How to Open a Spray Tan Salon
Spray tanning is a popular alternative to traditional tanning in the sun or in a tanning bed. Although spray tanning is often offered by tanning salons, you can open a salon dedicated just to spray tanning. The current trend toward a healthy lifestyle lends itself to to the spray tan, as there is no cancer-causing ultraviolet damage to the skin, so this business can be quite profitable.
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Things You'll Need
- Spray tan equipment
- Computer system
- Furnishings for the lobby and tanning rooms
- Retail offerings
Instructions
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Decide if you would like to open a salon that does airbrush tanning, tanning in spray booths or both. Airbrush tanning requires personnel who are trained in the proper way to use the equipment and adjust the tan to the client's needs. Spray booths are mechanized and do not require as much training.
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Create a budget. Determine how much it will cost to get the spray tan salon started as well as how much it will cost to run it. The largest start-up costs will include your computer system, equipment you need and office furnishings.
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3
Scout a location for your spray tan salon. Many customers choose the salon that is closest to them, so the key is finding a location that fits your needs while ensuring that the surrounding population is comprised of people who will use your services. A small location might be fine for owners who wish to do airbrush tanning only; more room is required for those who will install spray tan booths.
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4
Call your city or county building department and inquire about any special permits you may need to run your new spray tan salon. If you need to create smaller rooms within your salon, you'll probably need a permit before you can start construction.
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Order your tanning products and start stocking inventory you want to sell, such as after-care lotion. Do any construction you need, then set up your equipment and computer system. Get your shop furnished with a front desk, chairs, trash bins, mirrors, towels and signage.
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Put together tanning packages and incentives, like giving away a bottle of lotion for every five spray tans a customer purchases. You should have a menu with prices ready for customers when you start marketing. Hire employees and train them, if necessary.
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Market your new spray tan salon when you're almost ready to open. Sending out fliers, hold a preview day or grand opening celebration, invite a reporter to try out your services and write a review, direct mail to certain ZIP codes and create a web page.
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Tips & Warnings
Be prepared to answer questions customers might have about the safety of spray tanning.
