Ordering Replacement Tanning Lamps

Tanning lamps come in different sizes and two different styles. Following are the most popular lamp sizes:
F59 – typically 80 watt lamps
F71 – typically 100 watt and 160 watt lamps
F72 – typically 100 watt lamps
F73 – typically 100 watt and 160 watt lamps

These lamp lengths are usually printed right on the lamp and looks something like this: “F71-T12-100W BP.”

Reflector type lamps will contain an “R” like the following:
“FR71-T12-100W.”

The two different types of lamp ends are Bi-Pin (marked as “BP” as shown in the first example) and RDC.

The Bi-Pin lamps have two pins on either side and are installed by sliding these pins into the lamp holders and then twisting the lamp once or twice.

RDC lamps have a black cap at the end. These lamps are installed by pushing the lamp into one “spring loaded” lamp holder and setting the other side right in. There is no twisting the lamps with RDC’s.

When replacing your tanning lamps, it is very important to know the size (F59,F71,F72,F73, etc) and the style (RDC or Bi-pin) of your lamp. If this information is not available either on the lamp itself or on the tanning bed (lamp information can usually be found on a sticker on the canopy of the bed), then you will need to have the make, model and year of the tanning bed when calling your distributor.

Pros and Cons of a Tanning Salon Franchise

As you know, there are pros and cons to almost everything in business. That remains true when opening a new tanning salon and having to decide whether or not to build a salon from the ground up, or buying in to a franchise. These Pros and Cons outlined below should help distinguish between the major differences between a franchise and a non-franchise tanning salon startup.

PROs:
1. A strong Franchise name.
2. A Business in a Box theory (pay a total opening price for equipment, software, product).
3. Receive training, marketing and other support on a continual and ongoing basis
4. Offered products or equipment that might be exclusive to just the franchise.
5. Support in business design and layout and location scouting.
6. The level of quality customers receive from each franchise store would be the same.
7. Franchise purchasing power. Buying products and or equipment in larger quanities, can lead to better and deeper discounts.

CONs:
1. Higher Start-Up Cost. Franchises will have a list of equipment that they feel is correct for your location and or business, this will lead to more out of pocket expense.
2. You are required to share your banking and profit information. You also conform to uniform operating procedures.
3. Every year you will need to make royalty payments for using the franchisor name. Every month you will make payment to franchisor for a percentage of the profit you made. This sometimes can be up to 15% of gross sales. Your monthly or yearly payment amount is still due if business is slow.
4. No protected territory for your business. Franchisor has the right to put locations where they feel is profitable, unless otherwise stated in your agreement.
5. Most franchises are held to a long-term, 10-20 year commitment.
6. Some franchise may not be known or popular in your state or city.
7. You are more of a manager than an owner. Being a franchisee places many aspects of your business in the franchisor’s hands.

Choosing the Right Lease

Many companies lease or finance equipment without considering the differences in expense deduction methods between a true lease or loan. It’s only after year-end when tax time arrives that they find out the type of lease or financing they chose did not maximize their possible deductions for that and future years.

The end of lease residual or purchase option is the primary factor that determines the tax handling of your lease. Every for-profit company in the U.S. has an amount of capital equipment they can purchase each year that can be fully expensed under I.R.S. Section 179.

If your company has not exceeded the annual limit, then a finance lease with a $1.00 residual may be the choice for you. On the other hand, if you have met your maximum capital purchase deduction for the year or regularly do so, you may want to choose a true lease with a fair market value residual or purchase option not less than 10% of the original equipment price. Since the total monthly payments of a true lease are normally expensed each year, you may be able to accelerate your equipment depreciation if the lease term is less than the term required to depreciate the asset under it’s classification. You will also save in the accounting costs associated with creating and managing depreciation schedules.

Another important factor in choosing your lease is weighing the benefits versus disadvantages between longer and shorter terms. Longer terms can provide for lower monthly payments and increased annual cash flow for revenue producing assets. The main disadvantage to longer lease terms is the higher balance you will have to pay off if you want to trade out of the equipment or buy-out the lease early for any other reason. If the equipment you are getting does not retain it’s value, depreciates in value quickly, or regularly becomes obsolete, it may be wise to choose a shorter term.

This article was contributed by Corky Downing of Lease Process.

