1. Do I have to be licensed to run a tanning salon? Most states require you to have a license if you want to run a tanning salon. As this can vary from state-to-state on a rapidly changing basis, you should contact the department within your state to get current information on the requirements for opening a tanning salon. Click here for your state's contact.
2. Do I need special insurance to run a tanning salon? Yes, you will need insurance to cover your liability. You can probably get it from a local Independent insurance agent. There are also companies that specialize in tanning salon insurance, like Universal Insurance Facilities, Ltd It is not terribly expensive to get insurance for a tanning salon (depending on various factors, you should be able to get the bed liability insurance for about $240 per bed per year). If your tanning salon is open only 5 days per week, 8 hours per day and you keep the bed busy only half the time, you will run your bed 1040 hours per year. The $240 insurance cost divided by 1040 hours ( and allowing 3 sessions per hour) gives us a per session insurance cost of .08 cents for insurance per tanning session.
3. Does it take a lot of electricity to run the beds in a tanning salon? Of course the answer to this is - it depends. But let's assume you aren't trying to figure it out exactly, but just an idea for your budget. Ok, the "workhorse" of the tanning industry is the 24 bulb tanning bed. Lets figure it out - 24 bulbs using 100 watts each total 2400 watts. They run for 20 minutes (which is 1/3 of an hour) so usage per session is 2400/3=800 watts. Accounting for some loss of efficiency in the ballasts and the fan usage, it is safe to say the bed will use 1000 watts per session. That is one kWh. Now if you want to get exact, look on your electric bill and see what you pay per kWh, but it is fairly safe to figure 10 cents per kWh . So it will cost about 10 cents in electricity to run the bed for one tanning session in your tanning salon.
4. How long do the tanning bulbs last? Well, as with all things in life, this also depends. Mainly on the quality of the tanning bulb to start with and the quality and voltage of the electricity you put into them in your tanning salon. But it is safe to figure 800 hours. So what is the cost per session? Replacement tanning bulbs will cost you about $16 each. 24 bulbs at $16 each will cost you $384. Now if we divide $384 by the 800 hours we get .48. Of course that is per hour, we get three sessions per hour so .48 divided by 3 = 16 cents per session for bulb cost.
5. What about air-conditioning for my tanning salon? Well, if you have ever tanned you know these babies put out a lot of heat. Rather than getting terribly into thermal engineering/BTUs and such, let's do some rough calculations. Considering the inefficiencies of the tanning bulbs and ballasts, as well as the heat put out by the tanner, and then the process of air-conditioning it would be a safe assumption that it will cost twice as much to cool the bed as to run it, so here we allow 20 cents per session for cooling. By the way, as you set up your tanning salon, allow 1500 btuh of cooling per tanning bed.
6. Ok, you are thinking, but these tanning beds can't last forever. How right you are. But if you buy a good bed it should last between 5000 and 10000 hours (and then it will still be a great home unit for someone, advertise it in the paper of the next town over so you don't sell it to one of the customers of your tanning salon!) Assume you pay a total of $2500 for your tanning bed. You want a "top notch" tanning salon that always has new beds so you plan to replace every 5000 hours. This gives us a cost per hour of 50 cents and a cost per session of 17 cents! (Gee, we must be selling our tanning beds too cheap!)
7. So what is our total cost per session?
| Insurance .08 |
| Electricity .10 |
| Bulbs .16 |
| Air Conditioning .20 |
| Bed Cost .17 |
| Total Cost .77 |
8. Aren't there other costs involved in a tanning salon? Sure, but they are very minor or situation dependant. You have to buy cleaner and sanitizer for the tanning beds. You have to occasionally polish the plastic. Details, details. Let's just say your direct cost of bed operation won't be over $1 per session.
9. How much can I make from a tanning salon? More round figures? Lets say you are open 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (you need to be open more during "season"). You can get two tanners through per hour (I know, theoretically 3 but you have to have time to clean the beds!) and are busy 1/2 the time. 8*5*1/2*2=40. If you charge $5 per session and your cost is $1 per session you will profit $4 per session, $160 per week, per bed. Open 12 hours per day 7 days per week and you are up to $336 per week. Of course you have to analyze your situation, location and clientele. Tanning makes a great addition for video stores, hair salons and laundries to name a few.
10. What about tanning lotions for my tanning salon? It depends on your clientele and how good your salespeople are, but you should make as much selling tanning lotions as running the tanning beds in your tanning salon.
Here are some simple steps to get your new tanning salon going:
- Examine the equipment options. You can do this by browsing our online catalog, or requesting that a catalog be mailed to you!
- Narrow down what equipment that you would like for your tanning salon, and contact us for a quote!
- Fill out a Lease Application, if you are interested in leasing your equipment for your tanning salon!
- E-Mail us with dimensions of the floor space for your tanning salon, so that we may assist you in the layout of your tanning salon!
- Find out about Insurance for your tanning salon!
- Contact your State Regulatory Agency about licensing your tanning salon!
- Once you have made a decision on the beds, make a purchase!
Got more questions regarding opening a tanning salon? E-Mail them to us, we will do our best to answer them both directly to you and on this forum. Visit us!