Power Up!

When searching for a location for your tanning salon, you need to keep one thing in mind: the power panel. Each tanning bed requires a certain amount of voltage and amperage. Some entry level tanning beds require 20 amp or 30 amp breakers while some higher end tanning beds will require 50 amps or higher. Before signing a lease on your space, you need to find out how big of a power panel is available. Lets say you are going to have 10 entry level beds only and they take 30 amps each, you would need to have at least a 300 amp power panel. Most spaces will usually only have a 100 or 200 amp panel. If you realize that you are going to need a bigger power panel, you may want to try to negotiate an additional 100 amp, 200 amp, etc. power panel with the leasing agent.

Always have your equipment mix picked out and hire an electrician before signing your lease. Have the electrician make sure that the tanning bed equipment that you have chosen will work with the existing power panel or have him let you know what it will cost to upgrade the panel.

While the electrician is there, you may also want to have him check the incoming voltage. A lot of indoor tanning beds require anywhere from 220 to 240 volts of power. It is always good to know what your incoming voltage is. You may need to have buck boost transformers installed to either increase or decrease your incoming voltage to the recommended voltages needed by the equipment.

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.