How To Start a Spray Tan Business Step by Step

Starting a spray tan business can be relatively low-cost, especially for mobile businesses, and the industry is growing. 

With increased awareness of the dangers of UV exposure, along with customer interest in sunless tanning options, the spray tan market is expected to grow from more than $1.4 billion in 2025 to about $2.1 billion in 2032. 

This article covers how to start and expand a spray tan business. It includes tips from Brittney Bennett, a spray tan artist who launched a mobile spray-tan business with less than $500 and later established multiple brick-and-mortar locations and a product line. 

Types of spray tanning businesses

• Independent spray tan artist
• Spray tan salon
• Spray tan product line

There are several business models spray tan artists or enthusiasts can pursue. In her nearly two decades in business, Brittney has explored these three: 

Independent spray tan artist

As an independent spray tan artist, you work for yourself. This is typically a one-person operation that you can run from a fixed location (such as a home) or from several locations. A few options for independent artists include: 

• Mobile spray tanning. In this model, you offer on-site spray-tanning services. Although you’ll accrue transportation expenses and travel time, you won’t pay rent.

• At-home salon. With this option, you operate from a space in your home. You won’t have travel expenses to account for, but you may need to comply with municipal requirements to run your business from home. 

• Salon in a larger suite. In this model, you rent space in a salon or larger wellness business. Rent varies by city, but in the Los Angeles area, a room in a salon can range between about $250 a week to more than $2,500 a month. While a salon can provide a sense of legitimacy, you won’t have total control over the space as a renter. 

Brittney started as a mobile spray tan artist because it didn’t require too much equipment and she could fit in sessions before and after her full-time job. 

However, there were limitations. “I’m obviously a one-woman show, and as you’re traveling, there’s only so many people you can get in throughout the day,” she says. 

Spray tan salon

Opening a commercial salon lets you create a consistent branded experience for clients, but it comes at a cost. Brittney didn’t rush to open a salon because she wasn’t ready to take out a loan or quit her full-time job. When a friend offered to lend her the money without charging her interest, she took the chance. 

A spray tan salon means you’ll have to set up or renovate the space to fit your needs, and pay rent on the space. When Brittney opened Be Bronze Studio, her first brick-and-mortar location in LA, she invested about $120,000 into the space, with 80% of the budget going to the build-out and 20% going to equipment. 

Based on the square footage, the salon could house three rooms, a back room, a mixing station, and a reception area at the front. 

To make investing in a space worthwhile, you may need to hire additional spray tan artists to expand your service offerings and capacity. Brittney hires spray tan artists with at least six years of experience to ensure consistent quality of service and pricing.

Spray tan product line

The third type of spray tanning business—or a way to diversify revenue streams within one of the other two types—is to create a line of tanning and post-care products. You can sell a product line to other stylists or salons in a business-to-business (B2B) model or to consumers in a business-to-consumer (B2C) model. Within B2C, you can choose to sell direct to consumer (DTC) online, to your in-person clients, or to consumer retailers on a wholesale basis. 

Brittney created two lines: Pro solution for other spray tan artists and self-tanning for clients who wanted to tan at home. She was inspired after other spray tan artists reached out to learn what product she was using. Rather than directing them to other brands, she decided to make her own.

Additionally, she launched Bare Clean Tanning, which contains no synthetic dyes and only eight ingredients, because she knew some of her clients wanted a product like that. “I heard the consumer,” she says. “I listened. I have clients who are really big influencers, so I made that specifically for them.”

Brittney upsells her at-home product line during the booking process. After a customer chooses the date and service they want, they’ll see a page with information on how to prepare before and after a tan; it also recommends a $40 self-tanner.

Be Bronze Studio’s pro line has about 3,500 customers, ranging from independent artists who spray tan on the side to big businesses that do about 800 tans a month. The product line is growing and accounts for about 70% of revenue. 

In 2026, she began wholesaling her at-home product line to other stylists and salons, which wasn’t originally part of the plan. For her, this was a major unlock. “I said, ’Why wouldn’t I allow somebody who’s also purchasing product from me right now to spray their customers to sell my products to them as well?” she says. “That’s how I was able to maximize on the product side of things.” 

How to start a spray tan business

1. Define the scope of your business
2. Research your market
3. Learn the craft
4. Form and register your business
5. Gather your supplies
6. Build a website
7. Market your business

Follow these steps to start a spray tan business:

1. Define the scope of your business

Create an outline of your business model and your service offering. As you think through the shape of your spray tan business, answer the following questions: 

• What will your primary business model be? 

