Free consultation
We talk through your room, budget, local demand and timeline — before you spend a pound on the wrong bed.
For new salon owners
How to start a tanning salon in the UK — open with a plan, not a guess
Starting a tanning salon is exciting until the practical questions hit: which bed, how to fund it, will it fit, who installs it, and who helps after the truck leaves?
If this sounds like you
You’re not behind — you just need a clearer path
- I’m scared of buying the wrong bed for my room
- I don’t want to sink all my cash into equipment
- I need help understanding power, space and lead times
- I’ve never run tanning before and need real guidance
How opening with us works
Three steps from idea to install
Right equipment, right finance
New or reconditioned. Buy or lease. Chosen for your space, power and the clients you want to attract.
Install & open ready
Delivery, installation and practical guidance so opening week feels controlled, not chaotic.
Lease when it makes sense
Keep cash free for the parts of opening that actually fill the diary
Fit-out, launch marketing, staffing and those first quiet weeks all need money. Leasing a sunbed can keep your balance sheet cleaner and your options open — including upgrading later.
Ask about lease options
What we’ll cover on the call
- Your room size and power
- New vs reconditioned
- Budget and lease pathways
- Lead times and install process
- What support looks like after opening
Step by step
How to start a tanning salon in the UK
Opening a tanning salon is simpler than most beauty businesses: a small number of machines can serve customers at the same time, sessions are short, and there is no appointment book to fill treatment by treatment. It is also easier to get wrong at the start, because decisions about premises, power and equipment are expensive to undo. These are the steps we take new salon owners through.
1. Write your tanning salon business plan
Location, competition, how many sunbeds, price per minute, opening hours, staffing, your marketing strategy and financial projections for the first year. Decide on company registration or sole trader status, and arrange public liability insurance before you open. A lender or finance provider will want to see it, and so should you. Our tanning salon business plan guide lists what to include.
2. Find premises that can take the beds
Check room sizes, ceiling height, a 3-phase electrical supply and a route for ventilation before you sign a lease. See our room, electrical and ventilation guide.
3. Check the rules with your council
Confirm planning use for the unit and whether you need to register or hold a licence for sunbed premises with your local authority. Requirements, and the health and safety regulations that apply, differ across the UK.
4. Choose your sunbed supplier and equipment mix
A premium lay down, a solid mid-range bed and a stand up give customers a reason to choose and upgrade. Compare commercial sunbeds from megaSun, Ergoline, Luxura and J Sunbeds.
5. Decide how to pay for it
Buy, part exchange or lease. Finance starts from £220 + VAT per month, subject to status, which keeps cash free for the fit-out and launch.
6. Install, train and open
We handle delivery, installation, commissioning and staff training, so your team can run sessions safely from day one.
Budget
How much does it cost to start a tanning salon?
The sunbeds are the largest of the startup costs for a tanning salon business, so they are the place to be precise. Our starting prices for commercial sunbeds are below. Both new and professionally reconditioned models are available, and leasing spreads the cost.
| Type of commercial sunbed | Price from |
|---|---|
| Commercial lay down sunbeds | £10,500 + VAT |
| Commercial stand up (vertical) sunbeds | £5,000 + VAT |
| Premium commercial lay down sunbeds | £18,500 + VAT |
| Premium commercial stand up sunbeds | £9,000 + VAT |
On top of equipment, budget for the shop fit-out and cubicles, electrical work and ventilation, salon software and a till system, lotions and eyewear, insurance, signage and opening marketing. Those costs vary too much by unit to quote honestly here. On a free consultation we will tell you what your particular premises are likely to need.
Rules
Tanning salon licence, regulations and health and safety
Sunbed salons are regulated across the UK. It is illegal to allow anyone under 18 to use a sunbed on commercial premises: in England and Wales under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010, with equivalent law in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland add further requirements, such as supervision, protective eyewear and health information for customers.
Some local authorities also require sunbed premises to hold a licence or register, so ask your council before you commit to a unit. Commercial sunbeds sold in the UK must meet the 0.3 W/m² UV output limit, and salon owners are expected to follow health and safety guidance on skin type assessment, session times, eyewear and record keeping. Many tanning salon owners join The Sunbed Association, and becoming a member gives you access to its training and guidance. Age restrictions, eyewear and customer records are the areas inspectors look at first.
This is a summary, not legal advice. Our guide to UK sunbed regulations sets out the rules by nation, and there are more guides for salon owners on costs, business plans and premises. We will point you to the current guidance for your area, and our staff training covers safe operation of the equipment we install.
Is it worth it?
Are tanning salons profitable?
A well-run tanning salon can be a profitable business, because several sunbeds generate revenue at once and running costs do not rise in line with customer numbers. What drives the result is location, equipment quality, cleanliness, opening hours and how well the salon is marketed locally.
