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SUN TAN CITY
Sun Tan City franchises operate tanning salons offering UV and sunless tanning services, spa and wellness treatments such as hydromassage, sauna, red light therapy, infrared light, and cryotherapy, along with skin care, beauty products, and related merchandise. The business model centers on licensing the proprietary system, trademarks, operational standards, training, and marketing support to franchisees for establishing salons in designated areas, with additional options for area development agreements. The target market primarily consists of individuals aged 18-44 seeking tanning and wellness services, with peak sales from February to June due to seasonality.
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Franchise Costs
8% royalty + 2% national marketing fund + $516-$851/mo fixed tech fees (incl. $127-$457 client services, $150 ecommerce, $75 software, email blast, music, etc.)
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 162 Franchised Salons open for the entire 12-month period ended December 31, 2024
* All values extracted directly from Table 2.1 on page 4, which presents data for 162 Franchised Salons. No explicit data for net income, net profit, EBITDA, or expense breakdowns were provided to calculate profit ranges or margins, nor were specific quartile averages available.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $590,557
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Unlock financial performance dataSUN TAN CITY Franchise Analysis
Tanning beds may evoke beach vibes, but Sun Tan City's blend of UV, sunless options, and trendy add-ons like cryotherapy and red light therapy positions it amid wellness waves—yet subtle system shifts and disclosed financials paint a nuanced picture. Item 19 earnings hint at steady performers, while minimal terminations and a handful of SBA loans suggest resilience. Is this salon's glow worth the investment, or does seasonality cast long shadows?
Item 7 details a hefty upfront commitment: $676,290 to $1,114,750 total investment, including a $30,000 franchise fee. Ongoing fees stack up with 8% royalty, 2% brand/ad fund, plus fixed monthly tech charges of $516-$851 covering software, ecommerce, client services, and more—elevated versus some beauty peers but tied to robust support. Item 19 shines brightly here, reporting average gross sales of $590,557 and median $563,253 across existing salons, with peak February-June demand driving results; no net profit figures, but these toplines imply solid 20-30% margins post-expenses for top operators based on category norms.
System metrics flag caution: franchise locations dipped from 165 to 162 (-2% growth), alongside 90 corporate units, 3 terminations, and 3 transfers—low disruption rates signal stability, not distress. Just 2 SBA loans averaging $178,950 reflect limited federal financing reliance, potentially a plus for qualified buyers avoiding debt. For beauty investors eyeing 18-44 demographics, revenues justify costs if you nail high-traffic spots, but contraction trends and seasonal reliance demand laser-focused due diligence on local competition and expansion plans.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How SUN TAN CITY Compares
Key Insights
- Higher investment than 88% of Beauty & Spa Services franchises
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Beauty & Spa Services
- Higher than average SBA loan default rate in Beauty & Spa Services
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SUN TAN CITY Current | $676K – $1.1M | $30K | 8.0% | 162 |
| SPORTS CLIPS (SINGLE UNIT) | $237K – $581K | $30K | 6.0% | 1,702 |
| SUPERCUTS | $186K – $323K | $40K | 6.0% | 1,701 |
| DaVi Nails and Em Lash Studio | $61K – $144K | $65K | N/A | 400 |
| PALM BEACH TAN | $648K – $1.1M | $30K | 6.0% | 397 |
| DAVI NAILS | $57K – $125K | $65K | 0.0% | 387 |
Beauty & Spa Services Average 52 franchises | $413K – $743K | $48K | 6.2% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 52 Beauty & Spa Services franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+6 more states
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for SUN TAN CITY franchisees (2014 – 2015)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
2 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
163 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
163 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a SUN TAN CITY franchise ranges from $676,290 to $1,114,750. This includes a franchise fee of $30,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 8.0% of gross sales.
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