Established
2000
Franchise Units
20
Minimum Investment
$250,000
Franchise Fee
$25,000
Total Investment Range
$550,000
Home Based
No
Description
LA Sunset Tan is one of the most recognized upscale tanning and wellness studio concepts in the United States—known for its Hollywood-inspired branding, high-end interiors, and a customer experience that feels closer to a luxury spa than a traditional tanning salon. The franchise blends modern aesthetics, premium tanning equipment, red-light therapy services, and a membership-driven model that attracts loyal clients searching for consistent results and an elevated self-care routine. With Americans increasingly investing in appearance, wellness, and lifestyle-enhancing services, LA Sunset Tan positions its franchisees at the center of a fast-growing sector. The brand’s polished environment, celebrity appeal, and strong retail add-on potential make it a standout choice for entrepreneurs seeking a beauty and wellness franchise with both personality and profitability.
Why Invest in This Franchise?
LA Sunset Tan stands apart for its strong brand presence, modern operating model, and ability to generate recurring income through membership programs and high-margin tanning and wellness services. The concept is built for scalability—owners can operate one studio efficiently or expand into multi-unit ownership with ease. Its menu offers multiple revenue streams, including UV tanning, spray tanning, red-light therapy, wellness treatments, retail sales, and premium membership tiers. The operational model is designed to run with small teams, simplified processes, and predictable inventory needs, making this franchise appealing for first-time owners as well as seasoned multi-brand investors. In a beauty industry that continues to grow year over year, LA Sunset Tan aligns with consumer demand for instant results, self-care experiences, and accessible luxury.
Background
LA Sunset Tan was founded in the early 2000s in California, inspired by the vibrant lifestyle, beauty culture, and iconic sun-soaked energy of Los Angeles. The brand was created by entrepreneurs who saw a gap in the tanning industry—a need for a luxury-driven, high-style tanning studio that offered more than basic UV services. Their vision was to blend modern aesthetics, premium equipment, and a spa-quality experience that would appeal to clients seeking both beauty enhancement and a lifestyle upgrade.
From its first location, LA Sunset Tan immediately stood out with its striking interiors, celebrity-influenced branding, and elevated customer service approach. The studios offered a level of sophistication rarely found in the tanning segment at the time, helping the brand build momentum quickly in both media exposure and consumer demand. Over the years, the company expanded its menu to include spray tanning, red-light therapy, and other wellness-oriented services, keeping pace with evolving beauty trends and positioning itself as more than just a tanning salon—rather, a full lifestyle beauty concept.
Today, LA Sunset Tan operates as a franchise system with an estimated 20 active units across the United States. The brand continues to focus on high-potential metropolitan and suburban markets where beauty, fitness, and wellness culture are strong. Its management team brings extensive experience from the spa, salon, and franchising industries, ensuring that franchise partners benefit from strategic leadership and continuously refined business systems.
Operating within the Beauty, Spa, and Wellness category, LA Sunset Tan caters to a growing national demand for appearance-enhancing and self-care services. The market’s steady expansion provides significant room for new franchisees to grow, especially in regions where upscale tanning and wellness concepts remain limited. With a strong brand identity, modern service offerings, and a business model built on recurring memberships, LA Sunset Tan continues to evolve as a recognizable and desirable franchise opportunity across the USA.
Support Training
LA Sunset Tan offers a robust onboarding and training program designed to equip franchisees with everything needed to launch, operate, and scale a successful studio. Pre-launch support includes site selection assistance, demographic modeling, lease negotiation guidance, architectural layout planning, and design specifications to create the brand’s signature luxury environment.
New owners undergo extensive operational training, covering tanning equipment management, safety protocols, customer service standards, product sales techniques, membership structure optimization, scheduling, staffing, and studio efficiency best practices.
Marketing support includes branded campaigns, grand-opening strategy, social media toolkits, localized advertising guidance, and ongoing content updates to keep visibility high.
Once the studio opens, franchisees receive continuous coaching, performance evaluation, updated training modules, operational audits, vendor partnerships, equipment upgrades, and direct access to the franchisor support team to maintain consistency across all locations. Franchisees benefit from national supply chain relationships, software systems, and proven business processes that simplify day-to-day management.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal LA Sunset Tan franchisee is someone who appreciates the beauty and wellness industry and enjoys delivering a high-quality guest experience. Investors with backgrounds in retail, fitness, hospitality, spa management, or customer-facing businesses align well with the operational style, although prior industry experience is not required. Successful owners are typically community-driven, detail-oriented, comfortable managing small teams, and confident in building strong customer relationships.
This franchise is well-suited for individuals seeking a semi-absentee business once the studio is established, as well as hands-on operators who enjoy being closely involved in daily operations. Ideal candidates typically have the financial capability to invest in a premium studio build-out and the ambition to scale into multi-unit ownership. LA Sunset Tan performs best in areas with strong retail traffic, upscale residential communities, fitness-focused consumers, and markets with high demand for beauty and lifestyle wellness services.
Financial Detail
| Category | Amount / Details |
|---|---|
| Total Investment Range | $250,000 – $550,000+ (varies by market, size, and build-out specifications) |
| Minimum Liquid Capital Required | $75,000 – $150,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $25,000 – $40,000 (one-time upfront fee) |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of gross sales (ongoing) |
| Marketing Fund Contribution | 1% – 2% of gross sales |
| Studio Size Requirement | 1,200 – 2,000 sq. ft. (retail storefront preferred) |
| Build-Out & Infrastructure Costs | $150,000 – $350,000 (construction, design, branding, furniture) |
| Equipment Package | $80,000 – $150,000 (tanning beds, spray units, red-light therapy equipment) |
| Initial Inventory | $5,000 – $12,000 (retail lotions, beauty products, accessories) |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $8,000 – $20,000 |
| Technology & POS System | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Working Capital (First 3–6 Months) | $20,000 – $50,000 |
| Average Membership Revenue Potential | Monthly recurring revenue through membership tiers and service bundles |
| Expected ROI Timeline | Typically 18–36 months depending on market and membership growth |
| Break-Even Period | Often within 12–24 months |
| Potential Revenue Streams | UV tanning, spray tanning, red-light therapy, wellness treatments, retail product sales, memberships |