The studio business model involves renting a storefront and hiring employees to assist with operations. Studio leases can last 1-5 years. They typically have low to moderate foot-traffic, and for that reason, generally require additional marketing to bring in clients. They have a high risk profile due to the heavy upfront costs to “build out” the store, the long-term lease cost, and the staffing requirement; however, in some cases, you can operate a studio very profitably by choosing a high-traffic location or only staffing when appointments are scheduled.
Operating a studio location gives you the opportunity to set more of your own rules, compared to a mall location where they may have specific requirements/regulations that you have to follow.