t For
This challenge may not be the right fit if you’re looking for a light, part-time side income.
While the marketing often emphasizes rental income, the reality is that salon suites demand full-time attention, especially during the first 6 to 12 months.
If you already feel stretched thin or need income quickly, the long runway can create stress rather than relief.
It’s also a tough fit for people without access to capital or strong credit.
The course content doesn’t remove the financial barriers of commercial construction, permits, and compliance.
If raising or risking $50,000 or more feels uncomfortable, the gap between learning and execution can feel overwhelming.
Those who dislike managing people or conflict should pause here.
Salon suite owners often deal with late rent, personality clashes, and maintenance issues.
If your goal is to reduce emotional labor, this model may introduce a different kind of pressure instead.
Finally, this may not suit anyone seeking a simpler, more manageable income stream without physical infrastructure.
If zoning laws, plumbing upgrades, and tenant management sound exhausting, a digital-first model may align better with your goals.
If you’re not in the ideal group, a simpler model like Digital Leasing may be a better fit.
1,000 FT View of the Start Your Salon Suite Challenge (Skool)
The Start Your Salon Suite Challenge is structured as a short, intensive on-ramp rather than a long-form course.
It runs over five days and functions as both education and qualification, helping participants decide whether they’re ready to pursue salon suite ownership at scale.
The pacing is fast by design.
Each day introduces a major component of the salon suite model, with the assumption that students will continue learning inside Patrice McKinney’s flagship program, The Salon Suite Model, after the challenge ends.
The five-day structure follows a logical progression.
Early sessions focus on mindset and market research, including how to evaluate local demand, zoning realities, and location viability.
Midway through, the program walks through legal setup and funding concepts, such as forming an LLC, understanding licensing requirements, and exploring business credit options.
Later sessions shift into build out realities, covering plumbing, ADA compliance, and layout considerations, before closing with basic marketing and tenant recruitment concepts.
The challenge doesn’t aim to cover every detail. Instead, it introduces the major moving parts so participants understand the scope and risk involved.
Delivery takes place inside a Skool community, combining short training videos with written prompts, checklists, and group discussion.
Some cohorts include live or scheduled Q&A-style sessions, while others rely on pre-recorded lessons with community engagement for support.
There’s no one-on-one coaching at this stage.
Most guidance comes from Patrice’s recorded explanations and peer discussion inside the group.
In the first 30 days, students typically move from excitement to clarity.
Many realize quickly whether they have the capital, credit profile, and risk tolerance required.
Those who continue often begin researching commercial properties, speaking with lenders, or consulting contractors.
Others step back after recognizing the time commitment and financial exposure involved.
This early filtering appears intentional and helps prevent mismatched expectations.
Between 60 and 90 days, students who enroll in the full program may still be in a planning phase.
Build outs, permits, and leases often extend timelines far beyond the challenge itself.
Revenue is not immediate, and progress depends heavily on city approvals, financing speed, and construction logistics.
Compared to other programs in the business coaching space, this challenge is unusually concrete.
It focuses on physical assets, real-world costs, and regulatory constraints rather than abstract mindset work.
At the same time, it’s far more involved than most online business models.
Unlike digital coaching programs that can be launched quickly, salon suites require large upfront investment and long lead times.
The challenge succeeds at showing what the business actually involves, which helps participants decide if this path aligns with their goals and capacity.
Who Is the Guru
Patrice McKinney, often known in the beauty industry as “Sway” or “Sway the Pro,” built her reputation long before she ever taught others how to open salon suites.
She started as a working master barber and stylist in Atlanta, spending years behind the chair before making the shift into salon ownership in 2014.
That transition, from service provider to owner, became the foundation of her credibility and the central story behind her education programs.
Her most notable business achievement is founding Encore Salon Suites, which grew into the first Black-owned salon suite brand to reach franchisor status.
This is not a theoretical background. Patrice has operated physical locations, navigated commercial leases, overseen build outs, and managed tenants.
She has also become a regular speaker at industry events such as the Bronner Bros.
International Beauty Show, where her focus stays firmly on ownership, scale, and long-term wealth within the beauty industry.
