We’re thrilled to share important updates to our evolving Studio business model, designed to help you grow your business, elevate your Brand presence, and deliver an exceptional 5-Star Client experience. This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document outlines everything you need to know about the future of our Studio Franchise Program and the new definition of a By Appointment Only (BAO) space, so you can determine how either program might align with your growth strategy at J.Hilburn.
This is more than a program update—it’s a powerful opportunity to scale your business, enhance client engagement, and shape the next phase of our collective Brand success.
Watch the 5/28/25 Webinar:
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What’s Covered in This FAQ
- J.Hilburn’s Business Model Evolution
- Studio Franchise Model Update
- The Future of Dallas Corporate Studio
- By Appointment Only Space Update
- Enhancing Our 5-Star Client Experience
Topic 1: Business Model Evolution
Q1: What’s changing with the business model?
A: We will continue to support our current Independent Stylist model (Standard plan) while bringing two business models into compliance. All current and future Stylist Studios will transition to operate as Franchises. By Appointment Only spaces will be formally defined and available as a part of the Standard plan.
Q2: What’s the updated timeline for the Studio Franchise program?
A: Franchise details and agreements will be shared in July/August 2025. You’ll have three months to review and decide on your next steps before signing the necessary documents.
Q3: What happens on August 1, 2025?
A: August 1, 2025, marks the conclusion of the 2024 Bridge Program. However, the Studio Franchise requirement and the requirement that all Stylists selling out of Studio be on the Studio Plan will go into effect three months after the Franchise documents are delivered, not on August 1.
Topic 2: Studio Franchise Model
Q1: What’s the purpose of the Franchise model?
A: To create a scalable, consistent, and compliant business model that upholds our Brand Guidelines while also increasing Brand awareness and visibility in key markets.
Q2: What’s different about how Studios will operate?
A: Studios will maintain their Client-facing look and feel, but will now:
- Operate as Franchises.
- Require minimum operating hours.
- Have Territory protection for J.Hilburn’s physical Studio spaces.
Q3: Who can own a Studio Franchise?
A: Any approved Stylist. Ownership requires forming an LLC.
Q4: Can I co-own or have partners in my Studio Ownership?
A: Co-ownership with other Stylists is not permitted. You may have non-Stylist financial partners, but you must retain majority voting rights.
Q5: Are there any exceptions to the Stylist co-ownership rule?
A: There are two existing Studios that will be grandfathered and will not have to update their operating structure. These two studios are Houston and The Star.
Q6: What are the costs?
A: Studio Franchises will pay a franchise fee. The fee is yet to be decided and will cover service costs only; the fee will not be a profit center for J.Hilburn.
Q7: What is the “Studio-in-a-Box” program?
A: It’s a program that provides a process and Head Office support from application to grand opening of your first studio. It allows you to focus on selling — our SWAT team will help you create your studio.
- A detailed design of your Studio including specific guidance on materials, fixtures and branding elements to bring it to life.
- Guidance in selecting a General Contractor, creating a project plan with milestones, and step-by-step support in managing your Studio build.
- Assistance merchandising your Studio, help to establish a presence within the community, and holding a Grand Opening Event with onsite support to get you off on the right foot with proven operational and outreach tactics to increase traffic and grow your business.
Q8: Will I have territory protection?
A: Yes. Franchise territories will protect you from other Studios or BAO spaces opening nearby.
Q9: Can I own multiple Studios?
A: Yes—up to three, with a minimum weekly in-person presence of 15 hours per location.
Q10: Will Studios need to be open for a minimum number of operating hours?
A: Yes, to ensure a consistent, professional, and 5-Star Client experience. More details are coming soon.
Q11: Who can sell in a Studio?
A: Once we’ve adopted the Franchise program, only Stylists on the Studio Plan may sell from Studios, with one transitional exception … the Dallas Corporate Studio. Please see further details in Section 3.
Q12: I am on the Standard plan, but I own a Studio today. Does this mean that I will have 3 months to close my Studio if I decide not to move to the Studio Plan?
A: If you own a Studio today, you will have the same 3-month decision window to opt into the Studio Plan if you wish to continue operations as a Studio. However, should you decide to stay on the Standard plan, you have two options:
- If the space meets Brand Guidelines for a BAO location, you may opt to convert it to a BAO space. However, going forward, only 2 Stylists may operate in a BAO space during any Certificate period.
- If you decide to remain on the Standard Plan and will not convert to a BAO location, you will be provided a 6-month window to close the location. During this time, it may operate as a Studio to give you time to prepare. Please note that if you make this decision, it is final. You may not change your decision and opt into the Studio Plan with that location at a later date.
Q13: Can I sell my Studio Franchise?
