On a college campus with 25,000 students and say 10-12% of those students will tan, you will have upwards to 3000 potential customers. 5 or 6 beds just won't cut it. If you commit to building a salon in this envionment, do it big or don't do it at all. Students like to tan in groups and 5 or more and will come in all at one time to tan. The minimum number of beds would be 15 units, but closer to 20 would be ideal. Like Sunsally said, buying GOOD used
equipment would be the way to go, and put in a larger percentage of base beds with a 15 minute tan time. When your salon is busy, and all 20 beds are running you could be making better than $350 per hour or over $4000 a day. "Daydeaming" or reality? Possible, but not likely. I don't want to scare anyone who is thinking of opening a tanning salon on a college campus, but there will be days when you will put in your till absolutely nothing; a big fat zero. I've got a total of 14 tanning units with a student base of approximately 8000 students. I have 6 base beds and during busy times not enough, but most will upgrade. The key to having a lot of beds is NO Appointments necessary. The kids like to pop-in anytime and don't need their time regimented. They have enough of that in class. Just a little more info for your decision process.