As an educator, Patrice’s teaching style is structured and hands-on, especially compared to many lifestyle-style business coaches.
She walks students through real operational topics like zoning, licensing, financing, and build out planning.
Her content reflects lived experience rather than abstract strategy.
At the same time, the pace and scope of what she teaches assume a high tolerance for layers and stress.
Many students report that the information is thorough but overwhelming, especially for those who have never managed property, contractors, or commercial compliance before.
Her branding leans heavily into themes of legacy wealth, ownership, and breaking free from physical labor.
She positions salon suites as a step away from trading time for money and toward becoming a landlord.
This message resonates strongly with beauty professionals who feel physically worn down by years of standing, cutting, and servicing clients.
The tone across her platforms is professional and empowering, with an emphasis on discipline and long-term thinking rather than quick wins.
Criticism of Patrice herself is relatively limited. Most concerns stem from the business model she teaches rather than her integrity.
Some skeptics argue that salon suite education often downplays the emotional strain of tenant management, unexpected construction costs, and long timelines before profitability.
Others note that marketing phrases like “start in 5 days” can create unrealistic expectations, even if the core training eventually clarifies the real timeline.
Patrice McKinney presents herself as a mentor-like, experience-driven educator, which shapes how students connect with the program.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Handle | Link | Followers (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| @sway_thepro | https://www.instagram.com/sway_thepro/ | 170,000+ | |
| YouTube | Sway The Pro | Salon Suite Educator | https://www.youtube.com/@SwayThePro | 4,000+ |
| Patrice McKinney | https://www.facebook.com/patricemckinney | 20,000+ | |
| Patrice McKinney | https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrice-mckinney-813785283/ | Limited / Inactive | |
| TikTok | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Patrice McKinney maintains a moderate online presence with consistent content focused on business coaching topics for beauty professionals, salon ownership, and real estate-style income models.
Training Cost & Refund Policy
The Start Your Salon Suite Challenge uses a low-barrier entry price to attract interest, followed by a much higher-commitment upsell.
Understanding how the costs stack up, and what is and is not refundable, is critical before committing.
Price & Payment Structure
The 5-Day Challenge itself is typically free or priced between $47 to $97, which makes it accessible for most beauty professionals curious about the salon suite model.
This challenge functions as an educational preview rather than a complete business solution.
At the end of the challenge, participants are invited to join the flagship program, The Salon Suite Model, which generally costs $2,000 to $5,000 depending on promotions or bonuses offered at the time.
Payment plans are often available, though exact terms are usually discussed during the sales presentation rather than displayed upfront.
It’s important to note the true financial commitment extends well beyond course fees.
Opening a physical salon suite commonly requires $50,000 to $150,000 for build out costs like plumbing, electrical work, ADA compliance, permits, and initial operating capital.
These expenses are not part of the program cost but are essential to implementation.
Upsells & Hidden Costs
Beyond the core course, students may encounter optional upsells such as:
- Private coaching or consulting
- Advanced financing guidance
- Live events or in-person intensives
While these are positioned as optional, many students report feeling that additional support is necessary to navigate permitting delays and construction layers.
The largest “hidden” cost remains the physical build out, which cannot be avoided in this business model.
What’s Included
- Access to the 5-Day Challenge inside Skool
- Core training covering location selection, legal setup, funding strategy, build out planning, and tenant recruitment
- Community access during the challenge period
Extended access, deeper templates, and ongoing support are typically reserved for the paid flagship program.
Refund Policy & Transparency
Refund terms are limited and strict. The challenge usually follows Skool’s standard digital access rules or a no-refund policy once content is viewed.
The flagship program generally enforces similar conditions, with refunds rarely granted after access begins.
Refund policy details aren’t always clearly stated upfront, often appearing inside terms pages or post-purchase agreements.
Details are limited, which can be a red flag for transparency.
Bottom Line on Cost
The entry price is low, but the real investment is substantial.
This program makes the most sense for individuals already prepared for a major real estate-style financial commitment, not those seeking a lightweight or low-risk income path.
My Personal Opinion – Is The Start Your Salon Suite Challenge (Skool) Legit?
