Solarium business plan: necessary equipment, cost calculation, SES requirements. Is it profitable to open a solarium: expert opinion

One of the most popular areas of business today is the beauty industry. In the era of gloss, everyone wants to be attractive and well-groomed. You can improve your appearance very quickly with artificial tanning. Many people happily take advantage of this opportunity.

Nowadays, a tanning studio is a place where not only people with a good income can afford to come, but also schoolgirls, housewives, in general, everyone who wants to look beautiful and young. How to open a solarium? Will such an investment pay off? What nuances should be taken into account when drawing up a business plan for a solarium? This will be discussed in the article.

Prospects factors

In developed countries, tanning is quite common. Solariums are installed everywhere: in beauty salons, hotels, health centers, airports and train stations. Even in sunny resorts, where it is summer all year round, many hotels are equipped with tanning rooms. Many people wonder whether it is profitable to open a solarium in our latitudes. The answer will be positive. And that's why.

The climate in Russia is characterized by a small proportion of sunny days per year, and the lack of ultraviolet radiation leads to adverse consequences for the body, both physical and psychological.
Nowadays everyone is very concerned about their own image, and a tan, as is customary, is an indicator of a person’s status.
A considerable number of people believe that sunbathing in a solarium is less dangerous than under the natural sun.
If you are planning to start such a business in a small town where there are not enough offers of this kind on the market, you should not even think about whether it is profitable to open a solarium. Without a doubt, the service will become highly in demand.

In addition, such a business is very variable in scale. You can buy just one solarium and open a small salon, or you can create a whole network of hardware tanning studios and include additional services in the range, such as, for example, a herbal bar, massage, pedicure and manicure, SPA treatments. Of course, a business of such scale will require huge investments. In this article we will present a business plan for a solarium, which implies minimal initial costs.

Prospects for solariums as a business

The growth prospects for solariums as a business are dictated by certain reasons:

The solarium gives you the opportunity to sunbathe at any time of the year.
Visit the solarium before traveling to the south to prepare the skin for exposure to sunlight. And after vacation they come to the solarium to maintain their golden skin color.
When visiting a solarium, vitamin D is produced, which prevents certain diseases and strengthens the immune system.
Ultraviolet rays promote the production of endorphin, which makes a person feel happy. Therefore, artificial tanning helps overcome depression.
A tan in a solarium is healthier than a natural tan and goes on smoother.
It is possible to tan evenly without a swimsuit, without embarrassing anyone.
Systematic visits to the solarium help in the fight against skin diseases.

Before starting a business, you need to draw up a business plan. With a small initial capital, you can buy a couple of used solariums and rent a room in a residential area. For a budget option, joint rent is also suitable when a solarium is installed in a sports club or beauty studio.

If the funds allow you to open a premium class salon, then in the future you should count on wealthy visitors. A solarium of this level requires a thoughtful design, expensive high-quality equipment and additional services.

Business registration

The activities of tanning studios do not require licensing today. You can register a business as a legal entity or individual entrepreneur. The second option is easier and more profitable. For a solarium, OKVED code 93.04 “Physical and recreational activities” is suitable, and if you plan to sell cosmetic products necessary for tanning, also 52.33 “Retail trade in cosmetics and perfumery products.” However, registering an individual entrepreneur is not all that is needed to open a solarium.

Choosing a tax system

In relation to tanning studios, it is optimal to use UTII or PSN. Officially, solarium services are classified as household cosmetic and hairdressing services; they are assigned the code OKUN 019339, and accordingly, they are subject to UTII.

A solarium business plan includes calculating the expected income from activities for the year. If the expected profit exceeds 900 thousand rubles, it would be reasonable to think about purchasing a patent, the cost of which is 54 thousand rubles per year. In conditions of such profits, it is more profitable to use the patent taxation system than UTII.

Obtaining Permits

As already mentioned, tanning is a cosmetic and hairdressing service, therefore, before opening a solarium to visitors, you need to obtain permits similar to those required for the operation of beauty salons. Workers must have medical records. The premises and equipment installed in it must comply with fire safety requirements and sanitary and epidemiological standards. Basic requirements of SES:

the presence of auxiliary premises (bathroom, dressing room, pantry);
availability of space for storing waste and equipment;
equipping the premises with supply and exhaust ventilation with mechanical drive;
equipping the premises with a centralized water supply and sewerage system.

