Opening a Tanning Salon

Business Overview:

If you’re looking for an exciting business that lets you meet interesting people and provide a fun service, consider opening a tanning salon. Tanning salons typically have tanning beds that provide customers a summer tan all year long. If you’re unsure of how to start a tanning salon business, it’s a good idea to visit a few salons around town and see how they operate. You may need to travel out of town to get good information from salon owners as they will not be in direct competition with your new business. Make note of what types of equipment they have, how much they charge, what other services they offer, etc. Next it’s important that you draft a business plan to help answer all the questions you have about how to open a tanning salon. This document will help you determine whether or not you want to invest in a franchise or start out on your own. A franchise will likely come with equipment, branding and marketing but it will be more expensive and it will not provide as much freedom in operation as you’ll find if you start a business from the ground up. Research the different tanning options as tanning beds are not the only choice. These days many people are concerned with possible skin damage caused by the bulbs in these beds. Spray-on tans are gaining in popularity because they are quick, easy and much safer than tanning beds. But it’s important you offer as many options as you can afford so you can attract a variety of clientele. When looking for a location, be sure it’s large enough to have a few private rooms, a back office and a reception area up front. You can start with just one bed and as business picks up, you can add more. If you’re not ready to rent storefront space just yet, see if you can put a tanning bed or two in local fitness centers or weight loss centers. In addition to tanning beds and spray-tan equipment, you’ll also need to have towels, goggles, chairs and cleaning spray available in each room. Other accessories like sunscreen, sunglasses and t-shirts can be for sale up front. You’ll find with this business idea that the start-up investment can be high but after you purchase your equipment, your overhead will be relatively low and your profits will be high. You will need to perform regular maintenance on your machines including replacing bulbs, but those costs can be built into your tanning prices. When determining pricing, you should offer one-time prices as well as membership prices. For example, a customer can tan one time for $10 USD or they can tan 4 times a month for $20 USD. You can also offer unlimited tanning options. Pricing should be different for tanning beds and spray-on machines – higher for the spray-on tan because you’ll need to replace the spray periodically. Running a tanning salon business is a fun and easy way to own your own business and provide a service that many people will pay top dollar for.

A Day in the Life of a Tanning Salon Business Owner:

You will arrive before your salon opens and make sure each room is clean and tidy and, if you have a spray machine, it is stocked and ready to go. You will spend your day greeting customers and keeping your salon neat. If you have a staff to handle the administrative duties, you can focus on marketing your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for a clean and friendly place to get a tan.

What You Need to Start:

• Tanning salon business plan
• Storefront
• Insurance
• Tanning bed(s)
• Spray-on tanning machine(s)
• Towels
• Goggles
• Other items for sale (sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.)
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• A tanning salon is a fun atmosphere.
• After your initial investment, the overhead is low.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can start out working with fitness centers.
• You don’t need any experience to start this business.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• Competition is high; you will need to set your business apart to attract customers.

Resources:

• Association of Responsible Tanning Salons
• Indoor Tanning Association
• Tanning Salon and Indoor Tanning Bed News Organization
• Wikipedia on Tanning Beds

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