buying a small business

They own the space.

I would definitely have an accountant review their numbers.

Good advice guys thanks
Matty... if you do this, make sure you go into it with your eyes open... Scneed is giving you some good advice.

When I started my business, someone told me be prepared for it to suck funds from you for 5 years. If they are selling it after 2 or 3 years, then they could not afford to either take the loss, or it did not generate enough income to support them (if it is their soul means of support). If you "buy them out" be prepared for the 5 year rule. I think I finally could see light at the end of my tunnel after about 4.5 years.

Don't let these comment scare you from self employement. I don't think I could EVER work for anyone again.

I wouldn't rush into anything and I'd definitely do my homework. I know the owners had a few other side projects going on when I used to go there, I'm thinking they're looking to move on to something else.

I hear you about not wanting to work for someone else. I think I'm getting to the point where I really need to take a chance on building something for myself. I just can't see myself working for "the man" for the rest of my working years.

After you buy it, who is going to run the place? What will be ROI? Will you initially have to pump money to keep it going? For how long? What about advertising? What will it cost you? What will be the maintenance cost of the equipment? Will you have enough money to ride the rough patches? Opening a small business is risky business. It takes two years to really get a business going. Also, make sure you shadow the people who work there for couple of days prior to purchasing the business. It's essential you get a feel for the business before investing a lot of cash in it.

Others have given you some good advise. He says he has all these customers but how often do they come in. I know people go in the begining of summer but after they get the tan going and its warm out do they still come in or go to the pool or beach. Then its winter and how much tanning does a person do to keep their tan from summer? Is tanning boothes the only thing that they have? One of my customer has 2400 sq ft. she has tanning booth's, spaces she rents out to hair dressers and fingernail painters (what ever they are called) and she seems to do pretty good. I'm not sure you are going to get rich doing this.

I know of this other website that exists that says they have TONS of members. How many of them are active? ;)