Start a tattoo and piercing shop with a small team

Walk-in and booked customers wanting tattoos or piercings, plus buyers of jewellery and aftercare products.

Either a share of each artist's takings or a weekly chair rental. Piercing fees, jewellery sales and aftercare add further income.

• Tattooing or piercing experience, or the ability to hire people who have it
• Managing people and bookings
• Marketing and social media
• Keeping records and managing costs

• Premises, and usually each practitioner, generally need council registration, so check this early
• Check planning and change of use rules for a shop that offers tattooing, and what your lease allows
• Employed staff or self-employed chair renters have different obligations, so check employment status and get advice
• Employer's liability insurance is needed once you employ staff, plus public liability cover
• Check your council's rules on sterilisation equipment, separate hand-washing facilities and clinical waste
• Never tattoo or pierce under-18s where this is prohibited, and check the age rules for different piercings
• Fit-out and rent are a big upfront commitment, so test demand before signing a long lease

Startup costs are typically around £15,000 to £60,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and equipment. Fit-out and rent are a big upfront commitment, so test demand before signing a long lease.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on how many artists work with you and how busy the shop is. This is revenue, not profit, before rent, wages and supplies.

Check early whether your premises and each practitioner need council registration, plus planning and change of use rules and your lease. Also check council rules on sterilisation, hand-washing facilities and clinical waste, and age rules for tattoos and piercings.