How To Start A Tattoo Business?
Start a tattoo parlor by following these 10 steps: –
- Plan your Tattoo Parlor
- Form your Tattoo Parlor into a Legal Entity
- Register your Tattoo Parlor for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Tattoo Parlor
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Tattoo Parlor
- Get Tattoo Parlor Insurance
- Define your Tattoo Parlor Brand
- Create your Tattoo Parlor Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
There is more to starting a business than just registering it with the state. We have put together this simple guide to starting your tattoo parlor. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant. Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
Contents
How to start a tattoo shop?
How to Start a Tattoo Business | Including Free Tattoo Business Plan Template
Master Your Art & Industry – If you are going to start your own shop, make sure you know what you’re doing. Not just in tattooing itself, but also in running a tattoo business. You can do this as a novice tattoo artist by becoming an apprentice. As a business owner, you can achieve this by taking business courses or working your way up in an established shop.
- Getting your feet wet without all the responsibility is a great way to figure out if you’ve got what it takes to go it alone;
- There’s more to running a business than just providing a service and you can find that out firsthand before putting your own capital on the line;
If you aren’t an artist yourself but would like to own a shop, consider partnering with a seasoned tattooist who knows the industry. You’ll still want to do just as much research and put in just as much effort, but a working relationship with a talented partner could be key to setting up a successful business. 
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How to start a tattoo parlor?
Once you’re ready to start your tattoo parlor, follow these steps to ensure that your business is legally compliant and avoid wasting time and money as your business grows: Plan your business. Form a legal entity. Register for taxes. Open a business bank account.
What skills do you need to start a tattoo business?
Chapter 1: Getting Started – 
Tattoo artists change people’s lives on a daily basis; they need a thorough amount of training in order to make that possible. Skill and craftsmanship are of utmost importance in the industry. Beyond these skills, however, are the business knowledge to ensure your new tattoo business stays successful. Running a financially stable business will allow you time to focus on clients, giving them the time they deserve.
- Even if you are a superb artist, you will still need a strong business ethic in order to succeed in the tattoo industry;
- This is why we’ve created this guide on how to start a tattoo shop;
- Although raw talent goes a long way, you don’t necessarily have to be an artist yourself to run a successful tattoo shop;
You just have to have a good tattoo shop business plan. A quality tattoo business is built on the foundation of many factors and although you will want talented and experienced artists, it doesn’t always mean that you need to be one yourself. Those with a passion for business can work behind the scenes, finding talented and passionate employees to provide clients with a quality product and experience.
When considering opening your own shop, and learning how to open a tattoo shop, it’s crucial to first familiarize yourself with the latest trends of the art form. For those entrepreneurs lacking formal training as tattoo artists, partnering with talented and well-known local artists can make a huge impact on your fledgling business venture.
Once you have recruited a talented team to drive your business, the next step is to procure the appropriate health and professional licenses to allow your business to function safely and within the law. Laws and regulations governing the tattoo industry tend to differ dramatically across municipalities, counties, and states.
- Check with the city, state and county departments to ensure you don’t miss crucial details;
- More than any other source, the AAA Tattoo Directory has been providing information on the tattoo regulations in each state;
Start your search there for a listing on the proper agencies in your area to obtain permits and licenses. Ultimately, seeking the advice of an attorney prior to opening up shop can be useful, as there are many legal matters that should be reviewed. This precautionary step can save you time and money in the long run by helping you avoid common new-business pitfalls.
After obtaining the proper permits and documentation to make your endeavor legal, you will need the appropriate tools and materials to run your establishment. Tattooing requires a sizable initial investment to cover the cost of the tattoo guns, needles, ink, gloves and other supplies.
Additionally, as with any other business, you will need to invest in computers, telephones, and everything else required for day-to-day operations. One of the best investments you can make for your new company is to hire a talented illustrator to develop a unique, stylish logo.
Your logo will make your company memorable. Your service, quality and price could be fantastic, but without the proper image, it can be difficult for your tattoo shop to remain at the top of its industry.
Like successful tattoo artist Sailor Jerry Collings, having a recognizable and visually appealing logo can be crucial to the success of your business. It is important that you never cut your investment short when it comes to your equipment. The tool does not make the artist, but even a great artist cannot provide excellent service without state-of-the-art equipment.
- Your tattoo shop equipment list must be taken seriously;
- Tubes and the actual tattooing machine are crucial elements to a new business, so invest as much as possible into these tools;
- An investment in higher-quality equipment enables you to provide the cleanest, safest environment to your customers;
Running a shop at the maximum efficiency and safety will help build your reputation, avoiding mistakes that could end in costly, time-consuming litigation. 
Tattoo gun with ink tubes on white background Since a tattoo business is heavily focused on art and craftsmanship, the atmosphere of your shop will be very important to its success, as well. Getting a tattoo can often be a life altering experience. Display your shop’s art, as well as popular designs from around the world to set the proper atmosphere. Hiring design consultants can help create a space that is visually and technologically appealing and can also be worth the added investment.
While the initial investment to open a tattoo business can be considerable, if you’ve laid the proper groundwork, your business will reap rewards. Ultimately, allocate as much of your budget toward the initial requirements as possible.
The more you can invest at the onset, the more likely your business is to gain immediate recognition.
What licenses do you need to start a tattoo studio?
There are also general business registrations at the local, state, and federal levels that a tattoo studio might need, such as a business license, sales tax permit, Employer Identification Number, and Occupancy Permit.
