Piercer renting a room in a salon or tattoo studio

Walk-in and booked clients from the host studio's customers, plus your own followers and returning clients.

A fee per piercing plus jewellery sales, minus a weekly rent or a share of takings paid to the host studio.

• Piercing technique from proper training
• Hygiene and infection control discipline
• Friendly, reassuring customer service
• Self-promotion, such as social media photos of your work

• Who holds the premises registration: check whether the host's registration covers you or you need your own
• Personal licensing and training requirements for piercers, which vary by state and territory
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance in your own name
• A clear written agreement on rent, hours, cleaning duties and what happens if either side stops
• Rules on age and parental consent for piercings in your state

Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $15,000, depending on your tools, sterilising setup, jewellery stock and insurance. These are estimates only, so price your own equipment and the host studio's rent before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how many clients you book, your prices and your hours. Plan on at least around 15 hours a week. Treat these as estimates, not guarantees.

Check whether the host's premises registration covers you or you need your own. Also check personal licensing and training requirements in your state or territory, insurance in your own name, and age and parental consent rules.