The tanning salon industry includes UV tanning bed services, spray tanning, and related retail products, primarily serving health-conscious consumers and appearance-focused demographics. The industry has faced sustained headwinds over the past decade due to increased awareness of UV radiation health risks, competition from at-home spray tan products, and shifting beauty standards, though spray tanning and wellness-focused repositioning have provided partial offsets. Businesses with strong membership bases and diversified services remain viable cash-flow assets, particularly in suburban markets with loyal clientele.
Who sells these: Owner-operators who built single or multi-location tanning salons over 10–20 years and are approaching retirement, burnout, or pivoting to other beauty industry ventures
1.5–3×
Market multiple range
12–24 months
Avg. exit timeline
$300K–$1.5M
Typical deal size
SBA Eligible
Broader buyer pool
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Get free scoreTypical acquirer profile for Tanning Salon businesses
A local entrepreneur or beauty industry operator seeking a cash-flowing lifestyle business, often a first-time buyer using SBA financing, or an existing salon owner looking to add a complementary revenue stream
Tanning Salon businesses typically sell for 1.5–3× EBITDA in the $300K–$1.5M range. Key value drivers include: Large, stable active membership base with low monthly churn rate and documented retention history; Modern, well-maintained equipment with recent upgrades including high-pressure beds and spray tan booths; Long-term transferable lease in a high-traffic retail corridor with favorable rent terms.
Start by preparing your exit: Compile 3 years of clean profit and loss statements and tax returns with add-backs documented; Generate a detailed membership report showing active count, average tenure, and monthly recurring revenue; Service and document the condition of all tanning equipment with maintenance records. The typical buyer is: A local entrepreneur or beauty industry operator seeking a cash-flowing lifestyle business, often a first-time buyer using SBA financing, or an existing salon owner looking to add a complementary revenue stream
The average exit timeline for a Tanning Salon business is 12–24 months. This includes preparation, marketing to buyers, due diligence, and closing.
Common value killers for Tanning Salon businesses include: Declining active membership count or high churn rate over the trailing 12–24 months; Old or non-compliant tanning equipment requiring immediate capital expenditure by buyer; Short lease term remaining or landlord unwillingness to transfer lease to new owner; Heavy owner-operator dependency with no management layer or trained staff; Location in a market with strong health-conscious demographics showing accelerated industry decline.
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