Thinking Of Buying A Tanning Salon

**gst528i** · 07-10-2008, 04:01 PM

SO LOOKING to expand my hands in different things and am thinking of buying a salon.
Tanning salon to be exact. Just wondering if any of you other there have been in this business before or worked as an employee there. What are the pros and cons. When's business down or anything that someone who has experience can tell me. Oh and i am thinking of buying one in the surrounding Houston area. NOT in Houston but little out of Houston where there are suburbs but less competition.
Any info will be appreciated.

**RuhlFreak55** · 07-10-2008, 05:07 PM

if you do this in a college town ur set

**smokeyd** · 07-10-2008, 05:10 PM

any town with middle aged women your set, could also set up a personal trainer/diet specialist for them. im tellin you the women in my town from 15 to 50 fri them selves!!! i go often also and so do bunch of guys from my gym so its not just girls.
make it comforatable for a guy and your going to get more business too, but still gotta have all the purks for the ladys, could have a massage therapist come in and give them one room and give you a percentage of what they make. all kinds of ideas on this one bro!

**ravanA** · 07-10-2008, 05:20 PM

I was considering the exact same thing too! But i dont have the money for that and besides i am kind of young to open up a business anyways. How much would it cost to open one up with all the equipment?

**smokeyd** · 07-10-2008, 05:33 PM

new beds are any were from 3-5 for basic and upwards of 10 for the ones that look like a space ship

**DSM4Life** · 07-10-2008, 07:26 PM

You have to offer something that other tanning salons don't. For example: All the good looking guys get a free rub down of lotion from me. What do you think ?

**RuhlFreak55** · 07-10-2008, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by smokeyd

new beds are any were from 3-5 for basic and upwards of 10 for the ones that look like a space ship

the spaceship ones look badass.....although i don't think i've been in one......level 4s?

**g0dsend** · 07-10-2008, 07:43 PM

Tanning salons get sued all the time, so thats something that you gota watch out for...

**StoneGRMI** · 07-10-2008, 07:48 PM

Offer spray tanning also

**KatsMeow** · 07-10-2008, 08:41 PM

My good friend owned one, she did great the first year, luckily sold right as she made profits and then it went under once the new owners took it. I don't know about in the houston area, but they just had a thing on the news about it in the Orlando area how a lot of these tanning salons are going under because we are having a spike in electricity costs and therefore its costing them more money every month to run the salon but because of the economy they would likely lose more customers if they raise the prices.

**gst528i** · 07-10-2008, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by KatsMeow

My good friend owned one, she did great the first year, luckily sold right as she made profits and then it went under once the new owners took it. I don't know about in the houston area, but they just had a thing on the news about it in the Orlando area how a lot of these tanning salons are going under because we are having a spike in electricity costs and therefore its costing them more money every month to run the salon but because of the economy they would likely lose more customers if they raise the prices.

You make a good point. I actually never thought of that. Thank you for your persepective. If it's not to much trouble would u mind asking ur friend for any other advice or things too look for in this kinda a buisness. I would highly appriciate it.

**gst528i** · 07-10-2008, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by VedranMolestove

I was considering the exact same thing too! But i dont have the money for that and besides i am kind of young to open up a business anyways. How much would it cost to open one up with all the equipment?

How old are you? I am only 23. I have a dealership and car accoseries shop. And no DADDY AND MOMMY DID not pay for any of it. They are paying for my school though coz they want to, mainly coz i'd rather not go but they insist.

**gst528i** · 07-10-2008, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by g0dsend

Tanning salons get sued all the time, so thats something that you gota watch out for...

What are they getting sued for ? Isn't there an agreement they sign before entering the tanning bed? I would definitely make them sign that gives up their right to sue other than arbitration with third party.

**KatsMeow** · 07-10-2008, 09:15 PM

She had a great personality, and put her tanning salon directly across from a high school it was a great strategy, she is a likable person so she just attracts people in that sense, she only had to do minimal advertising, but also had a couch and chairs in there and people would just hang out and have fun a lot of the time, I think it makes a huge difference, I have yet to be at another salon like it. But I looked in the sales papers today and saw quite a few tanning salons for sale, including another friend of mine.

**gst528i** · 07-10-2008, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by KatsMeow

She had a great personality, and put her tanning salon directly across from a high school it was a great strategy, she is a likable person so she just attracts people in that sense, she only had to do minimal advertising, but also had a couch and chairs in there and people would just hang out and have fun a lot of the time, I think it makes a huge difference, I have yet to be at another salon like it. But I looked in the sales papers today and saw quite a few tanning salons for sale, including another friend of mine.