A: No. Studios may be subleased and assets transferred with approval, but Clients cannot be sold; they will remain under J.Hilburn’s reassignment rights.
Q14: Can I obtain ownership by buying another Stylist’s LLC?
A: Please discuss transfers with J.Hilburn first, and also consult your own legal counsel. There is an inherent risk in buying another person’s legal entity.
Q15: I am on the Standard plan. Can I own a Studio?
A: Any approved Stylist may move out of the Standard Plan and their genealogy to become a Studio owner. If this happens, J.Hilburn will continue to offer the Mentor Bonus program, which provides a financial bridge to your upline should you decide to make that change.
Q16: I am on the Standard Plan. Can I work from a Studio?
A: A Stylist may transition to working from a Studio by following specific procedures, depending on the situation.
- An approved Stylist on the Standard Plan may elect to “flatten” their downline to allow them to become a Studio seller with no penalty.
- A Stylist who wishes to become a Studio seller for someone outside of their genealogy will still have to abide by Section 2.5.3 of the current Stylist Agreement Line Switching policy. A Stylist must follow the 6-month rule of leaving the business before coming back to the business as a Studio seller.
Q17: If I move to the Studio Plan, can I transition back to the Standard Plan?
A: Yes. However, if you decide to move back to the Standard Plan, you will have to follow the 6-month rule of leaving the business, as mentioned above, before you can resume selling. You will transition into a Direct-to-Company relationship when you do so.
Topic 3: The Future of the Dallas Corporate Studio
Q1: What’s the plan for the Corporate Studio at Inwood Village?
A: J.Hilburn will not renew the lease beyond June 2026. The landlord will ultimately decide if J.Hilburn is able to continue in the current space.
Q2: Are you selling the Corporate Studio?
A: No, we don’t own the space. However, we are accepting applications to assume the lease, and we will negotiate a fair price for the current Studio assets (furniture, garments, etc.) with the incoming Studio owner if he/she chooses to do so.
Q3: How will the Franchise Owner for this location be decided?
A: J.Hilburn will not decide on the Stylist owner for the Corporate Studio. We may approve multiple applications for the location, and approved Stylists can negotiate directly with the landlord, as lease terms will likely be the deciding factor. In the end, the approved Stylist and the landlord will decide if there are amenable terms to move forward.
Q4: When will the new Franchise Owner take over?
A: We cannot provide an exact date; however, we can offer guidance. Any applicant may decide to assume the current lease before it ends in June 2026. The earliest date this can occur will be the “Decision Date,” which is three months after the Franchise project is delivered.
Q5: Can any Stylist work in the Dallas Studio before the lease ends in 2026?
A: Should a Stylist assume the lease for the Inwood Village location before the lease ends, the Studio will transition to a Franchise with a Studio owner and their selling team if their team members choose to be on the Studio Plan. Once this happens, current Stylists on the Standard Plan will no longer be able to sell from that location.
Topic 4: BAO (By-Appointment-Only) Spaces
Q1: Are there changes to non-Studio spaces?
A: Yes, in the past, we have had many concepts for non-retail physical spaces, such as Showrooms, Store-in-a-Store, Pop-Ups, and Office Spaces. We’re creating a new category: By Appointment Only (BAO) spaces and defining Brand Guidelines for these non-Studio physical spaces.
Q2: Can I keep my current showroom or space?
A: Yes, as long as it meets BAO Brand Guidelines. BAOs are private, unbranded spaces for appointments only, not retail locations.
Q3: Can I use my primary residence to sell?
A: Yes. The BAO guidelines apply only to non-primary residences.
Q4: Will BAO spaces need approval?
A: Yes, for one-year terms, with Brand Guideline Certification checks every four months.
Q5: Can multiple Stylists share a BAO?
A: Yes, up to two Stylists during any Certification period.
Q6: What if a Studio opens near my BAO?
A: You’ll have a six-month transition period to close your BAO if it falls inside a Studio territory.
Q7: When will BAO Certification start?
A: Three months after the Franchise documents are delivered. During that time, our Studio Operations team will support you to achieve the Brand Guidelines of a BAO space.
Q8: What happens if my space doesn’t meet Brand standards?
A: J.Hilburn is committed to working with each location that requires adjustments to meet the Brand Guidelines and formulating a path to compliance where possible. However, if you are unable to meet the Brand Guidelines, your BAO location will have to close.
Q9: Can I host a Pop-Up or Trunk Shows?
A: Yes, however, each Pop-up and Trunk Show must be approved by J.Hilburn four (4) weeks before the event. Both Pop-Ups and Trunk Shows are temporary setups and cannot last longer than seven (7) consecutive days. Also, these events can have temporary signage approved by J.Hilburn.
Topic 5: Enhancing Our 5-Star Client Experience
Q1: What does this mean?
