I want to start a Salon!

[CliqueRock]

Hey! I am 20 years old and have been tanning for a few months now AND LOVE IT!!! I love the salon that I go to and all, but I would love to open my own. My fiance and I have ben looking for a while for a buisness to open. The tanning salon that I go to is about 7 minutes (or more in traffic) from my house and we found a great spot to open (its 1700 a month tho...is that too much?) We're looking for a place thats super friendly and inexpensive. Any advice? Do we need to get certified? How do we go about finding good beds? What about electricty? How much is utilities typically? ANY THING THAT WILL HELP!!!

[Greta]

I'm not a pro, but was planning on opening a salon one day. There are a few links that can help you
www.tantalk.com
www.tantoday.com
www.tantomorrow.com
and a couple more I can't remember.....
also IF you want to franchise try
www.executivetans.com

[Tan Larue]

How big is the space that is $1700?

[Jungle Kitty]

also, check out http://www.tanningtraining.com/ and http://www.smarttan.com/beta/index.php for info on training. You should learn all you can prior to opening. You wouldn't want to be lacking any information when having to answer questions from customers.

[CliqueRock]

The space was a hair salong, and there are two rooms that look like they may have been used for tnanning already. I'm not sure about the square footage, but it seems to me like i could fit a good 4 beds in there, maybe 5?

[Tan Larue]

I think you need to do a lot of thinking. You should not enter the tanning industry with 4 ETS beds and knowing nothing just because "it seems fun". That happens far too often and this is what gives the professional salons out there a bad name.

Think LONG and HARD about this and do it right. Do you honestly think 4 beds i what will be successful in this industry? We are slow over haf the year you know.

[Anya1976]

yea starting a salon cus "it seems fun" is the wrong reason to start a business

[Mitzi]

Remember when you see salons busy busy,,,, the busy busy only last about 3-4 months a year, but the bills continue on...

[PanAnna]

That's why when I win the lottery I am going to open a tanning salon

Seriously, if money were no object and I didn't have bills to worry about already, I'd be doing this in a New York second to try to get some education into my local area.

[CliqueRock]

Not to seem rude (or not as rude as tan larue). I never said I was opening it because it "seems fun" and I never said I'd HAVE four beds....thats just about what the place would hold. My fiance and I are looking to own a buisness. I am aware of bills and such. My fiance has gone to school for buisness management. We're looking for advice about the tanning industry, not how to run a buisness.

[Jungle Kitty]

I don't think he was trying to be rude. He does have a very good point though. In slow season, it can be hard to make enough to cover your bills. Tanning is fairly tough. If you have no competition and a good work ethic, you can do it. Tan Larue was just being honest - it isn't a cakewalk and it takes a lot of work and enough money on hand to make it through slow season. A business degree doesn't guarantee success.
We are just trying to paint a realistic picture...

[bronzebabe]

As jungle kitty mentioned "a business degree does not guarantee success" is so so true!
I have a degree in business and marketing fields and what I have learned thorughout my schooling has taught me a lot about the business world but that business world is SO different when you are actually living and breathing it!
Tan Larue was not being rude...just straight up...there are so many people that get into business for all the wrong reasons and us as business owners are just saying be careful...research, research , research!! The tanning industry has brought many people happiness and $$$..although it has taken just as many and more straight to the cleaners!!
So just be careful...My advice go around try out beds at different salons..you cannot buy a bed in this industry without trying them ...also be sure to try all the lotions you can, don't sell a lotion that you do not believe in and be sure to check around your area to see what others are carrying..it is best to carry lotions that are not already widely available...electricity is going to depend on how many beds you have, how often they are running, like most people already stated this is a very seasonal business so your electric bill is not going to be consistent..it is best to become smart tan certified in this industry it gives you and your salon credentials!
If you have any other questions be sure to post them..someone hopefully will be able to help you out!
Best of luck..
Christina