Becoming a tattoo artist is considered to be one of the hardest service jobs out there, often requiring up to 4 years of apprenticeship. That being said, it is one of the most fulfilling jobs out there, due to the huge amounts of creativity and artistry it involves.
Recently, we contacted one of our customers to share their experience and what they have learned during the years she served as a tattoo artist. And we are going to share 6 major lessons about managing a tattoo shop.
Lesson Number 1: Atmosphere is almost always the most important factor
People want to feel like they are in a shop filled with art and creativity. Your shop should feel like it. If you want people to get their second, third and 4th tattoo with you, they should feel welcomed and at ease.
It is better to have big, (usually) round sketching tables, comfy chairs, and huge mirrors. When choosing furniture, don't cheap out, get a dense, strong wood and make sure it is durable.
Not to mention you need the furniture to be nonabsorbent, corrosive proof, and sleek, as well as readily sterilized. This holds true for work tables, counters, and armchairs.
Your studio should feel like a space that’s been thoughtfully designed with both comfort and professionalism in mind. Every client deserves their own private workspace, it provides focus and a sense of respect. And don’t forget a clean, cozy waiting area.
The lightning and air should feel light and welcoming. You want the whole space to feel open, breathable, and bright. Make sure your studio includes a hygienic, easy-to-clean restroom and a proper wash station. it signals high emphasis on cleanliness, and your clients will appreciate that.
When it comes to design, think smart and functional. Avoid carpets entirely, they are a nightmare to clean and sanitize. Stick to smooth, light-colored surfaces on walls and ceilings so any mess is easy to spot and wipe down.
As for color, use darker tones, warm them up with lightning. Deep greens, soft charcoals, or moody blues can all work beautifully if they create a relaxed vibe.
Finally, let your space tell a story. Show off your own best work alongside inspiring pieces from around the world. Make the environment a living portfolio of what you have done before, and what you promise to your future clients.
Lesson Number 2: Equipment should always be sanitized and ready, especially when you are not using them
For tattoo artists, the needle is their sword. Ink becomes the shield they work with. A well-equipped studio is your top priority. Invest in quality tools, machines, and supplies. High-end equipment creates a safer environment for clients. It also helps you deliver cleaner, sharper results.
You don’t need endless tattoo supplies. Focus on high-quality, essential equipment first. The rest can grow with your studio. Choose gear that lasts and works reliably. This will save money on repairs and replacements.
Sanitation is just as important as skill. Always clean reusable tools with soap and water. Then, sterilize them properly in an autoclave. Never use a microwave before proper sanitation procedures or rely on shortcuts to clean tools.
Cleaning routines are essential at a tattoo parlor to avoid the spread of infections such as Hepatitis C. Clients may touch their tattoo after it has been completed and may leave contaminated body fluids on tattoo shop surfaces.
Each client must be tattooed with a fresh, sterilized tattoo needle. Use forceps to insert and remove the tattoo needle from the machine for optimal safety.
At the workplace, clean, single-use gloves must be widely available. Gloves must be replaced with each patient, as well as when they are torn or ripped.
Single-use needles and tattoo equipment tubes must be used.
For each customer, use a fresh set of needles and a tattoo tool. To shave the skin, only use single-use razors, and change them after each client. All of them must be thrown in a rubbish bin after use.
Lesson Number 3: Your artists are your lifeline, treat them as such
When you start to grow, you will move more to the administrative side of business, whether you like it or not. So you should start preparing from day one.
Once you hire the first tattoo artist, there is no going back to the old ways.
Remember that the artists devote years to developing their craft and earning experience. So when they screw up or make little mistakes, approach the situation carefully. One wrong word or tone can cost you a valuable partner.
Always keep it about the customer experience and put a distance between artist’s craft and their results. Instead of blaming personally, make it about understanding customers and tending to their needs. It is easier for tattoo artists to say they didn’t quite get the customer instead of admitting they made a mistake.
If your business is large enough, accommodate visiting artists for guest appearances. Having other brilliant artists around will encourage your own artists to attempt new things, especially if the visiting artist is eager to share their skills and discuss their works.
Tattooing and body piercing are both aesthetic art that needs identical abilities, therefore offering them in your business makes sense. Because the tattoo and body piercing communities are so connected, many tattoo artists are likely to also do body piercing.
Include body piercing in your business to maintain your store current and make it more respectable among the greater body art community. And don’t forget tattoo removal, they are popular for a reason.
Lesson Number 4: You are dependent on your community, connect with them.
You are nothing without clients, that’s why making friendly and comfortable communication is a key to managing a tattoo shop. There are lots of personalities who come up for a tattoo.
You should be engaged and active in the community.
On one hand, you don’t have a say on what the customer wants. On the other hand, as an expert, you have the right to disagree with the client’s desire. If you can’t do the type of tattoo that customer has shown, or the placement on the body is not correct for a particular tattoo, it is better to disagree with them in the long term.
Always make sure to check the ID and other documentation for first time customers, and be ready to do a lot of explaining.
If you don’t want to do name, hand or face tattoos, be firm on that stance. When you explain the reasoning, always stick to personal feelings like I don’t want to, It’s my call to make etc. You don’t want to argue with a customer if you know you won’t provide service, it’s better to keep respect.
Don’t be afraid to show your rules to the community. In the end, you as an artist and your business will carry the burden.
Lesson Number 5: Online marketing is the way to grow after a point
Local community, good word of friends or little in-store events are good, but after a point, they are not enough. If you want to grow your business, you need to invest in your internet presence.
It can be an Instagram account, some Pins in your Pinterest, announcements on your Facebook page, it doesn’t matter. Every little thing works in your favour.
This stage is not only simple and beneficial, but it is also affordable and easy for your new tattoo business.
One of the best ways to build online presence is via your stores. Offer discounts to followers, share special events or invite them to follow your social media accounts for future tattoo ideas, whatever works for you.
But being present on social media isn't enough. Without a website, you won’t get top tier respect from customers. Build a simple website to accept appointments, add pretty images and share some info about your artists. Even this little bit will be enough.
Register Google Business Profile as the first thing when opening a tattoo shop, respond to client feedback and fill it like a social media profile. It makes your tattoo shop easy to find and increases your professionalism.
Lesson Number 6: Invest in high-quality, reliable appointment booking system
In the end, the tattoo shop appointment booking system is all you need to manage a tattoo shop. You don’t need all the bells and whistles, but it’s good to be assured that you can get the functionality when you need it.
You must keep in mind the business's running hours, your staff’s schedules, your clients' varied appointments, what your clients want, arrange all necessary things, and so on.
For this reason, we recommend Booknetic (also because we built it). Booknetic is the ultimate WordPress tattoo appointment booking plugin to build up your appointment booking system for your shop. It is robust, customizable and offers a wide range of features to accept bookings, payments and process customer requests.
Tattoo artists may use advanced calendar optimization to create artistic-looking calendars with classified events. The most essential feature of this WordPress tattoo appointment booking system is reminders, which enable you to choose the type of notification, such as SMS, email, or WhatsApp, as well as what sort of news to send to customers
If you want to try it, check out our free demo or register for the sandbox version to set up a clean install of Booknetic and see how it works.
