SUNTAN MIAMI sold us an untested and unsustainable franchise model, promised marketing support and a proven system, but delivered none. MIAMI FLORIDA

 Warning to Potential SunTan Miami Franchisees – A Real Testimony Based on Multiple Franchisees' Experiences

Several entrepreneurs signed franchise agreements with SunTan Miami, trusting the promise of a profitable, structured, and proven business model. However, the reality they encountered was drastically different. This anonymous testimony gathers real experiences from multiple franchisees with the sole purpose of warning other investors before they make the same mistake.

SunTan Miami claims to offer marketing support, but in practice, their only marketing tool is a single Instagram account managed from their headquarters. This account was converted into the official brand page and only showcases their own original location. There is no segmented marketing strategy, no local support, and no material tailored to each franchisee’s specific needs. Each location must take full responsibility for promotion, advertising investments, and attracting clients — alone.

The pricing structure is designed to benefit the founders. It includes low prices and promotions that leave franchisees with operating costs and virtually no return. To make matters worse, franchisees are required to rent large and expensive spaces with multiple rooms and tanning beds, many of which remain unused most of the time, leading to unsustainable fixed costs.

The business model is an illusion — it was never truly tested. The only location that has succeeded is the one owned by the founders in Doral. This model has never been successfully replicated elsewhere. A truly franchisable business requires validation across different regions and contexts, which never happened. If it had, they would have realized that this concept needs smaller, more flexible, and scalable setups — not oversized salons with inflated expenses.

Unfortunately, the founders lack strong business experience. There is no professional expansion strategy or solid operational foundation. What they market as a “business model” is not replicable. It is not documented, structured, or automated. They claim the franchise can be run “from a laptop,” which is completely false. Without constant owner involvement, the business fails. The franchisee must be present to handle complaints, train staff, drive sales, supervise operations, and maintain customer service — practically 24/7.

Initial training consists of a single week of practice before opening, focused solely on tanning services. There is no training in sales, marketing, customer service, systems, or operational management. Ongoing support is minimal to nonexistent. No dedicated support rep is assigned, there’s no mentorship, and no growth strategy is provided. Meetings focus only on questioning poor sales performance, and the only "support" given is a manual sent via email, which they claim should be sufficient to run the entire business.

Additionally, franchisees are forced to purchase all supplies directly from the founders, who act as sole suppliers. These products come at inflated and unsustainable prices, with no option to seek more affordable alternatives. In this way, the founders profit not only from supply sales but also from royalties — which are charged from day one, regardless of whether the franchise generates income. Franchisees operate with nearly zero margins.

Current Situation:

All franchises launched under this model have attempted to sell their businesses within the first year — unsuccessfully.

Most have kept their salons running to the brink of financial ruin, trying to honor contractual obligations without real support.

Several locations have closed permanently.

The remaining ones are on the verge of financial and emotional collapse.

But the damage is not just financial.

Franchisees have suffered a decline in quality of life, emotional well-being, and personal stability due to the ongoing stress of keeping this broken model afloat. What seemed like a business opportunity has turned into a source of constant exhaustion. Even with hard work, the business does not break even or generate profits.

During the sales process, critical financial information is withheld, preventing truly informed decisions. The founders continue to blame franchisees for the failures, pointing to various alleged shortcomings — never acknowledging the flawed design of the business model itself.

 Conclusion:

SunTan Miami sells an expensive, untested, centralized model with no real support, no business strategy, and no true profitability. It is not a solid franchise — it is a setup that benefits only the original location and its owners, while the franchisees carry all the risk, expenses, and losses. To make matters worse, royalty payments are required from day one, and supplies must be paid upfront — with no credit or flexibility.

This testimony is not meant to harm, but to warn. If you're considering investing, do so with your eyes wide open. Talk to current franchisees (not just the ones they refer you to), demand clear financials, question every promise, and make sure you’re buying into a real business — not an illusion.

Once you sign the contract, there is no easy way out. They will enforce every clause, even if you’ve lost your money, your time, and your peace of mind.

This testimony reflects the real stories of multiple SunTan Miami franchisees. If it helps prevent someone else from going through the same ordeal, it has already served its purpose.