Start a mobile spray tanning business

Travel to clients' homes to give spray tans for holidays, weddings and nights out.

A client relaxing in a sunbed in a clean, well-lit tanning salon.
Startup cost£500 to £2.5k
Monthly revenue£600 to £3k
Time needed6+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • £500-2.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about

Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.

What it is

A mobile spray tan service. You bring a portable tent and spray machine to the client's home, apply a custom tan and leave them ready for their event.

Your first three steps

  1. Book a spray tanning course and practise on friends and family
  2. Buy a spray machine, tent, solutions and hygiene supplies, and get insured
  3. Set up a booking page and social media, and offer discounted first tans for reviews
Who pays

Brides and bridal parties, holidaymakers, people going to proms or parties, and regulars who like a tan all year.

How it makes money

Fixed price per tan, with extras for group bookings, travel, express shades and aftercare products. Regulars often rebook every few weeks.

Skills that help
  • Steady hand and an eye for natural-looking colour
  • Friendly, professional manner with clients
  • Booking and route planning
Watch out for
  • Insurance that covers beauty treatments, including public liability
  • Patch tests and allergy checks for clients, and keeping consent records
  • Check whether your local council has any registration rules for mobile beauty services
  • Working in clients' homes: tell someone your schedule and protect floors and furnishings

Deep research report · UK

Everything you need to start: mobile spray tanning

Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a mobile spray tanning business?

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on your tent, spray machine, solutions and insurance. This is an estimate, so check your own figures.

How much can a mobile spray tanner earn?

Monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on how many clients you book and your prices. Treat it as an estimate, starting from about 6 hours a week.

What insurance and rules apply to mobile spray tanning?

Check that your insurance covers beauty treatments, including public liability, and whether your council has registration rules for mobile beauty services. Also check patch tests, allergy checks and consent records, and how to stay safe working in clients' homes.

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Photo: Tho-Ge on Pixabay

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