How to Start a Sun Tan City Franchise in 7 Steps: Checklist

Sun Tan City’s current public franchise materials state minimum financial requirements of $250,000 in liquid assets and $500,000 in net worth. The official New Investor Application asks about partners, work history, tanning or multi-unit retail/franchise experience, desired market, single- or multi-unit interest, and whether the applicant will operate day to day or hire an operator; it also authorizes a recent credit report. The 2026 FDD does not disclose a minimum credit score or make prior tanning experience a stated contractual minimum.

Approval remains discretionary. The Franchise Agreement states that information submitted in connection with the purchase must be accurate and complete, while the FDD states STC may grant or decline a franchise regardless of the application stage. If the franchisee is an entity, it must designate a Responsible Owner; owners with at least a 5% direct or indirect interest must sign the prescribed personal guaranty. Operationally, the franchisee, managing owner, or an approved Supervisor must personally manage and operate the business as a primary occupation.

The public franchise site describes application, phone consultation, FDD review, business-plan preparation, Discovery Day, Franchise Review Board review, and agreement finalization. The governing FDD adds a critical dependency that should not be skipped: for the standard new-salon path, STC says a proposed location must be approved before the initial franchise fee is paid and before the Franchise Agreement is entered into.

Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 9 and 11, pp. 22–31; Franchise Agreement §§2.1–2.8 and 4.1; official franchise process page; FTC Franchise Rule.

The applicant and franchisee control most submissions, financing, lease execution, construction, licensing, staffing, and readiness tasks. STC controls franchise approval, site approval, System specifications, plan approval, required training satisfaction, and the final contractual conditions that must be met before opening. Landlords, lenders, contractors, suppliers, insurers, and government authorities can independently delay the critical path.

A conversion is not simply a cheaper version of a new build, and an Area Development Agreement is not a substitute for a unit-level Franchise Agreement. The governing documents create different approval, development, signing, and opening conditions.

For conversions, the FDD says STC may waive or reduce the initial franchise fee in its sole discretion based on the conversion circumstances. The Conversion Addendum says STC conducts a preliminary conversion audit and provides written conversion requirements and prototype plans. The converted salon’s Opening Date is the date STC gives written authorization to open under the Sun Tan City Marks after specified fixtures, equipment, signs, and supplies are installed to STC’s satisfaction.

For area development, the developer and STC agree on the Development Area and Development Schedule before signing. The same Control Group must own at least 51% of the area developer and each franchisee entity in the same percentages, and a Responsible Owner must be designated. Missing the Development Schedule can lead to termination after 60 days’ notice and opportunity to cure; any extension is discretionary and may be conditioned on a smaller area, a revised schedule, a release, or a new then-current development agreement.

The Franchise Agreement prohibits opening until STC approves the developed salon; required pre-opening training is completed to its satisfaction; the premises agreement has been delivered; amounts then due are paid; required insurance evidence is furnished; permits, licenses, and certifications are obtained; required client service agreements are approved; EFT banking documentation is complete; and required consumer-rating-service and trade-association participation is in place.

Training is role-based. The 2026 FDD lists approximately 20 hours for Tanning Consultant training, two weeks for Salon Director training, and two weeks for District Manager training. At least one trained Salon Operator is required, and first-role certification can include Salon Director, District Manager, Training Salon Director, and Trainer roles to the extent they exist in the franchise group. The Franchise Agreement specifically requires the Salon Director to complete the Salon Director Training Program before opening.

The franchisee must also use approved POS and computer systems, approved suppliers where designated, required EFT and payment arrangements, approved signage and equipment, and maintain sufficient approved inventory. The Franchise Agreement requires membership in the American Suntanning Association or another trade association STC designates; the American Suntanning Association is the named organization in the current agreement.

Because the FDD’s 180-day period is an estimate and several dependencies are outside either party’s sole control, the buyer should verify the exact contractual trigger, current standards, and local approval path for the proposed site rather than treating the estimate as a promised schedule.

Public due-diligence reference: the FTC’s guide to buying a franchise. Franchise-specific sources: 2026 FDD Items 5–12, 15–17 and 20; Franchise Agreement; Area Development Agreement; Conversion Addendum.