Your own small tattoo studio

Walk-in and appointment clients wanting custom or flash tattoos, plus rent-paying artists if you add stations.

Your own tattoo sessions priced per piece or by the hour, plus booth rent or a session share from other artists, and sometimes aftercare products or piercing jewelry where allowed.

• Strong tattooing and design skills
• Sterilization and infection control
• Basic bookkeeping and managing a lease
• Managing and recruiting artists

• A facility or shop permit from your county or state health department, plus individual artist licenses where required
• Zoning rules: some areas limit where tattoo studios can open, so check with your city or county first
• Inspection and layout requirements such as sinks, sterilization area and waste disposal, which can affect build-out costs
• General liability and property insurance; workers' compensation if you hire employees (check how your state treats renting artists)
• Sales tax registration with your state if you sell taxable products
• Lease commitments and slow early months can strain cash

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $20,000 to $60,000, depending on your lease, build-out and equipment. Inspection and layout requirements such as sinks, a sterilization area and waste disposal can affect build-out costs.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $6,000 to $25,000, depending on your own bookings and whether you add artists who rent stations. Lease commitments and slow early months can strain cash.

Check for a facility or shop permit from your county or state health department, plus individual artist licenses where required. Also check zoning with your city or county, inspection requirements, insurance, and how your state treats renting artists.