Opening a shop of any kind is exciting, whether you’re exploring a passion fresh out of school or doing it later in life. Regardless of which one you are, starting a tattoo shop is a big decision that allows you to be creative and get to know your clients on a deeper level. Find out what things you should know about opening a tattoo shop.
Get Licensed and Insured
The critical thing in opening a shop is insurance and licensing. No shop can operate without the correct documents—if you don’t have shop experience, consider becoming an apprentice at a nearby parlor. Most beginners train under a professional for about three years to get some experience under their belt in doing tattoos, handling customer service, and running the shop. After the three years are up, many go on to join a shop or open their own tattoo parlor.
As for California, the state requires each shop to have a public health permit before offering body modification services. In addition, you want to have good insurance that covers general damage and specific types of liabilities like property theft.
Research and Buy Equipment
Equipment is essential to your job, and to create the best designs, you need national and state board-approved tools. Since you break the skin during the procedure, you’ll need the right tools to prevent infection. It’s vital to have sanitation tools and other medical supplies on hand.
You’re not going to use an ordinary pen or marker for the ink—you’ll use a needle. A needle helps collect and distribute ink onto a design. However, you need far more than a machine and needles to start. Ink caps are one of the staple tattooing supplies that every shop must have in droves.
Pick and Explore a Location
Location is key to a successful business—be careful where you place the shop for these two reasons: population count and market saturation. A city with a vibrant nightlife is ideal since you’re likely to encounter younger customers, especially college students.
After you find a place, explore the town and get to know your competitors and potential market. You want to be in a region that is dense, in a safe part of town, and isn’t too close to shops with similar portfolios to your own.
Build Your Marketing Plan
The last thing to do is create a marketing plan. You don’t need social media channels right away, but having an active portfolio of designs helps build clientele, and building a Google business page lets others know you’re in the area.
The other important thing about marketing is you can help the business stand out in many ways, especially when specializing in different areas besides tattoos. Don’t forget to show off your skills online; having a killer portfolio is one of the things to have with you when building your tattoo business.
