Studio Vs. Mobile Tanning Business

When first starting your spray tanning business, there’s a few ways that you can go about choosing a business model that works for you. Many spray tan artists decide to start their spray tan biz journey off as a mobile artist. Some of those artists will grow into getting their own salon, but there are also artists that jump into getting their own space from the very beginning. So, how do you know which choice is right for you and your unique circumstances? There are benefits and “downfalls” of deciding to go either the mobile or the studio route. Being able to critically look at your starting point is a great way to decide which option will best fit your situation in order to set you up for success. Let’s discuss both of these choices in greater detail so you can get a better idea of how to go about starting your sunless business adventure!

Mobile Tanning

Starting a sunless business as a mobile spray tan artist is a popular choice for many artists because of the flexibility and benefits that this business model offers new business owners. Typically, when starting a business you can expect there to be a large sum of money that will need to be invested toward start up costs. Starting a business is not an inexpensive process! However,  one of the major benefits to having a mobile tanning business is that it offers a cost effective way to get your business up and running with room to grow. This model allows for there to be minimal overhead that would typically be put toward a brick and mortar location. As you can imagine, this saves a ton of money that would need to be invested up front and it saves money every month on expenses that would go toward rent and utilities. Not to mention, the equipment costs for mobile spray tanning are fairly low. The two main items to invest in when starting this type of business model is your certification/training and your equipment/supplies. Therefore, the number one benefit to having a mobile tanning business is that you can essentially keep your initial investment as low as $2,000. On top of that, with mobile tanning being presented as a luxury service that offers incredible convenience to the client, it can be priced as a luxury service too! Mobile tanners are able to price their services at a higher price point because of the convenient nature of the job. This means that you can expect your profit margins to be much higher overall.

Studio Tanning 

As we mentioned previously, many artists will start out their business journey as a mobile tanner and then transition into getting their own space when their clientele starts to ramp up. However, some artists have no interest in becoming a mobile artist at all! There’s more wear and tear put on your vehicle, there’s more time to be accounted for between appointments and you have to carry your equipment to every appointment without always knowing what type of space you’ll be walking into. 

Having your own brick and mortar space gives you the opportunity to see more clients back to back, and therefore, potentially book more clients within a day. Having your own space also allows you to curate that space exactly how you want. You can bring your own flair and style into the client experience to create a lasting impression on each and every person that comes to see you. However, when renting or leasing a space of your own, there are more expenses to keep in mind. You’ll have higher monthly expenses for the building itself, even if you’re just renting a room inside someone else’s establishment. Having a storefront is a dream of many spray tan artists and business owners, but there’s construction, remodeling and maintenance costs to keep in mind that can affect your bottom line.

Overall, both business models are a great choice and can create an extremely profitable and flourishing business with the right amount of time, energy and love. This decision will really come down to your personal aspirations and finances. Whichever direction you choose when building your sunless dreams, it’s crucial to start out on the right foot with quality education!

At Spray Tan Class we are proud to be the only internationally accredited spray tan business training company. We’ve helped thousands of women gain the proper knowledge and guidance to grow a 5-6 figure sunless business. If you’re ready to dive into making your dreams a reality, head to the Courses tab on the Spray Tan Class website to learn more about which certification option is best for you!

Xoxo,

Kelly