I’ll start by saying this: I respect what Patrice McKinney has built.
Going from behind the chair to owning and franchising salon suites is not easy, and her lived experience shows throughout the Start Your Salon Suite Challenge.
There’s a grounded credibility here that many online business programs lack.
Patrice speaks the language of beauty professionals because she’s lived the physical grind, the burnout, and the fear of having no income when you stop working.
What impressed me most is how clearly she reframes the mindset shift from service provider to owner.
The challenge does a solid job of helping participants think beyond weekly booth rent and start viewing suites as rental assets.
The early lessons around market research, legal setup, and funding are hands-on, especially for stylists who have never explored business credit or commercial leasing before.
The community element inside Skool also adds encouragement, which matters when people are taking their first step away from commission-based income.
That said, several concerns stood out as I dug deeper.
The biggest one is the gap between how accessible the opportunity feels during the challenge and how involved it becomes in reality.
Opening a salon suite is not a digital pivot. It’s a real estate project involving permits, plumbing, ADA compliance, long lease commitments, and six-figure capital exposure.
While Patrice does mention these pieces, the emotional momentum of the challenge can make the path feel faster and smoother than it typically is.
Many students underestimate the time, stress, and management required once construction begins.
Compared to other programs in the business coaching space, this one sits somewhere in the middle.
It’s more hands-on and transparent than generic “make money online” courses, but far more demanding than programs that build digital or service-based income streams.
Unlike coaching certifications or content-based businesses, this model locks you into a physical asset with ongoing obligations.
You don’t get flexibility once the lease is signed.
Would I recommend this to a friend? Only in very specific cases.
If someone already has strong credit, access to capital, patience for long build out timelines, and a desire to manage people and property, this could be a legitimate long-term play.
For anyone looking for a manageable secondary income or a way to reduce financial pressure without taking on heavy debt, I would hesitate.
It might help certain students, but for reliable income and control, I’d look at Digital Leasing.
What’s Inside Start Your Salon Suite Challenge (Skool)
The Start Your Salon Suite Challenge is structured as a short, high-intensity onboarding experience designed to introduce beauty professionals to the salon suite ownership model.
The challenge itself runs over five days and lives inside a Skool-based community, where participants access daily lessons, prompts, and discussion threads.
While the format is simple, the subject matter is not, and understanding what’s included versus what’s implied is important.
Core Modules and Lessons
The challenge follows a clear daily progression:
Day 1: Mindset & Market Research
Participants are guided through the mental shift from service provider to owner. This includes evaluating local demand, understanding pricing per suite, and identifying viable commercial areas. The focus stays conceptual rather than execution-focused.
Day 2: Legal Setup
Covers high-level steps such as forming an LLC, obtaining an EIN, and understanding licensing requirements. The guidance explains what’s required, but doesn’t walk students through jurisdiction-specific filings.
Day 3: Funding & Financing
Introduces business credit concepts and potential paths to securing $50k to $100k+ in funding. This is one of the most compelling days, but also one of the most abstract, since actual approval depends heavily on personal credit history and lender relationships.
Day 4: Build Out & Design
Focuses on layout planning, plumbing considerations, ADA compliance, and general construction awareness. This module raises important realities but stops short of providing contractor-level execution steps.
Day 5: Marketing & Tenant Recruitment
Covers how to position the suites, attract stylists, and think about occupancy. Marketing concepts are discussed broadly rather than through step-by-step campaigns.
Bonus Content and Tools
Access to the challenge typically includes worksheets, checklists, and recorded replays, along with exposure to Patrice’s broader framework, The Salon Suite Model.
These materials are helpful for orientation but function more as planning aids than operational blueprints.
Many participants are encouraged toward the flagship program for deeper implementation support.
Calls and Community Access
Students participate in a Skool community where they can post questions and engage with peers at similar stages.
Engagement quality varies and often depends on how actively a student participates. Live calls may occur during launches, but consistent one-on-one access is not a core feature of the challenge.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the challenge, most participants gain clarity, not completion.
You should expect a clearer understanding of the salon suite business model, realistic awareness of capital needs, and insight into whether this path fits your lifestyle and risk tolerance.
