How to Finance a goGLOW Franchise: Sunless Tanning Studios
By Marc Cornella
A goGLOW franchise loan finances a boutique sunless tanning studio built around a proprietary spray tan solution and a specialized overspray booth. Compared with a restaurant or gym, the studio is small and light on heavy equipment, but owners still need to fund a polished retail build-out, the brand’s tanning equipment, opening inventory, staff training and enough working capital to carry the studio through seasonal swings.
This article explains what to confirm in the franchise documents, what the brand’s SBA Franchise Directory listing means, how lenders look at a young beauty franchise and how to prepare a strong loan request.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by goGLOW; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to review and approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice. Review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant before you sign or borrow.
goGLOW Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a sunless tanning studio offering spray tans with a proprietary, fragrance-free solution in a bright, spa-style setting.
- Origin: founded in Edina, Minnesota, as a mobile spray tan service before opening storefront studios.
- Footprint: company studios in Minnesota and the Chicago area, plus franchised studios opening in states such as Texas, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina and California.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as goGLOW (code S8067) with no special note.
- Fees and investment: the initial fee, royalty, marketing fund and Item 7 estimate appear in the current FDD; we could not verify them from the franchisor’s own published materials.
- Key financing issues: studio build-out, booth and tanning equipment, retail product inventory, seasonality and an emerging franchise system.
What Is goGLOW?
goGLOW was founded by an entrepreneur who started the business as a mobile spray tan service operating from trucks before opening a storefront in Edina, Minnesota. The company later added studios elsewhere in the Twin Cities and in Chicago, and success outside its home market led it to expand through franchising.
The concept focuses on sunless tanning as a healthier alternative to UV exposure. goGLOW uses its own tanning solution, which the company describes as fragrance-free and made without harsh ingredients, and a patented overspray booth designed to keep the process clean and consistent. Studios have a bright, all-white look meant to feel more like a spa than a traditional tanning salon.
Why lenders view it the way they do. A tanning studio is a small-footprint service business with modest equipment needs compared with many franchises. On the other hand, the brand is a young franchise system, demand can rise and fall with the seasons and special events, and lenders cannot lean on a long franchise track record. Your liquidity, management ability and local market research carry more weight. Our article on financing an emerging franchise explains how lenders approach newer brands.
goGLOW Franchise Costs
The franchisor’s fee schedule and investment range were not available in materials we could verify, so Items 5, 6 and 7 of the FDD are the source for exact numbers. Share them with your lender early, and use our guide on how much franchise you can afford to test the budget against your own finances.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 states the fee, when it is due and whether multi-unit or development terms are offered.
Studio build-out. Most studios lease retail space in a shopping center or a walkable neighborhood district. Build-out typically includes private tanning rooms, ventilation for the booths, plumbing for a rinse or changing area, lighting, flooring, a reception and retail area, and signage. Ventilation and finish quality can be the biggest variables.
Equipment and technology. Overspray booths, spray equipment, booking and point-of-sale systems, and furniture for the lobby and retail display.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening tanning solution and retail product inventory, staff hiring and training, grand-opening marketing, insurance, deposits, licenses and an operating reserve.
When you receive the FDD, organize the Item 7 table for your lender:
- Initial franchise fee
- Lease deposits and rent before opening
- Leasehold improvements, ventilation, architecture and permits
- Tanning booths, spray equipment and technology
- Furniture, fixtures and signage
- Opening inventory, training and grand-opening marketing
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 lists the royalty, any brand or marketing fund contribution, technology or software fees, required product purchases, and transfer and renewal fees. Fees tied to gross sales come off the top, before payroll, rent, product and loan payments.
Lenders subtract those fees when they calculate how much cash is available to repay a goGLOW franchise loan. Tanning studios may sell single sessions, packages or recurring memberships. Prepaid packages and memberships can smooth cash flow, but lenders will want to understand how you account for them and how renewals hold up through slower months.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
We could not verify published net worth or liquid capital requirements, so ask the franchise team and confirm in the FDD. Expect the franchisor to look at your financial capacity, management or customer service experience, local market knowledge and whether you will run the studio yourself or through a manager.
Ask about training on the tanning method and solution, site selection help, the required build-out package, approved product sources and the typical time from signing to opening.
Ways to Own a goGLOW
Opening a new studio. Most franchisees in a young system build new studios. With no sales history, lenders rely on your liquidity, experience and projections. Our page on franchise start-up financing explains how we approach new locations.
Buying an existing studio. As the system grows, an owner may sell an operating studio. Lenders can review its client base, membership history and sales, though transfer approval and lease terms matter. See our article on buying a franchise resale.
Opening multiple studios. Some owners may plan several studios in a market. Confirm in the FDD whether development agreements are offered.
Financing Options for a goGLOW Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because goGLOW is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, SBA 7(a) loans can finance the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, opening inventory and working capital, subject to lender approval.
SBA 504 loans. SBA 504 financing is designed for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment. Because most studios lease retail space, it fits only the rare owner who buys a building.
Conventional term loans. Borrowers with strong credit, collateral and liquidity may consider conventional business loans, particularly for a resale with solid historical financials.
