Tattoo artist renting a studio chair

Clients who book appointments for custom tattoos, flash designs, cover-ups or piercings, mostly adults from your local area and your social media following.

You charge per piece or per hour, deposits secure bookings, and you pay the studio a weekly chair rent or a share of takings. Piercing jewellery sales can add a little extra.

• Strong drawing and design skills
• Trained in tattooing or piercing technique
• Good client communication
• Strict hygiene habits

• Tattooing and piercing are regulated differently in each state and territory, so check your state health department and local council on personal licences and training
• Infection control training and a hepatitis B vaccination are commonly expected, so check what applies to you
• Rules on minimum client age and parental consent vary, so check before you book anyone young
• Confirm the studio itself is properly registered or licensed, as that affects you
• Chair rent is due even in slow weeks, so plan your cash flow
• Check the contract to confirm you are genuinely self-employed

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your machines, supplies and the studio's chair rent terms. These are estimates only, so confirm rent and what's included before you sign anything.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many clients you book and how many hours you work. Chair rent is due even in slow weeks, so plan your cash flow. These are estimates only.

Rules differ by state and territory, so check your state health department and local council on personal licences and training. Also check infection control training, hepatitis B vaccination expectations, client age and consent rules, and that the studio is properly registered.