What the challenge doesn’t deliver is a finished business or a guaranteed timeline to revenue.
Where the program becomes vague is in execution depth.
Many steps are introduced but not fully mapped, which can create a confidence gap for beginners.
For some, that open-endedness feels empowering.
For others, it raises questions about how much additional investment is required to move from concept to reality.
Wrapping Up My Start Your Salon Suite Challenge (Skool) Review of Patrice McKinney
The Start Your Salon Suite Challenge is a legitimate, well-structured introduction to the salon suite business model, but it’s important to see it for what it actually is.
At its core, this program teaches beauty professionals how to transition from service-based income to physical asset ownership through commercial real estate and tenant management.
That’s a meaningful shift, and Patrice McKinney brings real-world credibility to the table as someone who has built and scaled salon suites herself.
The biggest strength of the program is clarity around the conceptual leap required to get out from behind the chair.
Participants gain exposure to zoning requirements, build out considerations, funding pathways, and tenant recruitment strategies that most stylists never encounter.
For those who already feel boxed in by hourly income and physical labor, this framework can be eye-opening.
The community aspect also provides encouragement and social proof, especially for beauty professionals who have never considered themselves “real estate operators.”
Where the program becomes more challenging is in the gap between concept and execution. Opening a salon suite is not a side project.
It requires significant capital, long timelines, and active management.
City permits, plumbing upgrades, ADA compliance, and tenant issues are ongoing realities, not one-time hurdles.
The challenge introduces these realities, but it can’t reduce their layers or risk.
For many participants, the emotional high of the challenge gives way to practical overwhelm once real numbers, leases, and contractors enter the picture.
The ideal student for this program is a well-established beauty professional with strong credit, access to capital, and a long-term commitment to owning and operating a physical property.
This works best for someone ready to step into a landlord role full-time, manage people, and navigate local regulations without expecting fast or hands-off income.
It’s not designed for beginners, part-time entrepreneurs, or anyone seeking flexible, low-risk cash flow.
Overall, the Start Your Salon Suite Challenge succeeds at education and inspiration, but it doesn’t eliminate the heavy operational load that comes with physical rental businesses.
It teaches you how to build a brick-and-mortar income engine, not how to create freedom quickly or simply. That distinction matters.
So if you’re serious about building a business that lasts, here’s the alternative I’d choose…
Top Alternative to Start Your Salon Suite Challenge (Skool) / #1 Way To Make Money
If you’re reading this because the idea of owning salon suites caught your attention, that makes sense.
The promise behind Start Your Salon Suite Challenge is appealing:
Move from physically demanding work into rental income, step out of day-to-day services, and build something that lasts.
But once you look closer, that path comes with heavy upfront costs, long build out timelines, city permits, contractors, and ongoing tenant management.
For many people already feeling stretched, that level of risk and responsibility can add more pressure instead of relief.
However, there’s an alternative that offers a simpler, more manageable way to build income without the physical and financial weight of real estate:
Instead of signing commercial leases or overseeing construction, you create small digital properties that attract local customers through search.
You then partner with real businesses who want those leads and pay you monthly for them.
The result is steady, recurring secondary income that fits around your existing life rather than taking it over.
The biggest difference is ownership without overhead.
With a salon suite, ownership means plumbing, ADA compliance, late rent, and constant problem-solving.
With Digital Leasing, you own a digital asset that does one job well: connect customers with local services.
Once the site ranks and the partnership is in place, it requires light maintenance.
There are no surprise repair bills, no tenant disputes, and no middle-of-the-night calls.
This isn’t hands-off income, and it doesn’t pretend to be.
You still do the work to set things up correctly. But the system is low-overhead, manageable, and realistic to handle part-time.
Many people build one site at a time, lease it out, and then decide if and when they want to scale.
That flexibility creates real financial breathing room without forcing you into a full-time, high-stress operation.
For anyone feeling burned out by physically demanding work or overwhelmed by high-risk business models, Digital Leasing offers a calmer path forward.
It replaces heavy reinvestment with steady monthly payments and replaces constant hustle with ownership of simple, local assets.
