Lendus.

Sunbed Finance

Sunbeds cost from around £1,500 for an entry-level stand-up unit to £25,000+ for a multi-unit salon package, financed by tanning salons, gyms and leisure clubs as freestanding, moveable equipment.

Can you finance a sunbed?

Yes, sunbeds are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £1,500 to £25,000, and most deals are written over 12-60 months with a deposit of around 10-20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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Typical Cost

£2k – £25k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for most orders

Rates From

5.5% APR

What would a sunbed cost per month?

£5,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical sunbed price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
5.5% - 9.5% per annum
Term
12-60 months
Deposit
10-20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Businesses that want to own the sunbed equipment outright

Finance Lease

Rate
5.0% - 8.9% per annum
Term
12-60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax efficient route where payments are usually deductible as an operating expense

Operating Lease

Rate
5.8% - 9.9% per annum
Term
24-48 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Businesses that want to refresh sunbed equipment regularly and keep it off balance sheet

Representative example

On a purchase price of £5,000: a 10% deposit of £500, then 48 monthly payments of £105 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £5,540, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Entry-Level Stand-Up Sunbed £1,500 - £3,500 Stand-Up Sunbed
Lie-Down Tanning Bed £2,500 - £6,000 Lie-Down Bed
High-Pressure Premium Sunbed £6,000 - £15,000 High-Pressure Bed
Multi-Unit Salon Package (5+ beds) £12,000 - £25,000 Multi-Unit Package

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Tax benefits

Sunbed equipment is treated as plant and machinery for tax purposes, so it qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting a business deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to the current £1,000,000 annual limit. Companies buying new, unused equipment may also qualify for full expensing, a 100% first-year deduction against Corporation Tax. These allowances apply where you own the asset, so they are available under a Hire Purchase agreement. Under a Finance Lease or Operating Lease you do not own the sunbed equipment outright, so allowances are not claimed directly; instead the payments are generally deducted as a business expense against profits. Always confirm treatment with your accountant before committing to a structure.

Market context

Sunbeds are bought by tanning salons, gyms, beauty studios and leisure clubs adding a tanning offer alongside their main service. A sunbed is a freestanding, plug-in unit that can be moved between rooms or venues without any building work, so it is straightforward to finance and operators commonly buy several units together when opening or expanding a salon floor. Finance is common because a multi-unit fit-out represents a meaningful combined cost bought at once, and spreading it protects working capital for rent, staff and marketing in a new salon's early months. Replacement is driven by lamp and acrylic wear affecting tan quality and customer comfort, and by demand for higher-pressure units that deliver faster, more even results, rather than the bed itself failing outright. A secondhand market exists through specialist salon equipment dealers, though buyers should confirm the unit's compliance with current safety regulation before purchase.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a full salon of sunbeds in one agreement?
Yes. Most lenders will bundle several sunbeds into a single agreement rather than financing each one separately, which is the usual approach when opening a new salon floor or refreshing an existing one. This is simpler to administer than several agreements running on different dates, and a single supplier quote covering the whole order is generally all a lender needs.
Can I finance used sunbeds?
Yes, most lenders will finance used sunbeds, though buyers should confirm any used unit meets current UK safety regulation for commercial tanning equipment before purchase, since standards have tightened over recent years. A specialist salon equipment dealer can usually confirm compliance and lamp condition as part of the sale. Buying used remains a sensible way to access a sunbed without the full cost of a new unit, provided the condition and history are clearly documented and shared with the lender before you commit to a purchase.
What deposit do I need for sunbed finance?
Hire Purchase typically asks for a 10-20% deposit, while a Finance Lease or Operating Lease more often requires none. Because individual units are relatively low value, salons financing several beds together can often negotiate deposit terms across the combined purchase rather than bed by bed. Your broker can confirm the exact figure a specific lender will ask for once they know the sunbed's age, condition and your business's trading history, since these are the main factors that move the deposit up or down from the typical range quoted here.
How quickly can sunbed finance be approved?
Most applications are approved within 24 to 48 hours, with same-day decisions common given the relatively low value of most sunbed purchases. A larger multi-unit salon package will generally still move quickly, though the lender will review the full order before confirming terms. Having your last set of accounts, bank statements and a clear supplier quote ready before you apply is the single biggest thing you can do to keep a sunbed application moving at that pace, since most delays come from a lender waiting on paperwork rather than from the credit decision itself.

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