Your own permanent make-up studio

Local clients booking cosmetic tattoo treatments and touch-ups, plus repeat clients returning for refreshes.

Treatment fees and touch-up sessions, with add-on aftercare products. You can also rent a room to another artist or hire one once you are busy.

• Advanced cosmetic tattooing technique
• Running a booking system and managing a calendar
• Marketing, photography and reviews
• Basic bookkeeping and managing a lease

• Premises usually need a public health inspection and permit; check layout requirements such as hand-wash sinks and washable surfaces before fitting out
• A commercial lease is a long commitment, so test demand first, ideally in a rented room
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire (rules vary by province)
• Check provincial requirements for tattooing training, waste disposal for sharps and pigments, and client record retention
• Quebec has its own rules, including French-language requirements for signage
• Bookings can be uneven at first, so keep a cash buffer for rent

Startup costs are typically around $12,000 to $40,000, depending on your location, lease and fit-out. These are estimates only, so get quotes for rent, equipment and a clean treatment room before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on how many clients you book and your prices. That is an estimate before rent and other costs, and bookings can be uneven at first, so keep a cash buffer.

Check whether your premises need a public health inspection and permit, and the layout rules such as hand-wash sinks and washable surfaces. Also check provincial tattooing training, sharps waste and record retention rules, insurance, and Quebec's French signage requirements.