• What’s your startup budget? What equipment will you need, and how much will it cost? 

• How much will you charge? 

• Will you have other revenue streams, now or in the future? 

Your answers will become the backbone of your business plan and help you create a startup budget.

Brittney decided to start as a mobile-only spray tan provider to keep her initial investment and overhead costs low. Being mobile-only also allowed her to maintain a flexible schedule, which was essential because she started spray tanning as a side hustle while working a nine-to-five job.

“I started as a mobile spray tan only. That way you’re not dealing with any overhead—other than your startup costs—and no rent,” Brittney says. “For equipment, entry level was just the machine, a tent, and solution. So at the time, it cost me under $500 to go into it.”

When it came to pricing her services, Brittney drew on her job experience in catering event sales, where she had to price shop quarterly to learn what other establishments were doing. She used the same technique for her spray tan business by looking at competitors’ prices in LA. From there, she considered her experience. “I went in a little lower in the beginning to get my foot in the door and then raised,” she says. 

2. Research your market

Next, dig into your potential customer base via market research. Aim to answer the following questions: 

• How much local demand is there for sunless tanning services?

• Who are your customers and what do they expect from sunless tanning providers? 

• Who are your competitors? How saturated is the local market? 

3. Learn the craft

Airbrush spray tanning is a skill, so before you get started, it’s helpful to take a course and get some experience under your belt. 

Some cosmetology or beauty schools offer in-person classes, or you can learn at your own pace through an online course, like Norvell’s $149 class. Norvell also sells equipment, like spray tan guns, that can make you eligible for a free class.

When Brittney was starting up, she took an entry-level course to learn the basics. But the course alone wasn’t enough; she needed hands-on experience and real feedback. “My passion was people,” Brittney says. “So it was very easy to get my network to ask, ‘Can I spray tan you? Can I spray tan your friends?’”

Her technique wasn’t perfect early on, but she tried to take feedback gracefully and build relationships with clients. “When I started, I definitely had mistakes,” she says. “I missed a strip, or the hands have been too heavy. When that happens, say, ‘I’m so sorry that happened. I’d love to spray you again for half off. I really want to make this right.’ Take the constructive criticism and try to understand how you can make it better the next time.”

4. Form and register your business

Decide on a business structure. Then, legally form and register your business with applicable federal, state, and local agencies. 

Three common types of business structures are sole proprietorships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations. Each has advantages and disadvantages: 

• Sole proprietorship. A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business owned by one person, and it’s the simplest structure available. This type of business is quick to set up and inexpensive to get started. The downside: It doesn’t offer the legal protection afforded by an LLC or corporation, which means you could be personally liable for debts and lawsuits. 

• Limited liability company. When managed correctly, a limited liability company (LLC) offers some legal protection from debts and liabilities. This hybrid model delivers the advantages of sole proprietorships and corporations. 

• Corporation. A corporation separates individual owners from the business, protecting personal assets from financial and legal liabilities. Corporations can issue stock, allowing them to raise funds from investors for expansion, development, and other purposes. 

Next, obtain a business license and any professional licenses required by your state or city. Although many states don’t require a license to sell spray tanning services, some regulate spray tanning alongside other beauty and wellness businesses, such as barbershops and nail salons. For instance, the Ohio Barber and Cosmetology Board requires spray tanning businesses to register with the state and pass a local facility inspection before opening. 

Check zoning laws, too, especially if you plan to operate a business out of your home. 

Finally, consider obtaining insurance in case of emergencies, such as allergic reactions or slips and falls. Research small-business insurance types to learn about your options, and contact insurance providers to compare quotes.

5. Gather your supplies 

Read reviews of popular spray tanning equipment, and consider purchasing from a professional beauty supplier. You can also look for starter kits that offer discounts for new business owners, but check refill costs before you commit. 

For Brittney, the most important tools are:

Spray tan machine

A spray tan machine affects how much product you use and how even the tan looks. They can range from hundreds of dollars to over $1,000.

Spray tan gun

A spray tan gun is the applicator. Plastic guns are the most affordable, while half-metal, half-plastic guns and all-metal guns are more expensive. Brittney believes in getting the best spray tan gun, even when starting out. She spends about $450 on a metal gun, which lasts about a year with meticulous cleaning. 

