Location and visibility
Footfall, parking and how easy you are to find, in the street and on Google.
Guide for salon owners · September 2026
Are tanning salons profitable? What actually drives the numbers
Nobody can honestly promise you a figure. What we can show you is how the model works and what real customers did.
The short answer
A tanning salon can be a profitable business because several machines earn at the same time, sessions are short and staffing is light. Whether yours is depends on location, equipment quality, reliability, pricing and local marketing. We do not quote earnings, but our case studies show what happened to real salons.
Why the model works
A beauty therapist can treat one client at a time. A tanning salon with five sunbeds can serve five customers at once with one member of staff on reception. Sessions last minutes, not hours, there is little consumable cost per session, and customers return regularly. That is why the owner of Empire, a beauty salon, chose tanning for his unused floor space instead of more treatment rooms.
The six things that decide profit
Every salon we work with is different, but the same factors come up every time.
Equipment quality
Customers notice the difference, travel for it and pay more for it.
Reliability
A sunbed that is down earns nothing. See Platinum Tanning.
Price structure
A premium bed creates a second price point. See Forever Sun.
Cleanliness and service
Paradise built its reputation on it.
Running costs
Electricity and lamps. See sunbed running costs.
What real salons achieved
Deluxe Tanning Studio was a brand new venture. It opened with five megaSun K Series sunbeds, was welcoming around 100-150 customers per day within six months, added a K11 at seven months and secured a second location after nine.
megaTan Lounge has grown to three salons, and Forever Sun is repeating its premium-bed approach at a second site. Growth to additional locations is the clearest sign a salon is working.
FAQ
Profitability: common questions
Is a sunbed business profitable?
It can be. The model has low staffing needs and several machines earning at once. Results depend on location, equipment, reliability, pricing and marketing, and no supplier can honestly guarantee a figure.
How long does it take a new tanning salon to get busy?
It varies. Deluxe Tanning Studio was seeing around 100-150 customers a day within six months of opening. Local marketing and a strong Google Business Profile make a large difference in the first few months.
Do premium sunbeds make more money?
A premium sunbed can command a higher session price without a proportionate increase in operating costs, so it can improve revenue per session. It also gives customers a reason to choose you over a salon with older equipment.
What is the biggest threat to a salon's profit?
Downtime. When a sunbed is not operating it is not generating revenue, and repeated faults create queues and put pressure on the other beds.
Keep reading
More guides for salon owners
Guide
Sunbed salon regulations in the UK: licences, age limits and what is changing
What the law requires of a tanning salon in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, in plain English.
Guide
How much does it cost to open a tanning salon in the UK?
The equipment prices are fixed and published. Everything else depends on your unit. Here is how to build the budget.
Guide
How to write a tanning salon business plan
A plan is what a finance provider, a landlord and your future self will all want to see. Here is what goes in it.
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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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