Equipment financing. Tanning booths, spray equipment and technology can be financed or leased separately. Learn more about franchise equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. Tanning demand often peaks around spring, summer, proms, weddings and holidays and slows in other months. A line of credit can cover payroll, rent and product during quieter stretches. See our page on franchise working capital.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may carry part of the price. Any seller note would typically be subordinate to the senior loan, and SBA rules may limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for goGLOW Franchisees
SBA lenders generally require a franchise brand to be listed on the SBA Franchise Directory before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to one of its franchisees. The listing shows that the franchise agreement has been reviewed for eligibility.
goGLOW is listed. The directory shows the brand as goGLOW under code S8067 with no added note or condition. In plain English, the standard franchise documents do not, by themselves, stand in the way of SBA financing. Approval still depends on your credit, equity injection, experience and business plan.
Program limits. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change. A single studio needs far less.
SBA application tips. Bring lease terms, contractor bids, equipment quotes and monthly projections that reflect seasonality and your expected mix of single sessions, packages and memberships. Use our SBA loan calculator for early planning only.
How Lenders Evaluate a goGLOW Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Expect a review of credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, plus a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders want to see your equity injection plus reserves after opening, especially for a seasonal business.
Management and beauty-industry experience. Experience in salons, spas, retail management or customer service strengthens a request, as does a plan for hiring and retaining trained staff.
Business plan and projections. Base sales on the local population, competing tanning and beauty businesses, and seasonal demand. Include every FDD fee. See how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review the term, renewal, transfer and remodel provisions, and whether Item 19 includes financial performance representations.
Site and lease. The lease term should cover the loan term, and the space must support booth ventilation and private rooms.
Historical financials for resales. Expect profit and loss statements, sales and membership reports and tax returns.
Booths, Ventilation and Seasonality
The overspray booth is central to the goGLOW experience. Ask the franchisor which booth and spray equipment are required, how many tanning rooms a studio needs, what ventilation the booths require and how maintenance and replacement work. Those answers affect both the build-out budget and future capital needs.
Seasonality is the other brand-specific issue. A studio may be busy before summer and big events and quieter at other times. Lenders like to see a monthly cash flow plan, a working capital cushion and a strategy for packages or memberships that keep clients coming back year-round.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Owners who succeed with a first studio may want to add more in nearby neighborhoods. Lenders financing the next studio look at the first one’s performance, your remaining liquidity and your management depth. Confirm any development schedule and fees in the FDD, and see our article on multi-unit franchise financing.
Real-World Scenarios
A spa manager opening a first studio. A spa manager uses an SBA 7(a) loan to fund the franchise fee and build-out, and finances the booths separately.
A first-time owner planning for seasons. A new owner builds a working capital line into the loan request so payroll and rent are covered during slower months.
A buyer acquiring an operating studio. A buyer purchases an existing studio with an established client base, using a 7(a) loan and a small subordinate seller note.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Projecting peak-season sales for every month
- Underestimating ventilation and build-out costs
- Overlooking product inventory and ongoing purchase requirements
- Signing a lease before the franchisor approves the site
- Opening with too little working capital
For more, read the franchise loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your goGLOW Franchise
Step 1: Contact the franchisor. Confirm available markets, fees and current requirements.
Step 2: Review the FDD with advisors. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Choose a site. Gather lease terms, contractor bids and equipment quotes.
Step 4: Build monthly projections. Reflect seasonality, packages and memberships, and every FDD fee.
Step 5: Apply for financing. Submit your personal financial statement, tax returns, résumé, projections and franchise documents.
Step 6: Close and open. Coordinate franchisor approval, training, build-out and hiring.
goGLOW Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a goGLOW?
The estimated initial investment is in Item 7 of the current FDD. Costs depend on the space, build-out and equipment.
What is the goGLOW franchise fee?
Item 5 of the FDD states the fee. Confirm the current amount with the franchisor.
Can I get an SBA loan for a goGLOW franchise?
Yes. goGLOW is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8067 with no special note, subject to lender approval.
Can I finance tanning booths separately?
Often, yes. Booths, spray equipment and technology can be financed or leased separately.
Do I need beauty-industry experience to get a goGLOW franchise loan?
Not necessarily, but management, retail or spa experience strengthens both your franchise application and your loan request.
Can I buy an existing goGLOW studio?
Yes, if one is for sale and the franchisor approves the transfer. Lenders will review its sales history, client base and lease.
Does goGLOW offer financing?
Check Item 10 of the FDD. Most owners arrange their own loans.
How long is the franchise term?
Item 17 sets the term, renewal and transfer conditions.
What documents do I need?
Expect the FDD, franchise agreement, lease, contractor and equipment quotes, projections, tax returns and a personal financial statement.
Final Thoughts
A goGLOW franchise loan works best when it reflects a small, design-driven studio with seasonal demand. Verify every figure in the FDD, budget fully for ventilation and booths, plan for slower months and keep solid working capital, and you give yourself a strong position with lenders.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital for franchised studios and service businesses. Learn more about our franchise financing solutions.