Premises requirements

The minimum dimensions of a room if one solarium is installed in it are:

width – 1.5 m;
length – 2 m;
ceiling height – from 2.6 m.

If you are planning to install two solariums, then keep in mind that the total area of the room in this case must be at least 40 square meters. The humidity in the studio should not be higher than 80 percent, so the proximity of ponds and swimming pools should be avoided. Pay close attention to how the supply and exhaust ventilation is arranged - you should ensure the unhindered removal of hot air and the entry of fresh air.

The electrical wiring must also be in ideal condition; the required voltage is 380 V. A five-core wire must be installed to the place where the solarium will be located. The floor in the room must be level and stable. Renovate the studio premises with high quality, think through the design in detail. Clients should receive positive emotions and feel comfortable during their visit.

Choosing a place for a solarium

It is necessary to give preference to premises in the city center (they have only one drawback - high rent), in recently occupied buildings (the advantage is that there is no competition), on populated outskirts, which have an average distance from the center. Practice shows that opening a tanning studio in remote areas of the city is unprofitable, because it will be almost impossible to promote a solarium.

The location should be such that the passenger capacity of the salon per day is at least ten to fifteen people. The payback of a solarium directly depends on the number of visitors, so the choice of location should be taken with the utmost seriousness. Pay attention also to the surrounding infrastructure. If there are shopping centers, cafes, higher education institutions, and gyms in the neighborhood, then feel free to rent the premises.

You may consider placing a solarium in the premises of an already operating beauty salon or fitness club. In this case, you will be able to save on rent. In large provincial cities it will be about 10 thousand rubles monthly. Renting a separate room will cost approximately 30 thousand rubles per month.

State Fire Inspectorate requirements for solariums

The requirements for solariums of this service will be the same as for beauty salons. When opening an enterprise, make sure that in your region or city there are no regulations regarding fire safety developed for your structure. For example, for Moscow there are special rules for the development and arrangement of public utility enterprises (MGSN 1.01).

Regulatory framework

PPB 01-03 “Fire Rules” security of the Russian Federation.
SNiP 31-06-2009/SP 118.13330.2012 (Public buildings...).
NPB 104-03 (Warning systems...).
GOST R 12.1.004-91 (Fire safety...)
SNiP 41-01-2003 (heating/ventilation).
SP 256.1325800.2016 (Installation of electrical installations).
GOST 28130-89 (Fire extinguishers...).
SNiP 21-01-97* / SP112.13330.2011 (fire safety).

Premises requirements

When placing a solarium on the territory of a residential/public building, its fire danger should not increase. Accommodation is permitted if there is at least one emergency exit (for an establishment of up to 300 square meters / 15 employees).

The walls of the emergency exit must be covered with low-flammable materials. Corridors cannot be used for storage. The passages to the emergency exit must be completely free, the doors should open outward (as the evacuation progresses).

Smoking areas must be designated and equipped. There should be a warning sign near such a place.

equipment requirements

Prohibited:

connect faulty devices;
leave any electrical appliances connected to the network after the end of the working day;
use homemade or self-repaired power receivers;
wrap illuminators and UV lamps in flammable materials (paper/fabric);
place/store flammable materials near electrical panels and devices.

It is also forbidden to clean solarium premises using gasoline/kerosene. It is not allowed to wash work clothes using these substances.

Fire safety regime in the solarium

Such a regime should be in any institution serving the population.

It includes:

development of industrial safety instructions;
drawing up a schedule of safety briefings;
appointment of a person responsible for fire safety with the display of the sign “Responsible for fire safety” and the number to call the brigade to extinguish the fire;
designated smoking areas;
development of an algorithm for de-energizing electrical appliances and rules for checking the premises at the end of the working day;
determining the rules for connecting electrical equipment at the beginning of the shift.

Any solarium should keep a log:

accounting of fire extinguishing means;
briefing;
testing knowledge on industrial safety;
inspections by a fire inspector.

An evacuation plan must be prepared in color. It should be located on the wall at eye level of the visitor in a place accessible for viewing.