Yea that is concerning me, from some of the books that i see they seem to be very profitable but yet quite a number are being sold. I mean as far as personality i dont know if i have a great one, but i do everything and devote all my time into anything new i do specially when it comes to money. But i understand your point about creating an atmosphere where people are comfortable. Your friend does seem pretty smart, what does she do now if u dont mind me asking ?

**KatsMeow** · 07-10-2008, 09:41 PM

She's a paramedic. She opened the salon with her BF's money in order to profit and make money for her to go to school. She's kind of ditzy but very outgoing and i think that is what makes a big difference.

**Emilio_Rebenga** · 07-10-2008, 09:45 PM

Great Idea..but all you need is location location location

and save up your money b/c the summer is the slowest season..fall and winter you're set!

**Emilio_Rebenga** · 07-10-2008, 09:51 PM

wrong thread

**gst528i** · 07-10-2008, 10:53 PM

Lol ^^^^ what did u post?

**gst528i** · 07-10-2008, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by KatsMeow

She's a paramedic. She opened the salon with her BF's money in order to profit and make money for her to go to school. She's kind of ditzy but very outgoing and i think that is what makes a big difference.

As ditzy as she maybe, she seems smarter than 80 percent of the people i know lol. Thanks for the info.

**domeyeahaigh** · 07-10-2008, 11:44 PM

man, you said you were thinking of opening a tanning salon and before i opened the thread im thinking houston...which is quite ****ing sunny already, but for some odd reason there is a crazy abundance of tanning salons...dude they are everywhere...

what uniqueness will you bring to the table?

**gst528i** · 07-11-2008, 01:22 AM

Well as for uniqueness, I would try to cater it towards men as i'm sure alot of men don't feel comfortable at alot of the salons. Second i don't think i would put a salon in exactly houston. I would put it at a more remote location, where there;s plenty of rich white gurls and less salons. Maybe kingwood area, even alvin. Did u know in alvin there;s only three salons?
Like i said i'm gonna research it before i put down 75,000 dollars.

**majorpecs** · 07-11-2008, 06:48 AM

I doubt you'll get much business in Alvin. If you can open one up next to a 24 hour fitness or other big gym you'll probably do okay. I got to the Darque Tan that's next to my gym and it's ALWAYS busy with people from the gym. And yeah, if you catered more towards men, it might help you get their business. I def. feel out of place at Darque Tan but it's convenient to go there.

**gst528i** · 07-11-2008, 11:27 AM

yea? if you don't mind me asking how many times do you go tanning. Also how many men go to this place. I think i may even want to do one just for men. But i fear some homophobic men take it as "gay".

**domeyeahaigh** · 07-11-2008, 02:38 PM

hmm yeah i was talking about conroe/magnolia/woodlands area thats where i used to live, tanning salons everywhere mate...i like the idea of catering to men though...

**ravanA** · 07-11-2008, 04:14 PM

im 20, 21 in july. i think salon would be a boom where i live, there are lotss of them but chicks go tanning all the time. Esp. the fact that i live in toronto and everyone hates the winter season. even if i did start a salon i wouldnt know where to start lol need to save money and do something with mysefl!

**thegodfather** · 07-11-2008, 05:35 PM

I dont know where you're getting your numbers from, but I have a personal friend who opened a salon about 2 years ago. He opened two, and put out 1 million dollars for each. One of his high pressure beds cost him $50,000. I would suggest looking into a different franchise business. Tanning really would be under 'luxury items' and those are the types of things that people cut out of their budget when the economy is on a down swing. I have one that me and a few other people are actually looking into right now, shoot me a PM if you want some details...

**xavier_888888** · 07-11-2008, 05:42 PM

If you will be catring to men I suggest have all your girl employees wear bikinis at work.

**wilson9d** · 07-12-2008, 05:06 PM

they are not a bad idea but I think you defiantly need to open a franchise from one of the big national companies they seem to last the longest. Personally I think it’s a bad market to open any business especially something so frivolous. Stuff like that is always the first to go in times like this. You also need to take a look into legislation about tanning because I heard a rumor of new laws that could kill the business. Tanning has a bad rap as it is and the tanning market has been slowing you should look up some forecasts.

**deenlee** · 11-19-2020, 06:37 AM

How is that going ? I am thinking about purchasing a ready-made business in the United States, I consider pool services business in Mesa as the best option. The variety of businesses for sale is impressing, but I always tend to cleaning niche.