Tax and VAT position
Corporation or income tax, and how VAT works for your business. Ask your accountant.
Free calculator for salon owners
Sunbed payback and break-even calculator
Put in the price of a bed, what you charge and how many sessions it will do. The calculator shows monthly takings, how long a purchase takes to pay back and how many sessions a week cover the costs. Every figure comes from you.
The short answer
Payback is the cost of the bed divided by what it leaves you each month after its running costs. Break-even is the number of sessions a week at which takings equal those costs. This page does both sums with your own numbers and assumes no income of its own.
- Where the figures come from
- Only what you type in
- Stored or sent anywhere
- No. The sums run in your browser
- Published finance figure
- From £220 + VAT per month, subject to status
- Status of the results
- Illustrative only, not a forecast or quote
What your figures imply
Enter a session price and sessions per week to see monthly takings. Add the bed price for payback.
- Takings per month, excluding VAT
- -
- Running costs per month
- -
- Left each month before finance, tax and your other costs
- -
- Payback if you buy outright
- -
- Left each month after the finance payment
- -
- Break-even sessions per week, running costs only
- -
- Break-even sessions per week, with finance payment
- -
Illustrative only. These results use just the figures you entered. They are not a forecast, a quote or a promise of income, and they leave out tax, wages, rent and your other costs.
How the sums work
The calculator uses plain arithmetic and two fixed numbers: 52 weeks divided by 12 months (about 4.33 weeks a month), and the UK standard VAT rate of 20%, applied only if you tick the box.
| Result | Formula |
|---|---|
| Takings per month | Session price × sessions per week × 52 ÷ 12. If the price includes VAT, the price is divided by 1.2 first. |
| Running costs per month | Lamps and servicing + electricity + anything else. |
| Left each month | Takings per month − running costs per month. |
| Payback if you buy | Price of the bed ÷ left each month. Shown only when the monthly figure is above zero. |
| Left after finance | Left each month − monthly finance payment. |
| Break-even sessions per week | Costs per month × 12 ÷ 52 ÷ session price (excluding VAT). Costs are running costs, then running costs plus the finance payment. |
What the calculator leaves out
Wages and rent
Staff, premises, business rates and insurance. They are shared across the whole salon, not one bed.
Interest on a purchase
If you borrow to buy outright, the cost of that borrowing is not in the payback figure.
Quiet and busy weeks
The calculator uses one weekly figure. Real weeks vary, so try a lower number as well.
For the wider costs of running a salon read sunbed running costs, are tanning salons profitable and the cost to open a tanning salon in the UK. To check the supply and room for a bed before you buy, use the salon planner.
FAQ
Sunbed payback calculator: common questions
Does this calculator tell me how much a sunbed will earn?
No. It adds up the figures you type in and shows what they imply. It has no income data of its own, so it cannot forecast takings. Use your own price list and a realistic session count for your premises.
Where do I get the price of the bed and the finance payment?
From a written quotation. Ask each supplier for the equipment price excluding VAT and, if you are financing, the monthly payment for the same equipment. The commercial sunbed quote checklist helps you compare quotes on the same basis.
What finance figure does J Solutions publish?
Finance from £220 + VAT per month, subject to status, equipment value and finance approval. Your own payment depends on the equipment and your application, so enter the figure from your quote. See lease and finance.
Why does it use 52 divided by 12 weeks a month?
A year has 52 weeks and 12 months, so an average month has about 4.33 weeks. The calculator multiplies your weekly sessions by that figure to get a monthly number. If your salon closes for part of the year, lower your weekly sessions to match.
What does the calculator leave out?
Tax, staff wages, rent, business rates, insurance, marketing, card fees, finance interest on a purchase and anything else you do not enter. Treat the result as a first check on one bed, not a business plan. For the wider picture see sunbed running costs and how to write a tanning salon business plan.
Is my information sent or stored?
No. The sums run in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to J Solutions or saved, and the page does not use cookies for the calculator.
Talk it through
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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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