SUNBEDS
LEARN FROM THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
HOW TO SET UP A SUNBED SHOP.
Welcome to the ultimate insider’s guide for aspiring sunbed salon owners—a treasure trove of wisdom collected from the wealthiest and most successful entrepreneurs in the UK sunbed industry.
Backed by data from the most profitable businesses and the latest sunbed trends across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, this site is your one-stop resource for unparalleled quality advice. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, this is the only guide you'll ever need—bookmark it now and stay ahead of the competition!
How to create a profitable sunbed business
How to OPEN Sunbed Salon:
A Guide for Newbies
This is for newbies to the industry. The document is not meant to be fully comprehensive but steers you in the right direction if you choose to enter this exciting industry. It shows you most importantly that you should do a lot of your own research, and it tells you what pitfalls to avoid. After reading, follow up by doing your own research , and make your decisions.
Most salons turnover between £50k and £150k per annum so work out your breakeven and go from there. Chains tend to do double or more than that after year 3.
Understanding the Sunbed Salon Business
Most salons turnover between £50k and £150k per annum so work out your breakeven and go from there. Chains tend to do double or more than that after year 3.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Location is key to your success. Aim for between 800sq feet and 2500sq feet. Your rent should form 10% of gross turnover. Eg if rent is £40,000 you should aim to turnover £400k (after year 3 when your salon matures).
Parking is a major concern, as are your commercial neighbours. Make sure that you take plenty of pictures when you take the building over, to include in your lease in case you ever leave. Do your research on dilapidations.
CHOOSE YOUR SUPPLIER EQUIPMENT
There are three or four major suppliers that are worth using in the UK, and maybe a dozen small suppliers (that aren't). The considerations on equipment are as follows
Standup or lay down, or a mix
It's best to have both, but stand ups are only 25% as popular as lay downs. Have 1 for every four lay downs.
This depends mostly on budget. Nonetheless there are other considerations. Second hand refurbished kit from a reputable supplier is usually great, but check they have ample parts and check the prices and delivery times. Also check the call out times for engineers. Second hand kit invariably fails more often than new, but if you keep your beds clean and on top of the filters that prevents most problems. Air flow is a critical concern.
Be aware of any bed without electronic ballasts for many reasons. The main reason is parts aren't made for older beds anymore which means you can't even pay to fix your bed. Warranty is unlikely with second hand too, and most of this kit would've come out of a busy chain when they upgrade, and sell it to a smaller (usually rogue) wholesaler who will put it on eBay.
Many suppliers may try to upsell you on an expensive bed. Whilst this may seem appealing it's a trap. If you have one "good" bed it nullifies the rest of your kit and depending on your area you may not even be able to charge more for it. Best to stick with the same model on lay downs
MIXED EQUIPMENT
NEW OR SECOND HAND
POWER CONSUMPTION
Look at the kva on the bed. The higher does not necessarily mean more tanning power, it means less efficiency and a higher electric bill. Aim for around 9-12kw unless you can afford the new LED based diode beds, that pull around 6-7kw.
Major brands and best equipment
Lotions and other tanning products are a great addition to Sunbed sales. A successful outlet will have 15% of total sales as add ons. A good aim is 10%. There tends to be good markup of at least 100% on most products meaning if you buy for £1 you sell for £2.
There are some amazing products out there and some great brands. Add on products like tanning drinks and supplements tend to sell well to regular customers. Don't stock the whole range (usually 7-12) as only 4-5 ever sell, the rest is a marketing ploy. Don't believe it? Try it and see.
Stock mostly accelerators and bronzers and one tingle for advanced customers. Any more than 4-5 different creams confuses the offering. However, change the products at least every 2 years, as customers get bored (ideally 12-18 months).
Alison second hand (have been known to cause multiple fires in salons. Very cheap but not worth the risk).
Smart Sunbeds (expensive and low quality Italian kit with no network in the UK. Very high electricity kva on some models).
Any brand with High pressure units (they won't pass 0.3 compliance)
Ergoline
Hapro luxura
Megasun
AVOID
Choose your supplier for lotions and accessories
Recommended (seriously only use one of these)
Cyrano
Bliss
Power tan
AVOID
Do not buy any Chinese or TikTok lotions and you should ban your customers using these petroleum based products. They're no good for customers skin and will quickly degrade your (very expensive) acrylics.
shopfitting and design
This is not easy, but get a system and a price and this will stand you in good stead. The electrics need to be 3 phase at least 69kva preferably higher. 100amps a phase is what you should check for.
Ensure building regulation compliance and then find a team of shop fitters or a good carpenter to build your dream. If in doubt go and check out your local chain and reverse engineer their fit.
A small shop fit will cost £30,000 with larger ones up to around £80,000. If you're aiming to go high end with expensive materials this could easily double.
avoid at all costs
Smart sunbeds (DO NOT use). Do your research on the owner.Tan 365. eBay. This is the quickest way to buy bad equipment and get ripped off. Faulty kit could cost you your whole business, just don't do it. Many beds here are not the examples you see in shiny showroom condition. They are collected from a busy national chain, and not even refurbished as is promoted. For example, Ergoline “excellence” beds. These are bought for £700-1000 wholesale and advertised for as much as £6000. There are no parts available for this bed and others like it, so fall into this trap at your own high risk.
finance
Generally, you will be able to borrow on new equipment very easily (depending on your credit). Second hand is a bit more difficult but not impossible. Try and spread payments over 3-4 years because the business is very seasonal. It'll be harder to keep up payments in winter when trade reduces by up to 60%.
Choose HP over a lease, because of the "end of lease" con. Always ask your broker their commission, they are duty bound to tell you.
There are plenty of asset finance brokers. You can go direct to some providers like bibby and close brothers. If that fails seek out an asset finance broker. Speak with your bank too. Aim to pay 10-15% APR.
Don't pay less than £8000 per unit for second hand lay down kit (it's seriously old kit if you do and parts are getting more sparse and more expensive). New kit is approximately £20,000+ per unit now, but comes with great warranties and is far more reliable.
Other considerations and research topics
Three phase electricity
Air flow (vent into your ceiling void and extract out the building with an adequate fan)
Planning class. Check with your local authority
Building regulations
NIC cert
Electronic ballasts not magnetic
To take cash or go cashless?
0.3 legislation
Sunbed legislation
Payroll
Bookkeeping
Vat (check the current threshold)
Music (PPL PRS license)
Internet
Computer system for your database
HR legislation
Health and safety
Cleaning and products (COSHH)
Commission for staff
Offers
Marketing and online presence
Sunbed Association or not
Insurance (get treatment risk)
Best of luck with your new venture and remember to do lots of research. One of the three big bed suppliers will answer you truthfully if you can't find the answers. The others will likely guide you in the wrong direction to maintain their sales. A fatal and costly mistake.
