Starting out as an independent tattooist is an exciting opportunity to make a name for yourself, doing something you love. You can unleash your creative side, choose the direction you want your business to take, and build your own brand.
Dreaming about becoming your own boss? Dreams can come true! While becoming an independent tattooist can be a highly rewarding career, it also comes with some important details you need to iron out before you begin. This includes a great deal of preparation, considering legal and financial aspects, and making time for ongoing learning. Each of these steps is crucial to your long-term success. But come on, if it was easy everyone would be doing it!
At DaySmart Body Art, we encourage you to dream big and support your career. Whether you’re just starting out or are transitioning to self-employment, read on for the nine steps you need to follow to create and manage your own thriving, independent body art business.
Step 1: Define Your Niche
The tattoo industry is vast. There’s also a lot of competition out there. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, think about your specific specialty. What kind of designs are you good at? Are you into black-and-grey realism, neo-traditional, minimalist designs, or even bold geometric tattoos? And what kind of work do you enjoy most? It makes sense to consider both factors before diving into a career that you want to be long-term and fulfilling. Similarly, think about whether you want to focus on a certain target group. Maybe you see yourself creating small, personal tattoos or large, intricate pieces. Consider the viable options in your area before committing.
Step 2: Follow Legal Requirements
Legal proceedings can make anyone feel nervous, but they’re also imperative to make sure your business is legally sound and stop you from running into avoidable issues further down the line. From registering your business, to applying for permits, and opening a business bank account to track income and expenses, download our free guide to becoming an independent tattoo artist to ensure you check off everything on the list.
Step 3: Contract an Insurance Policy
Insurance is crucial for tattoo artists. Even if you work in a studio that provides some coverage, you should have your own professional, product, and general liability insurance to protect yourself and your clients. Tattoo artists typically pay between $150–$250 per year for liability insurance. Don’t skip this investment—your career depends on it.
What kind of designs are you good at? And what kind of work do you enjoy most? Do you see yourself creating small, personal tattoos or large, intricate pieces?
Step 4: Choose the Right Workspace
Once you launch your new business, you’re going to be spending a lot of time there. The typical options available include renting a booth or suite at an established studio, opening a home studio, where clients would come to you, or even starting a mobile studio where you travel to clients. You can read more about the pros and cons of each in our free guide. Of course, your budget will play a major role in your final decision but make sure you choose an environment that makes you feel safe and driven, so you find the energy to perform at your best each day.
Step 5: Build Your Online Presence as an Independent Tattooist
Before you can market your services, you need to market yourself. The best way to do this is to create a portfolio. Get pictures of work you’ve done to date, and collect testimonials from happy customers (even if you’ve only ever worked on friends and family before). Create a professional website and upload your portfolio for potential clients to see. DaySmart Body Art’s simple website builder makes this a breeze—check it out here. Lastly, share photos, hashtags, and testimonials on your social media to spread the word.
Your budget will play a major role in your choice of workspace, but make sure to choose an environment that makes you feel safe and driven, so you find the energy to perform at your best each day.
Step 6: Market Your Services
Now you have a solid portfolio and stunning website, it’s time to tell the world about your services. As an independent tattoo artist, it’s so important to get your name out there. Try sharing photos of client designs (with their permission), creating referral programs, for example, offering anyone who refers a new customer a discount on future services, and even collaborating with local businesses. This can be as simple as asking them to display a flyer in their window or some business cards next to their checkout, or partnering with local artists, events, and festivals to offer complementary services. If you don’t see immediate results, don’t lose heart. You’ll be building up your contacts and visibility in the area.
Step 7: Price Your Services
This is tough for all artists, whether you’re starting out or a veteran in the field. Price too low and clients might doubt your skill set. Price too high and you might turn clients away. The best strategy is to research studios in your local area. That way you can get a better idea of a realistic price range. Check online reviews to see if clients are commenting on the cost and whether they got value for money. You might also want to consider package deals to encourage clients to spend a little extra and encourage them to book future appointments for maintenance. See How Much Does a Tattoo Cost in 2025 for more insights.
Research studios in your local area to get a more realistic price range for your specific location. Check online reviews, too.
Step 8: Invest in Studio Management Software
Whether you are a one-person team renting a booth or a body art franchise, management software can really lighten your workload. And we mean really. Enable clients to book online so you can focus on the client currently in your care instead of answering the phone. Prompt clients to leave glowing reviews after they visit your studio to grow your online reputation. Schedule automatic appointment confirmations and check business performance at a glance. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Try DaySmart Body Art free for 14-days to see how it can power up your new business.
Step 9: Keep On Learning
Trends are evolving and technology is changing all the time. Stay ahead of the curve by attending different industry events and workshops to learn new skills and meet like-minded professionals. If you haven’t seen them yet, check out the top 4 studio business trends for 2025. Be mindful of any continuing education rules in your state required for you to maintain your permits.
We wish you the best of luck on your journey to becoming a successful independent tattooist. If you’d like a demo of our software, get in touch here.
