Terms and conditions for a spray tan business

A spray tanning business needs terms that cover the matters clients complain about: skipped patch tests, results darker than expected, tan transferred to clothing and furnishings, bridal parties that cancel at short notice, and courses bought and never used. I draft customer terms for salon and mobile spray tanning businesses for a fixed fee of £995, delivered in five working days.

Who this is for

Salon-based and mobile spray tanning businesses in England and Wales, including beauty therapists who offer tanning alongside other treatments, tanning studios, and technicians working from a home room or a rented space. Almost all of your clients are consumers, which sets the rules you have to work within, and some of the work is for businesses: wedding suppliers, photographers, studios and event organisers.

What matters in spray tanning terms

Patch tests, contraindications and consultation

Tanning solution contains dihydroxyacetone, which is regulated as a cosmetic ingredient under the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 and subject to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 when sprayed, and a small number of clients react to it, and the reaction usually appears after they have gone home. Your terms should require a consultation, a patch test before a first tan or a change of product, and honest disclosure of skin conditions, recent treatments, pregnancy and respiratory problems. Record what the client told you and what you advised. A term that tries to sign away liability for personal injury caused by negligence will not work against anyone, so the real protection is the process: screening questions, patch testing, ventilation and a written refusal where a client declines one.

Preparation, shade and the tan that went patchy

Most disappointing results start before the treatment: moisturiser, deodorant, a shave that morning, a wax the night before, or a shower taken too soon afterwards. Your terms should set out the preparation you require, confirm that shade charts show an indication rather than a promise, and explain that depth of colour depends on skin type and on aftercare you do not control. You still owe reasonable care and skill, and a term cannot cut what you owe a consumer below the price they paid, so the work is done by accurate expectation setting and a sensible remedy such as a corrective appointment.

Aftercare, transfer and stained fabrics

Tanning solution transfers. White bedding, a wedding dress, a hotel towel, a cream car seat and a new sofa are the items clients complain about, and the sums claimed far exceed the treatment fee. Give written aftercare covering the first rinse, loose dark clothing, swimming, sweating and gym sessions, and have the terms confirm that it was given and that you are not responsible for marking of clothing, furnishings or vehicles after the client leaves. Consumers keep their statutory rights whatever the terms say, so this has to read as a fair allocation of risk rather than a blanket disclaimer.

Deposits, no-shows and the bride who cancels

Spray tans cluster around weddings, proms, holidays and Christmas, so a no-show at a peak time costs you a slot you could have sold several times. Take a deposit, state your notice period, and say what a late cancellation or a group booking that shrinks will cost. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 a disproportionate default charge, or keeping a prepayment with no matching obligation on you, sits on the grey list and may not bind the client. A deposit that reflects the time you are holding, with a clear cancellation window, is far more likely to survive a challenge.

Mobile appointments in the client's home

Tanning in a client's home brings its own problems: overspray on carpets, grout and painted walls, no ventilation, nowhere to stand the tent, and a large bridal party in one room. The terms should cover access, parking, ventilation, protecting surfaces and who pays if something is marked. Mobile and online bookings also fall within the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, which give fourteen days to cancel, although an off-premises booking of £42 or less sits outside them. A party booking or a course of tans will not, so the wording about starting early at the client's request matters.

Courses, memberships, vouchers and the advertised price

Blocks of tans, monthly memberships and gift vouchers raise the same questions: when does it expire, can it be given to a friend, what happens if the client moves away, and is any part refundable. Say so plainly rather than leaving it to a conversation at the counter. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 gives the Competition and Markets Authority direct enforcement of consumer law and bans drip pricing, so a call-out charge or a peak-time supplement belongs in the price you advertise. Further subscription rules are being introduced under that Act, which matters if you sell tanning by monthly payment.

What it costs

Customer or supplier terms and conditions, £995. One set of terms, customer-facing or supplier-facing, drafted for your business. Five working days.

Review of your existing terms, £495. You already have terms and want them checked and brought up to date. Returned marked up with my amendments and an explanation of the changes. Three working days.

Buying online forms the engagement on payment. The scope is what the terms and conditions drafting page describes, you accept the Terms of Service at checkout, and I email you within four working hours to get started. If you would rather ask something first, email me.

What you get

• A full set of bespoke terms drafted for your business, reflecting the legal requirements that apply to your business and sector
• A note in plain English explaining the terms I have drafted for you
• Liability, payment, termination and IP provisions that protect your position and are drafted to withstand scrutiny from the other side
• Guidance on how to incorporate the terms properly
• Your questions and comments answered by email or phone
• One round of amendments to finalise the terms ready for use

What is not included

• Negotiating your terms with individual customers (I am happy to quote for this as an additional service if required)
• Sector-specific regulatory compliance beyond the contract terms themselves
• Website privacy notice and cookie compliance, which I quote separately
• Terms governed by the law of another country
• Tax advice

Questions I am often asked

Can I turn a client away if she refuses a patch test?

You can, and the terms should say so in advance so that it is not disputed on the day. Set out that a first-time client, or one changing to a stronger solution, needs a patch test a stated time before treatment, that the appointment may be refused without one, and how the deposit is treated when that happens.

Can I charge a card fee or a travel supplement?

Card surcharges to consumers are not permitted under the Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012, so card costs belong in your prices. A travel supplement for mobile work is perfectly proper, but it should be quoted before the booking is confirmed and shown in the figure you advertise, not added on arrival.

Can I post before and after photographs of clients?

Only with consent you can evidence, and agreement to a photograph in the treatment room is not the same as agreement to it appearing in paid advertising. I build a photography and marketing permission into the terms, worded so the client can decline without it affecting the booking and can ask you to remove an image later.

Related guidance and services

• Terms and conditions drafting, £995, the service this page describes
• Employment contracts and handbooks, £595
• Ask Caesar, £495 a month
• Terms and conditions for a mobile hairdresser or beautician
• Terms and conditions for a beauty salon and nail bar

This page is general guidance for businesses in England and Wales, not advice on your own circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.