We will not quote you an earnings figure, because anyone who does is guessing. What we can show you is what happened to real customers. Deluxe Tanning Studio was a brand new salon that opened with five megaSun K Series sunbeds, was welcoming around 100-150 customers a day within six months, and secured a second location after nine. Empire turned unused floor space in a beauty salon into a three bed tanning lounge and is now building to six.
Location, staff and customers
Starting your own tanning salon: premises, staff and customers
Equipment is only part of a successful tanning business. Before you commit, think about where your customers will come from and what their overall experience will be from the moment they walk in.
Find a location with foot traffic
High streets, retail parks and units near gyms, hairdressers and beauty salons bring passing trade. Check parking, visibility from the street, and how many tanning salons already trade nearby. Demand for tanning varies from town to town, so walk the area at different times of day.
Decide whether you need to hire staff
Some salons open staffed through every opening hour, others use a mix of staffed and self-service hours where local rules allow. Whoever is on shift needs to know skin type assessment, session times and how to run the equipment safely, which our staff training covers.
Make booking and payment easy
Salon software with online booking, courses and minute packages helps attract customers and bring new customers back. It also gives you the customer records that health and safety guidance expects.
Get the customer experience right
Clean rooms, good airflow, reliable beds and excellent customer service keep people coming back. A premium sunbed gives regulars something to upgrade to and helps you stay ahead of the competition.
Diversify with care
Many salons add spray tanning, lotion sales, or collagen and light therapy beds to attract a wider range of customers. Add them once the tanning services are running well, not all at once.
Adding tanning to an existing business
A beauty salon, gym or hair salon can enter the market with one or two sunbeds in an unused room. See our guide to adding sunbeds to a beauty salon or gym.
Avoid these
Common mistakes when opening a new tanning salon
The same problems come up again and again with new salon owners. All of them are cheaper to avoid than to fix.
Signing for a unit before checking power
No 3-phase supply, or no route for extraction, can add thousands or rule a unit out completely.
Buying on price alone
Old, tired sunbeds cost less on day one and more every month in repairs, downtime and customers who go elsewhere.
Every bed the same
Without a premium option there is nothing for customers to upgrade to. Forever Sun added one K9S for exactly that reason.
No plan for growth
Leave room, power and budget for the next bed. Equinox upgraded twice in its first nine months.
FAQ
Starting a tanning salon: common questions
How much money do I need to start a tanning salon in the UK?
It depends on the premises and how many sunbeds you open with. Commercial lay down sunbeds start from £10,500 + VAT and stand ups from £5,000 + VAT, with premium models from £18,500 and £9,000 + VAT. Finance from £220 + VAT per month, subject to status, reduces the amount you need upfront. Add fit-out, electrics, ventilation, software, stock, insurance and marketing on top.
Do you need a licence to open a sunbed shop in the UK?
It depends where you are. Some local authorities require sunbed premises to be licensed or registered and others do not, and the rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Everywhere in the UK it is illegal to let under-18s use a sunbed. Check with your local council before you sign for a unit.
Are tanning salons profitable in the UK?
They can be. Several sunbeds can serve customers at the same time, sessions are short, and staffing needs are modest compared with treatment-led beauty businesses. Profit depends on location, the quality and reliability of your equipment, your prices and your local marketing. Our case studies show what real new salons achieved.
How many sunbeds do I need to open a salon?
Most new salons we work with open with three to six. Three well-chosen premium sunbeds can outperform six poor ones, and it is easy to add capacity later if you plan the space and electrics for it. Empire opened with three and is building to six; Deluxe opened with five and added a sixth after seven months.
Should I buy new or reconditioned sunbeds for a new salon?
Both have a place. New sunbeds give you the latest technology and the strongest customer appeal. Professionally reconditioned sunbeds let you put a premium brand on the floor for less. Many new salon owners mix the two and upgrade as the business develops.
Do you help with more than the sunbeds?
Yes. We advise on room layout, electrical and ventilation requirements before installation, then handle delivery, installation, commissioning and staff training. At Paradise Tanning & Beauty we were involved from an empty shell to opening day.
Client feedback
What salon owners say
Real feedback from people who’ve bought beds, had installs and trained with Julita’s team.
“I had a pleasure to deal with j solution. Best in the business. Have few sunbeds bought and assembled by the company. Never had any issues with the equipment. They would also advise what’s new on the market. Thank you kindly”
“I’ve had a great experience working with J Solutions. They are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to sunbeds, lotions, and overall salon setup. From installation to training days, everything was handled professionally and efficiently. The team took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure I felt confident using the equipment and products. Highly recommend J Solutions to anyone looking for reliable support, quality products, and expert guidance within the tanning industry.”
“The salon looks absolutely stunning – it’s on a completely different level. Everything feels premium and high quality, especially the tanning beds. From a staff and client perspective, the investment was 100% worth it. I also received extremely detailed and professional training on tanning, skin types and safety. The support doesn’t stop after delivery. Highly recommended.”
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