Extraction unit

This is a tool that extracts the overspray, or the tanning solution that doesn’t end on a client’s skin, so it doesn’t get on walls and floors. Brittney believes this is a must-have and recommends budgeting about $2,500 for an extraction unit.

Spray tan solution

Solutions are available for specific undertones and contain varying concentrations of dihydroxyacetone (DHA), an active ingredient that gives the skin’s outer layer a tan appearance. Be Bronze Studio’s products range from $11 for a sample to $225 for a gallon. Brittney suggests that spray tan artists stick to one product and become experts on it rather than jump around to different solutions. 

Depending on your setup, here are a few other tools you’ll need:

• Spray tan tent or booth: About $40 to $90

• Pre-tan spray and barrier cream: About $30

• Post-tan spray or moisturizer: About $40

• Disposables (hair caps, foot covers, underwear, and bras): Ranges from $5 to $50 for each category 

• Point-of-sale system: Varies by provider; Shopify’s POS system starts with a free trial

6. Build a website

Your website is a practical tool that helps clients learn about your services and prices. Include useful information, such as your opening hours and a map, to help your clients find your salon.

Your clients can also use your website to schedule appointments. When Brittney started her business, she handled bookings through text messages. “That can get very crazy very quickly,” she says. “So I try to tell people to nip that in the bud.” 

The Shopify App Store connects to several appointment-booking apps, such as Meety, that you can use to send client notifications, like reminder emails and aftercare tips.

 To add a scheduler to your website, follow these steps:

• Go to the Shopify App Store and search scheduling apps.

• Look through reviews and choose your preferred app.

• Click the Install button on the scheduler’s Shopify App Store page. This will take you to your Shopify Admin, where you’ll click Install to confirm the app can view customer and store data.

• From your Shopify Admin, set up the app. 

When choosing a website builder, think ahead to your future needs and choose a platform that can grow with your business. For example, Shopify has more than 16,000 apps that can add functionality to your website. 

7. Market your business

Develop a marketing strategy to promote your business. Here are a few tactics to consider:

• Word-of-mouth marketing. Word-of-mouth marketing encourages satisfied clients to spread the word about your company. Starting a loyalty program and providing excellent customer service are two ways to encourage referrals and generate positive reviews.

• Search engine optimization (SEO). Building an SEO strategy can help your ideal clients find your website, increase brand awareness, encourage bookings, and boost product sales. 

• Social media marketing. Social media marketing is a popular and effective strategy for beauty industry companies. Use your audience research to focus your efforts on the channels your ideal clients already use.

Since Brittney bootstrapped her business, she focuses on organic channels to market her services and build her reputation. “Social media is amazing,” she says. “It’s just been reaching out to the spray tan community. I’ve put my face on Instagram and talked to people.” 

Tips for building a successful spray tan business

Here are Brittney’s top tips for growing a thriving spray tan business:

Ask for help

After a friend offered to lend her interest-free money to launch a brick-and-mortar salon, Brittney needed a contractor to help her carry out her vision. When she got quotes from different contractors, she didn’t know which were fair. So she reached out to a friend who introduced her to the contractor she ended up working with. 

Brittney has done this at other points in her business, like when she was building her Los Angeles salon and needed help navigating the permitting process, or when she decided to create a product line.

“What I’ve learned with a lot of successful people is that nobody knows what they’re doing,” she says. “They find the right people who know what they’re doing for things. Whether that’s somebody to help with your ad spend, with your Shopify, with your build-outs, nobody’s perfect at everything. But the people that are successful are the ones that are reaching out to get the right people to help them in those situations.”

Study your data

Brittney uses Shopify Reports to understand her monthly and annual sales and client purchasing patterns. “I look at those daily to understand where I’m at year to date, month to date, who’s buying what,” she says. “Shopify does a very good job at helping you see the numbers on the back end.”

She then uses that information to remind customers to place another order based on their previous purchases. 

Raise prices to match experience 

As Brittney’s business has grown and she’s gained more experience, she’s raised her prices. When she does, she likes to be open with her customers and offer more value. In her Scottsdale salon, she raised prices after three years, giving her clients a 30-day notice and an extra perk.

“We raised the price anywhere between $7 to $9,” she says. To justify the cost, she includes a post-hydration spray that locks in the spray tan and leaves skin feeling moisturized.

“I like to give a little bit of a value that’s still low cost to me,” she says.