Pricing
Ever wonder why you’re being charged what you’re being charged?
It’s important to research your artist not only to ensure you’re getting the quality work that you’re looking for but to make sure you’re being charged fairly. Tattoos are expensive and permanent, so do a little digging for yourself! I want to share some of the numerical ‘Whys’ behind tattoo pricing but also want you to keep in mind how precious people’s time, energy, and art are.
Why are tattoos so expensive?
It’s expensive to tattoo. Period.
Not only are the supplies expensive, and mostly disposable, artists pay for these out of their own pocket. Money also goes toward renting a space or paying a shop fee, cleaning/medical supplies, business insurance, health insurance, taxes, etc…. and not to mention all of the bills every normal person has to pay in their everyday life. Also, artists are often not tipped. It’s deeply appreciated and is beneficial, but is not a common practice so we have to adjust our pricing accordingly.
So let’s break it down, shall we?
Let’s say that you earn $70,000 a year doing tattoos, which means you make $1,300 a week and $250 a day. Pretty nice right? But then the shop takes 50%-60%, leaving you with $42,000. Okay, still a pretty okay yearly take home.
Well, now we get into taxes.
From the $42,000 you take-home there is a standard deduction of about $12,400. So taxes are based on $29,600. Self employment tax is about 15.3%, federal tax is around 12%, and Oregon taxes are 5%. This means taxes take around $10,300 leaving you with $31,700.
What about deductions? Can’t you just write off everything you purchase?
Kind of, yea! The cool thing about self employment, is that anything you purchase for your work can be written off! That being said, you’re likely only going to get back around $2,000 for every $6,000 spent. Which brings your final take home to $33,000.
That final $33,00 is what you have left for mortgage/rent, food, utilities, family, emergencies, 401k, savings, health insurance, and literally everything else. An artist may be charging you $100 but they’re only getting a small portion of that.
Deposits
To make a tattoo appointment, I require a deposit of $100-$300, depending on the scope of work, which goes toward the final cost of your tattoo and is non-refundable if you cancel or need multiple reschedules. Setting a reschedule date must happen within 48 hours of contacting me. Appointments are not confirmed until a deposit is made.
To reschedule or cancel an appointment, please do me the curtesy of contacting me least 48 hours before your appointment.
Payments
While cash is always preferred for payments and tips;
Cash, Card, Venmo, Paypal, and Cashapp are all accepted forms of payment.
Pricing
Work is quoted on an individual basis because the price of your tattoo will depend on the size, complexity of the design, and the location on your body.
My hourly rate is currently $150 per hour, though aim to quote a flat price when I can. There is a minimum charge of $150 for any tattoo session regardless of size.