L. A. Tan

L. A. Tan is a Midwest rooted personal care franchise built around tanning and wellness services, including traditional UV tanning, NAD+ Therapy, Cryotherapy, Infrared Sauna, and FDA Cleared Fat Loss treatments. The brand dates to the early 1990s. Nick Patel, its current owner and CEO and the Founder and CEO of L. A. Tan Corporate, has operated the chain since 2001, with corporate operations formally established in January 2002. Its headquarters are at 3775 W Arthur Ave, Lincolnwood, Illinois 60712. Under Patel, the company grew from four stores into what it describes as the fastest growing tanning salon chain in the Midwest and the third largest in the United States. Reports place its size between 115 and 160 plus salons across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Washington, and Florida. PeerSense produced this analysis independently and without promotional funding from the franchisor.

L. A. Tan operates within the personal care services sector. The global Personal Care Market was valued at USD 506.88 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 996.48 billion by 2033, with a 7.8% compound annual growth rate through the 2026 to 2033 forecast window. Other methods estimate USD 401.57 billion in 2025, reaching USD 733.96 billion by 2034 at a 7.05% CAGR, or USD 172.94 billion in 2025 with a 5.4% CAGR through 2034. Demand is supported by health and hygiene awareness, social media beauty culture, increased male participation in skincare and wellness, and aging consumers seeking anti aging and skin rejuvenation treatments. Younger consumers also increasingly treat skincare as part of self care. L. A. Tan has expanded beyond UV and spray tanning into red light therapy, cryotherapy, infrared sauna, and laser based fat loss treatments. Tanning salons can benefit from relatively small lease footprints, frequent membership visits, add on services, and local market fragmentation, while branded operators may gain from broader supply and marketing resources.

The L. A. Tan franchise investment ranges from approximately $45,400 to $291,280. Costs vary with format, real estate, market conditions, and whether the site is a second generation conversion or a ground up build out. A comparable tanning brand lists a $49,500 first unit franchise fee, total investment of $121,300 to $249,000, a 6% royalty, a 1% local advertising contribution, and a 15% veteran franchise fee discount. L. A. Tan has stated that financing is available to qualified candidates and that veterans receive a discount. It also states a minimum of $0 in liquid capital, a figure that should be examined closely in the Franchise Disclosure Document to determine whether financing involves SBA eligible debt, third party lending, or seller financing. Estimates of L. A. These are corporate figures rather than unit results, so buyers should compare the stated investment with the brand's unit level support and FDD disclosures.

L. A. Tan presents its model as suitable for absentee or semi absentee ownership. Franchisees hire and manage trained staff instead of working at the location each day. Employees are trained and certified as skincare professionals and provide skin care consultations and customized service packages, creating ongoing hiring, retention, and certification responsibilities. Support includes real estate and site selection assistance, access to tanning and wellness equipment, reduced cost product purchasing through corporate relationships, and advertising and marketing assistance. A computer network allows customers to tan at any salon in the nationwide system. The company states that it provides comprehensive franchisee training, supported by its corporate management team and direct CEO guidance from Nick Patel, who has operated the chain since 2001. Services include Custom Airbrush Tan, Red Light Therapy, Complexion Treatment, FDA Cleared Fat Loss, NAD+ Therapy, Localized and Whole Body Cryotherapy, Infrared Sauna, Emerald Laser, and Zerona Laser. This broad menu can support a wellness focused position, while increasing staffing and training requirements.

The current L. A. Sources report more than 130 locations across four states in some cases and more than 160 salons across six states in others. The PeerSense Loan Activity Score for L. A. Tan is 16, categorized as Limited.

L. A. Tan grew from four stores in 2001 to reports of 115 to 160 plus locations across six states over more than two decades under consistent CEO leadership. Its formal corporate structure began in January 2002. The company expanded from its Midwest base across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Washington, and Florida, and accepts franchise inquiries from Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and other states. Its stated strengths include more than two decades of Midwest brand recognition, networked customer access, a multi service wellness menu, and corporate equipment and product pricing. Expansion into Red Light Therapy, Cryotherapy, Infrared Sauna, NAD+ Therapy, and FDA Cleared Fat Loss treatments creates opportunities for cross selling within the existing customer base. Multiple sources identify L. A. Tan as the third largest tanning salon chain in the United States, while the available markets still include areas with limited brand presence.

The intended franchisee is a manager and team builder rather than a hands on skincare technician. Retail management, healthcare administration, fitness business operations, and multi location service experience may translate well to the model. The company seeks franchisees across a broad geographic area, including states outside its Midwest core. Its absentee friendly structure may suit investors building several locations, with staffing and management systems potentially scaling more efficiently across three to five units than in a single unit business. Site selection assistance is part of the support package. The $45,400 low end may apply where second generation or conversion locations are available, while the $291,280 high end applies to full build outs in higher cost markets. Veterans receive a discount, and financing is available to qualified candidates.

For buyers reviewing personal care services franchises, L. A. Tan combines more than two decades of operating history, a stated third largest national position in tanning, and an expanded wellness menu. The global personal care market is projected to grow from $506.88 billion in 2024 toward nearly $1 trillion by 2033. Investment ranges from $45,400 to $291,280, with financing and veteran discount programs available. Corporate revenue estimates of $17.5 million to $36.5 million and reported system size of 115 to 160 plus locations across six states indicate corporate scale, but results at an individual location will depend on site quality, execution, competition, and service mix. PeerSense offers independent franchise research covering SBA lending history, Loan Activity Score analysis, location maps with Google ratings, FDD financial data, and comparison tools for evaluating L. A. Tan against other personal care concepts.