Tanning studio with spray booth

Rent a small unit or salon room and offer booked spray tans, and sunbeds if you choose.

A client relaxing in a sunbed in a clean, well-lit tanning salon.
Startup cost£8k to £40k
Monthly revenue£2.5k to £12k
Time needed30+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • £8k-40k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
  • Licence or permit needed

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

What it is

A small studio with a private spray tan booth or room, and optionally a sunbed. Clients book individual appointments and you run the studio yourself or with a part-time helper.

Your first three steps

  1. Look at local rents and competitor prices, and shortlist a small unit or a room in an existing salon
  2. Train in spray tanning and, if offering sunbeds, check what operator training your council expects
  3. Price your equipment, fit-out and insurance, then open with an online booking system and launch offers
Who pays

Local clients wanting regular tans, plus event-driven customers such as brides, holidaymakers and party-goers.

How it makes money

Price per spray tan or sunbed session, plus course bundles, memberships, and tanning products and aftercare sold on site.

Skills that help
  • Spray tanning technique and colour matching
  • Customer service and keeping a clean, welcoming space
  • Basic bookkeeping and marketing
Watch out for
  • Sunbed rules: check the law in your nation, including age limits, staff supervision and any council registration
  • Public liability and treatment insurance, plus employer's liability if you hire
  • Lease terms, business rates and planning use for the premises
  • Slow quiet months outside holiday and event seasons, so keep a cash buffer
  • Ventilation, hygiene and safe handling of tanning solutions

🔒 Full research report for UK

Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.

Coming soon

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to open a tanning studio in the UK?

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on the premises, booth, equipment and fit-out. This is an estimate, so check lease terms and your own costs.

How much can a tanning studio earn?

Monthly revenue is typically around £2,500 to £12,000, depending on your bookings and prices. Quiet months outside holiday and event seasons are possible, so a cash buffer is worth keeping. Treat this as an estimate.

What rules should I check before opening a tanning studio?

Check sunbed rules in your nation, including age limits, staff supervision and any council registration. Also check public liability and treatment insurance, employer's liability if you hire, lease terms, business rates, planning use, and ventilation and hygiene.

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