Requirements for ventilation and sewerage

It is prohibited by fire safety rules to drain any flammable liquids into the drain hole of the central sewer system.

Exhaust openings of ventilation ducts must be fenced with a fine metal mesh. But in no case should they be blocked by objects and equipment that interfere with air movement.

It is not allowed to leave the doors of ventilation chambers open or connect heating units running on natural gas to the air ducts.

Personnel requirements

Solarium workers should know:

safety instructions specific to their workplace;
number and location of emergency exits;
location of primary fire extinguishing equipment;
rules for using fire extinguishers;
their actions during a fire.

All employees are required to strictly follow the rules of safety in the solarium, undergo training, be able to assist in the evacuation of solarium clients and begin (if possible) extinguishing the fire.

Necessary equipment

Tanning machines on the modern market are presented in a huge range: from ordinary models to powerful cabins equipped with all sorts of additional options (aromatherapy, music and voice accompaniment, sea breeze effect, massage function, and so on). Nowadays, solarium chairs are extremely in demand, which provide tanning only visible areas of the body: face, décolleté, arms.

To open an economy class tanning studio, you will need to purchase two devices: vertical and horizontal. This way you can meet the needs of different customers. It is not recommended to purchase used units - their maintenance will cost an order of magnitude more.

Approximately two new devices will cost you at least 450 thousand rubles. Lamps for solariums must be selected with electronic ballasts and high pressure, with a service life of more than a thousand hours. Per year, servicing lamps per cabin will cost from 30 to 60 thousand rubles.

In addition to the basic equipment, you will also have to buy furniture. A rack or cabinet for cosmetics, chairs, armchairs or a sofa for waiting, a reception desk, interior items - all this, by minimum standards, will cost about 60 thousand rubles. You will also need to buy consumables: hats, glasses, stikinis, cotton pads, paper towels, and so on.

If you plan to sell cosmetic tanning products (lotions, creams, etc.), think about which suppliers to choose. On average, about 40 thousand rubles will be spent monthly on consumables and cosmetics. Remember that you should purchase different products, as they say, to suit every taste and budget. It will be simply wonderful if a client in your studio can choose not only cosmetics for their skin type and required tanning intensity, but also special body care products after the procedure.

Business benefits

This line of business has its significant advantages over opening the same nail salons and hairdressers; the main thing is to use them correctly in order to attract customers and make them permanent. Having put all the advantages of business into practice, you can not be afraid of competitors and receive good income from business.

To open a solarium, rely on the following advantages:

Anyone can open a business, even those who know nothing about tanning or the beauty industry.
Such a business generates income not only from the provision of tanning services, but also from the sale of vitamin cocktails, special cosmetics, disposable slippers, hats, and much more.
The beauty industry attracts customers with various promotions. Note that it is the solarium studio that allows you to come up with promotions without compromising your income.
Opening a solarium is not difficult at all; you do not need to obtain special licenses to operate.
A studio can be opened both in the city center and in residential areas. Both locations are considered advantageous locations and quickly recoup the investment. Only the work schedule changes: in the center people more often visit the solarium during lunch breaks and after work, and in residential areas - on weekends and in the evening. This should be taken into account when creating a salon work schedule.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on equipment for a solarium; the simplest furniture and cosmetic repairs will suffice.
For such a business, you do not need to rent a huge room - an area of 30-35 square meters will be enough if, at the beginning, you limit yourself to one solarium.

Recruitment

The business plan for an economy class solarium implies a minimum number of staff, namely two administrators working in shifts, an accountant and a cleaner. If you want to save on payroll, hire a student administrator position. They are ready to work even for little money.

At the same time, employees working with clients must be polite and friendly, look good and have competent knowledge in the field of tanning. Remember: well-chosen staff is an effective way to attract visitors, as well as a business card and a kind of passive advertising. Organize free (or for a nominal fee) tanning sessions for employees. Business will only benefit from this. Would a client refuse to visit a solarium if he was greeted at the studio by a friendly administrator with perfectly tanned skin?

Staff

The salon needs to hire 2 operators (administrators) working in shifts and a cleaner.

Employees must have health records and undergo regular medical examinations, which include:

fluorography once a year;
examination by a dermatovenerologist once every six months;
administration of anti-diphtheria serum every 10 years.

