3 Ways To KILL Your Spray Tanning Business

Profit killers of spray tanning businesses may surprise you. Spray tanning technicians start off their business with gusto and eagerness, but like many other “work from home” careers they fall prey to similar habits that will ultimately KILL their businesses.

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1. Stop Training
2. Become “Just like everyone else”
3. Quit Working Their Business

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Each one of these is enough to kill any business but the combination will ensure demise. Let’s break down each one of these and learn how to prevent or get out of these terrible habits.

Stop Training: So, you’ve got your kit and DVD. Maybe you even trained with someone one on one for a few hours. That’s a great start but that will only begin to scratch the surface. True professionals and experts never stop learning.

In the beginning many technicians simply want to spray clients and achieve a “Not orange” look.  I call that, low expectations and the BARE MINIMUM of what you should strive for. True, in the beginning you’ll want to have that goal, but once achieved, what’s next? If that’s the only trick you’ve got in the bag, then you’ll never set your business apart from anyone else and you won’t be able to command higher prices. Do you want to be the cheapest tan forever? Some people have what it takes to self-improve. This requires trying new techniques with your gun, teaching yourself custom blending and contouring. Most people will NOT be able to achieve this without guidance, most people don’t have the time or willing models to undergo such an experiment.

In order to make more money per client you need to be better than the average artist. You need to expand your services and set yourself apart.

YOU NEED A PLAN.

Here are 3 questions to put into your business plan. Don’t have a business plan for your spray tanning business? Get one here.

1. What is your continuing education strategy?
2. Where are you going to get it?
3. How much is it going to cost you?

Become “Just like everyone else”: Distinguish yourself in this sea of self-proclaimed “experts”. In order to do this, you have to know who is your competitor. You also have to know how much they charge, where they travel to and what they offer. After you’ve done your research on your competitors its much easier to know what sets you apart. Your price, service and expertise should set you apart in your local market. Prove it with a great professional website, professional marketing materials, business cards and most importantly  reviews. Client testimonials don’t have to be sophisticated, before and after photos can be made on your smart phone using pictures that you’ve taken of a client along with a testimonial you received via email. You can post those to your social media sites as well as include them on marketing material. Make sure to get written approval from client.

Visibility can breath life into your business. If clients that are searching for spray tanning in your area can’t find you, how do you intend to grow? Do a Google and Yelp search for Spray Tanning ( your city) and see who comes up. Do you?

Here are 3 questions to put into your spray tanning business plan.

1. How is your service different than your competitors?
2. What, specific, service do you offer that your competitors don’t?
3. How can I get my business noticed virtually in my community?

Quit Working Your Business: Even though you may not have a “brick and mortar” store front you still own a business, right? Your business and you deserve to be taking seriously. This will only happen when YOU take your business seriously. Even if it’s part-time, you have a right to take pride in ownership of what you have accomplished. Not everyone wants to be a full time 40+ hour a week tanning artist. Maybe for you tanning 2 nights per week making an extra $300 is exactly what fits into you life. Don’t let others define the value of your business based on their prejudice of “work from home” businesses.

Each day you need to wake up and prioritize your day. Some days your personal life, home or holiday’s will take precedence. Don’t judge yourself for that! That’s the beauty of working for yourself. But, in that same way don’t become lazy. Working your business needs to fit in, otherwise the income potential will vanish and you’ll end up with a hobby.

Here are 3 tactics to working your business regularly:

1. Identify how much $$ you want to make weekly. Divide that total by your per session price. For this purpose we are going to assume that you tan 1 client per half hour of work. The equation looks lilt this: $300 per week/ $25 per session= 12 Half Hours = 6 Hours of Work
2. Commit to working the amount of hours per week you want to be booked with clients right now! Establish a set schedule of when you are going to working those hours and let your family know you are “unavailable” during that time, just like you would be with a client.
3. Begin working through your business plan and executing your strategy with your newly dedicated time. This should always include a marketing strategy and evaluating current marketing.

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Tip: Going it alone can be frustrating and turbulent. Look for a supplier that fills all your needs. If you only need solution and your infrastructure is in place (website, logo, marketing materials etc), then find a company that not everyone is using or has a special meaning or story. If you need the whole kit and caboodle, consider a company like ours (BronzedBerry.com). We provide certification, mentors, ongoing training, events, websites, marketing material and more for as little as $9.95 a month).