A: We’re modernizing our approach to allow Clients to shop where they prefer and ensuring every visit to a J.Hilburn Studio delivers a seamless, Brand-aligned experience.
Q2: Can a Client shop at any J.Hilburn Studio?
A: Yes. Clients can shop at any J.Hilburn Studio and work with any Studio Stylist present to place an order without going through a formal reassignment process or notifying the Home Office.
Q3: Can a Client get help with an order at any Studio and from any Studio Stylist?
A: Yes. Clients can visit any J.Hilburn Studio or reach out to their Assigned Stylist for assistance with returns, alterations, or remakes, regardless of who placed the original order.
Q4: Will the Client be reassigned to a new Stylist if they shop with someone else?
A: No. Each Client will retain their current Assigned Stylist. Shopping with a different Studio Stylist will not result in a reassignment or change.
Q5: Can Studio Stylists access any Client profile?
A: Yes, Stylists on the Studio plan can look up a Client using the Client’s phone number. They will then request access and the Client will receive a text message to confirm their access approval. Once access is granted, the Studio Stylist will be able to view the Client’s complete profile, including order history and fit information. Within the Client’s profile, the Stylist can:
- Create a new order.
- Update Client information.
- Copy existing fit profiles or add new ones (no edit).
- Service an existing order.
Q6: How does a Client grant a non-assigned Stylist access to their profile?
A: Clients must confirm access via a text message authorization. A non-assigned Stylist can take no action without this confirmation.
Q7: Will the Assigned Stylist know if another Stylist works with their Client?
A: Yes. Assigned Stylists will be alerted via email if a non-assigned Stylist accesses or creates activity on their Client’s profile, resulting in an order or a follow-up change to an order already placed.
Q8: Who earns commission when a Studio Stylist, who is not the Client’s Assigned Stylist, serves a Client?
A: The Stylist who makes the sale (i.e., places the order) receives 100% of the commission. If there’s a return, remake, or alteration, the selling Stylist takes any commission adjustment.
Q9: What safeguards are in place to prevent poaching?
A: Per the Stylist Agreement, poaching is prohibited. Our compliance team monitors for poaching.
Appendix: Studio versus BAO Space Comparison
Category | Studios | By-Appointment-Only |
Client Access | Open for scheduled & walk-in appointments | Strictly by appointment only No walk-ins allowed. |
Advertising & Promotion | Permitted within Brand Guidelines Paid ads, Google listings, and tagging space allowed | Not permitted No Google listings, social media tags, or paid ads promoting space |
Events Promotion | Permitted | Not Permitted |
Marketing Support | Offered | Not Offered |
Branding Support | Offered | Not Offered |
Printed Material | Permitted | Limited to individual Stylist promotion No direct location promotion |
Branding & Signage | Signage permitted within Brand Guidelines Plaques and window displays allowed | No signage is permitted The J.Hilburn Branding cannot be displayed externally No permanent Branding can be installed in the space |
Permanent Signage | Permitted | Not Permitted |
Movable Signage (inside the space) | Permitted | Permitted, but cannot be shared on social channels |
Door/Window Signage | Permitted | Not Permitted |
Signage inside a shared Office Space | N/A | Not Permitted |
Business Care with Location Address | Permitted | Not Permitted |
Promotional Display (movable, for inside use) | Permitted | Permitted, but cannot be shared on social channels |
Online Listings (Google/Yelp/Social Media) | Permitted Can list location on Google, Yelp, and business directories | Not permitted The space cannot be listed as a business online |
Social Media Promotion | Allowed to promote space and services Can tag location, use hashtags, and post event promos | Limited to personal stylist promotion No direct location promotion, but can say what city/town they are in |
Live Feeds | Permitted | Not Permitted |
Reels | Permitted | Not Permitted |
Social Media Posts | Permitted | Limited to personal Stylist promotion No direct location promotion J.Hilburn branding must not be displayed |
Paid Ads | Permitted | Not Permitted |
Walk-In Clients Allowed | Yes, walk-in Clients are allowed | No, unscheduled Client visits are not allowed |
Co-Branding with Other Businesses | Not permitted The space must exclusively represent J.Hilburn | Not permitted No cross-selling, collaborations, or co-branding |
Exclusive J.Hilburn Use | Yes, it must be exclusive to J.Hilburn | Yes, it must be exclusive to J.Hilburn |
Order Placement Method | Orders must be placed through the J.Hilburn system | Orders must be placed through the J.Hilburn system |
Physical Location Type | Designated retail space within Brand compliance | Private office, no public-facing Branding |
Approval & Renewal Process | Annual renewal required per Studio Plan | Annual renewal required with recertification every 4 months Renewal is not guaranteed if a Studio opens and the BAO is within the Franchise’s radius |