How do I manage starting up a tattoo shop?

Question

This will be my first business I've owned, I plan on having a partner in it. but I'd like to know exactly everything thats involved. I'm worried about furniture costs and getting talent? I personally can't tattoo so I won't be tattooing. How am I supposed to get artists to want to tattoo at my shop? and can anyone give me a basic rundown of what finances are gonna be like starting from scratch? (and what I can do?) Thanks so much in advance. Just trying to live the dream of working for myself.

Answer 1

well u need a license for one

rent out a building like one that was previously a hair salon or something

depending on how big u want the shop depends on how much it will costs

u need insurance as well

and its really easy to get artists to work for you just dont make them pay too much for the chair rental

Answer 2

Well where to begin I'm opening my second shop of the year next month so that lets you know that business is good and now on to your questions the best advise i can give is do your homework and put it all in writing before you spend a dime don't get caught up in an artists bs he/she needs to understand were you both stand in this venture and talk to local shop owners not artists or shop managers or shop groupies then talk to city, county, and if need be state offices on your requirements never listen to anybody about the laws they are all available if you request them, follow them and don't cut corners cause somebody says its ok. as far as tattoo artists ive been in this business 16 years and they come and go the best thing i can tell you is if you build it they will come but make sure they are certified by your state guidelines not just a portfolio and have them shoot a audition piece on someone they bring to the shop never on you. BEST OF LUCK AND GODS HANDS BE WITH YOU

Answer 3

I own my own shop and I'm different from you because i am the one tattooing but my initial start up costs were around $8,000 but I live in a smaller town and some of my supplies were rather cheap then on my one year anniversary i gave the shop a face lift which costed around $25,000 but my business grew a lot from it and i did hire another artist to help out since I'm a mommy and wanted to spend more time with the brat I make around $250,000 a year i managed to buy my building (shop) so that cut costs a lot put an add in the paper asking tatt artists to come to an interview and let them do a piece on you that's how i hired my guy he did one on me and i just loved it so now he works for me i make 25% of what he makes and he had to work his way up to that i started him out taking 60% off the top but as far as starting out really if you have good clients you will make bank off of them tattoo equipment is pretty cheap the furniture is expensive but not all of it is needed just kinda fancy i wouldnt go overboard  

Answer 4

hire great employes

Answer 5

check w/ your state laws, go to other tattoo shops, look at their layouts, furniture, ect. and get ur ideas like that. as far as finding tattoo artists, maybe an add in the paper, or tattoo parlors. you want to make sure they have good refferances, and pics of previous work they've done.

good luck

Answer 6

to add to #2s answer.

don't forget costs for advertising, you need to buy/carry insurance

if you aren't tattooing are you running the shop? if not you need to hire a counter person to run the shop and keep things clean.

deff post an ad in the paper. see if there are any trade shows going on btwn now and the time you open your shop = maybe you can get a booth and put up signs that you are hiring.

or just pass out fliers.

then you have rent, supplies, electric, water, sewer, property taxes, garbage disposal, hasmat waste removal costs

oh are you piercing there too- you need a display style counter- and supplies for piercing/jewelry.

oh and you have to buy flash to put on the walls or have books of that around the shop-

ebay for that

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