Once every 2 years, employees take an exam on knowledge of the hygiene program.

The legislation does not clearly define whether a solarium is a place of provision of medical services, therefore a license is not yet a mandatory requirement for the operation of a salon. However, it is advisable to have a certified doctor on staff who can explain that sunbathing without covering moles and tattoos with “stickini” stickers is extremely dangerous; that antidepressants, tetracycline antibiotics, hormonal drugs, diuretics can cause pigmentation on the face after solarium. These and many other nuances are useful for studio visitors to know.

Organization of an advertising campaign

Advertising a solarium can be organized using several techniques, these are:

use of information signs;
placing advertisements in local media;
posting and distributing leaflets and business cards;
application of the principle of network marketing.

The costs of such events can amount to up to 150 thousand rubles, and sometimes more. But the game is worth the trouble, because catchy and intense advertising of a solarium is the key to success. Don't forget about the sign at the entrance to the studio. A bright backlit banner will attract the attention of passers-by, and signs when approaching the solarium will help customers find their way faster. Creation and installation of signs and indicators will cost about 50 thousand rubles.

Solarium advertisement

You can attract visitors to the tanning studio:

Having made a catchy sign, outdoor billboards
By creating a business card website and pages on social networks and promoting them
Selling subscriptions for regular visits
Distributing leaflets and flyers with discounts on the streets, in fitness centers, shopping centers and office complexes
By creating a loyalty program for regular customers
Offering promotions before the holidays and swimming season

Examples of solarium advertising:

Example of a solarium advertisement

Example of an advertising poster for a solarium

Example of a flyer for a solarium

How to open a solarium? Business plan. Cost Analysis

So, the costs of opening a tanning studio will be made up of the amount of rent for the premises, the cost of repairs, equipment, consumables, the price of an advertising campaign, as well as the amount paid for the preparation of the necessary documents. Monthly costs will include the cost of operating the premises, the amount of taxes and contributions, employee wages, the purchase of consumables and cosmetics, the cost of maintaining equipment, and conducting an additional advertising campaign if necessary.

Which solariums are better?

There are horizontal and vertical solariums. Horizontal ones have a gentle effect; you can lie in them without turning on the lamps at face level. The disadvantages include an uneven tan. Usually the sides don't tan well - you have to constantly change your body position. To achieve the desired effect, it is visited more often.

The tan goes on faster in a vertical position. To ensure an even shade, a person raises his hands or constantly moves. Modern equipment is equipped with elevator lamps and an aroma system.

Subtypes of solariums:

Turbo solarium. It has a cooling ventilation system, which promotes quick tanning (as in windy weather).
Sitting. Designed for hands, décolleté and face. High power lamps provide quick results.
Collagen. The skin is exposed to blue and red lamps with a healing effect. Blue ones destroy pathogenic microorganisms, red ones stimulate cell renewal. As a result, metabolism is activated, toxins are eliminated, collagen and elastane are produced.
Studio (professional solarium).

There are salons that offer instant tanning. It does not involve exposure to ultraviolet light - a bronzer lotion and a turbine (or compressor) spray are applied to the skin. The method is 100% safe.

If you have already decided what type of solarium you will open, it’s time to think about what you need to open a tanning studio from scratch.

Planned revenue

If the cost of a minute of stay in a solarium cabin is set to 15 rubles, the price of an average session lasting 10 minutes will be 150 rubles. During the day (provided that the tanning studio is already promoted and has regular visitors), on average, the traffic capacity of one booth will be 15 people.

That is, the total income from the operation of one device will be approximately 2,250 rubles, and from two – 4,500 rubles. Thus, monthly revenue will be from 135 thousand rubles. This does not take into account additional income from the sale of tanning cosmetics.

Profitability and profitability of solarium

Taking into account possible overlays, payment of taxes, transfer of payments to social services and funds, wages of service personnel, costs of materials and maintenance of equipment, the final profit will be no more than 25-30 percent of total revenue.

That is, with a monthly income of 135 thousand rubles, the net profit will be about 33-40 thousand rubles. The minimum initial costs will be approximately 600 thousand rubles (in case of purchasing new devices). If you purchase used units, the figure can be reduced by almost half. The payback period for the solarium will occur no earlier than in 8 months (when using used cabins).