Buying a Commercial Tanning Bed

Artificial tanning has become very popular. Equally popular are the commercial tanning salons wherein you can walk in and walk out 20 minutes later with an absolutely fantastic tan, which looks completely natural. This article will provide information about a couple of things that you will need to open up a commercial salon along with buying tips for tanning beds. It is a low maintenance business with very high returns. The market is huge and a matter of fact the tanning salon industry is worth more than $9 Million dollars in the United States alone.

The basic difference between a commercial tanning bed and a residential tanning bed are power, durability and the price. If you are running a tanning salon then you will require beds that provide tans that are deeper and longer lasting to keep the customers coming back. You will require a bed that has between 24 to 30 lamps. More lamps provide deeper tans in a smaller period of time, which is ideal for a busy salon. These beds are also equipped with facial tanners, which are placed at precise angles to give a face a natural contoured bronze effect.

One important thing that every person who wants to open up a tanning salon usually tends to overlook is the fact that you need a license to operate a tanning salon. Every state has its own set of policy but the few common documents that you will require are your trade and business names, tax payer identification number and the business address of your tanning salon. The fees also vary across the states.

You can also arrange training for your staff and yourself from the National Tanning Training Institute (NTTI) to learn how to safely operate the tanning beds. They offer a basic certification course, which includes information about the science behind sunless tanning, operating and running a tanning salon and knowledge about various tanning products. However, some states like Oregon, North and South Carolina, New Hampshire and Louisiana do not recognize certifications from NTTI and you will have to find out an alternative from the local city hall.

Buying Tips for Commercial Tanning Beds

• Tanning beds are an expensive affair. It is always advisable to check out all the varieties in the stores and then compare the prices over the Internet so that you get the best possible deal.
• Make a list of features that you require before you actually start looking for a tanning bed. This will help you narrow your list and make the entire process of buying the bed far simpler.
• The accessories that are used in a tanning bed like the lamps and bulbs are quite expensive. Ensure that they come with some warranty. Also, buying a few spare bulbs and lamps may be a good idea as down the years, your tanning bed model may not be manufactured anymore and finding the right size of the bulbs and lamps may turn out to be one impossible task.
• Tanning beds that use UVB rays are outdated now. Ensure that the bed that you are purchasing use UVA rays which is also far safer than those using UVB rays.
• If you are purchasing a used tanning bed, then ask the owner to walk you through the entire maintenance procedure.
• Some manufacturers offer discounts during certain periods of the year. Wait for these periods and buy directly from them. However, if you are buying from a distributor who is refusing to give you a discount, you can ask them to provide discounts on other accessories like the applicators, bed pillows and the protective eye gear.
• These days some manufactures are welding the pieces of the tanning bed together instead of bolting them. The beds of this kind are definitely more durable.
• Buying high pressure bulbs is preferable when compared to regular long tube lamps as they tend to tan faster and darker.
• Although the steel body tanning beds are more expensive than those with plastic body, steel body tanning beds come with a life time warranty and are far more sturdy and require less maintenance.

These were just some of the tips. If you are really interested in opening up a salon and do not want to risk all your savings, then a better approach would be to actually work in a commercial salon for sometime to pick up live tips. You will get a fair idea as to what you must implement and more importantly, you will know what not to do.