A Few Notes for a Startup Tanning salon

Everyone opening a new tanning salon needs assistance and guidance for a successful beginning. Having the right mix of equipment is what will set you apart from your competition. And, it is important to select and stock the best selling tanning lotions in order to be competitive and maximize revenue. But, what is needed before you open up a tanning salon?

Demographics are a BIG part of the tanning salon business. Can you get the right customers through your door to keep the salon afloat? There are various ways you can find demographics for your area. One of the easiest is just to Google for your area like this: “Los Angeles Demographics.” This is important so that you know that the area you are looking to open a tanning salon at is not comprised of, for example, 90% males. Although males tan, there are not as many male tanners as there are female, so you are not likely to have high traffic in a situation like this. Use common sense when looking at this data.

It is important to figure out what regulations your local government (city and state) has set for tanning salons and service based businesses. This varies widely and some people might not find it an ideal situation in their locality. Checking with your local board of cosmetology could help figure out this information, as certification may be necessary.

Aside from tanning beds and lotions, you need to find a space that you can lease to operate your business. It is important to find a space in a shopping center that already has a good number of people who visit. Most tanning salons tend to do well in shopping centers that are anchored by a grocery store. Grocery stores typically provide the traffic and the right demographic for a tanning salon business.

Tanning salons are typically about 150 square feet per room. So, if you want to have a salon with 10 tanning beds, you’ll need a space that is at least 1500 square feet. Of course, this is only an average so don’t go building 150 square foot rooms! You’ll need a bathroom, waiting area, laundry room, front desk, etc., to go in the salon too!

When you’re looking for a space to lease, ask the leasing agent about the air conditioning system. Tanning salons need at least one ton of air conditioning per tanning bed depending on your area’s weather. If the air conditioner in the space you are looking at doesn’t provide this, see what the leasing agent can do to initiate an upgrade.

There are many other things that go into opening a tanning salon, but hopefully this gets you started.

Buck Boosters: What Are They?

Buck Boosters are transformers that increase or decrease your incoming voltage. Most tanning beds require voltage to be 220 and 240 volts. Some actually require 220 Volts only, some require between 220 and 230 volts, etc.

If your incoming voltage into the building is 208 Volts and your tanning bed requires 220 Volts, then you would need a Buck Booster to “Boost” that voltage to the required voltage needed for that tanning bed.

Buck Boosters can either “Buck” or “Boost” voltage from your incoming voltage by 12, 24, 16, or 32 volts.

You can find Buck Boosters that are already pre-wired with cords where all you have to do is just plug in one side of the Buck Booster into the outlet your electrician provided and plug the other into the cord going to the tanning bed. Other Buck Booster come where your electrician would have to do the wiring, hard wiring, of the buck booster going to the tanning bed and into the wall.

If the voltage going to your tanning bed isn’t what was recommended by the manufacturer, then you may end up having problems such as tanning lamps not tanning as well as they should, tanning bed getting too hot because internal cooling fans aren’t running correctly, etc.

Always make sure that your electrician understands your tanning beds power requirements.

Identifying Tanning Bed Acrylics

There are four different types of acrylics: Curved, 2 Bend, Contoured and 4 Bend. When replacing your tanning acrylic you will need to know what type of acrylic it is and it’s measurements.

The best way to measure an acrylic is to take the acrylic completely out of the tanning bed and stand it up. Using a tape measure, measure the width from the backside of the acrylic and then measure the length. These measurements need to be exact. Next you need to make note of the location of any notches, holes or taping.

It is best to get these measurements even if you have the model and make of the tanning bed but not the year. A lot of tanning bed acrylics varied in size from year to year for the same make and model. Having these measurements

Once you have this information, you will also need to make note of the model, model and year of the tanning bed before calling your distributor to place your order.

Acrylic FAQ
A lot of people ask when acrylics should be replaced. You should replace an acrylic when it has about 2000-3000 hours on it. Even if it is not cracked or broken, you should still replace it. If you were to look very closely at it, you would realize that there are a lot of stress cracks once they get past 2000 hours. These stress cracks will absorb sweat, tanning lotion, dirt, etc and your acrylic will not transmit as much UV as before. Therefore, you will not get the best possible tan even if you have brand new tanning lamps in your tanning bed.