Tanning Salon business in Scotland

[Time for Tan]

Hi
Im planning open sunbed salon in Glasgow. Is this business still profitable? I found some old post but just want to know what is situation just now... In my area u can find just tanning salons which is HOT (franchise with quite expensive rate and small rooms ).
thank you for any advice xxx

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

I used to live round the corner from a guy who had a salon in a small town in Scotland (I’ll not mention where), and he was dripping with money. Not much class right enough, but had a swimming pool in his house and a cinema.

I think it’s hard to make it work unless you’re using it as a front to launder money (as my neighbour mentioned above was), especially nowadays when fake tan in a bottle is far more popular. When I looked into starting one in the town where I now live, even though there wasn’t one already, my research showed that very few people would actually use it. The stuff in a bottle is cheaper, and less harmful.

Saying that, my town is different from your town. I know Glasgow is a world unto itself. Do your research and you might find it works. “Is this business still profitable” isn’t really the right question, because the answer to that is “depends”.

With the right location, management, investment, equipment and most importantly marketing, almost any business can be profitable.

 

[Mr D]

What are the costs? What are the prices? How many use services? Whats the staffing?

Any business can in theory be profitable. Some may end up paying you 50p an hour wages, some may end up with you paying taxes of £100K a year plus on your own income and profit.
Big variance - the details count.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I’d always assumed that Scots favoured a slightly blue look.

being serious though, there are plenty of tanning salons that make money. There are also plenty that don’t.

the difference is anybody’s guess - other than if you do detailed, local research your results will be better.

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

I’d always assumed that Scots favoured a slightly blue look.

It’s either blue or orange. No in between.

 

[Time for Tan]

I want to buy 2-3 lay down bed and 1 stand tube (Ergoline) used. I want to work on my own after when is busy i will think to have 1 part time worker. My investment £20k?

 

[Mark T Jones]

I want to buy 2-3 lay down bed and 1 stand tube (Ergoline) used. I want to work on my own after when is busy i will think to have 1 part time worker. My investment £20k?

Rent deposit?

legal fees?

insurance?

narketing?

research...

 

[Time for Tan]

Local around 12k per annum
Research doing just now...
Next week Im going to write business plan
Im thinking to move ahead after new year
I was just bit confuse if is worth it, but as i can see is everything depends lol

 

[Mr D]

I want to buy 2-3 lay down bed and 1 stand tube (Ergoline) used. I want to work on my own after when is busy i will think to have 1 part time worker. My investment £20k?

Buy or lease equipment?
Open when people are free or daytime hours only?

 

[ethical PR]

You are the only one who will know whether the tanning business you want to set up is profitable and you are the only who knows

1. your set up and operating costs
2. your estimated profits (gross and net)
3. competition levels
4. what you are offering that is better/different than your competitiors

I highly doubt an investment of 20K will cover your rent, staffing costs, business rates, equipment, marketing, legal costs, accountancy fees etc.

I am sure you know that the market for tanning salons has reduced massively over the last ten years as there is increased awareness of the skin cancer risks and the permatan look (apart from with certain groups) goes out of fashion.

1. What is the size of the tanning market in Glasgow?
2. What is competition like?
3. Have you checked out likely customer footfall for your chosen location
4. Have you allowed for the fact that is likely to take a year or so before you start showing a profit

 

[Time for Tan]

Local around 12k per annum
Research doing just now...
Next week Im going to write business plan
Im thinking to move ahead after new year
I was just bit confuse if is worth it, but as i can see is everything depends

Buy or lease equipment?
Open when people are free or daytime hours only?

buy equipment
Open 10-8

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

You’re obviously still working out the finer points, and that’s fine. Don’t take the comments here as criticism of your plan, just read and re-read what everyone is saying above and do extensive research to answer all the questions presented.

The biggest will be marketing. That is the most important thing you need to consider. You can have the best product or service in the world, and at the best price, but if no one knows about it, you’re doomed.

 

[glengraving]

I think it’s hard to make it work unless you’re using it as a front to launder money (as my neighbour mentioned above was), especially nowadays when fake tan in a bottle is far more popular.

By my observation, the tanning salons have fallen out of favour, and instead we have [region redacted] barbers, ice-cream shops (next door to, and with very similar frontage to, hydroponic supplies stores), and newsagents which sell about four cans of Irn-Bru per day, but see fit to expand to additional and larger premises (a couple doors down from their current one).

The high street can be perplexing sometimes.

 

[Joshua Boast]

It completely depends on the local market and how saturated it is really. You certainly can make money of them. It is usually best to diversify the premises as best you can by renting out space for beauty workers etc. to maximise your income