Bookkeeping for Tattoo Studios: Stay Inked and In Control
You master your craft with precision – your books should reflect the same. Whether you’re a solo tattoo artist or own a busy studio with multiple artists, keeping your finances in order is essential for staying profitable, compliant, and stress-free during tax season.
Download Our Free Brochure →Why Tattoo Businesses Need Real Bookkeeping
Tattoo studios typically deal with:
- Cash, Venmo, Zelle, and credit card payments
- Commission splits between shop owners and artists
- Booth rentals and supply sharing
- Walk-in vs. scheduled income
- Inventory tracking for ink, needles, and supplies
- Equipment write-offs and licensing fees
Professional bookkeeping helps keep every dollar accounted for – even if your business runs on multiple payment apps and day-to-day cash flow.
Solo Artist in Florida vs. Multi-Artist Studio in New York
A solo tattooist in Florida may only need to track income by session, log equipment purchases, and stay current on quarterly tax payments.
A busy studio in New York with 6 artists and a mix of commission-based and booth-rent agreements needs to track payouts, generate 1099s, manage shop expenses, and monitor income by artist.
Both benefit from having clean monthly books and year-end reports – ready for tax filing or expansion planning.
Real Test Case
A two-artist tattoo studio in California was manually tracking all income in a notebook and using Venmo receipts at year-end. After switching to Remote Books Online for $125/month, they now get:
- Weekly reconciled reports from Square and Zelle
- Monthly summaries split by artist
- Expense tracking for supplies and marketing
- A clean year-end file for their accountant
They now price confidently, track overhead by artist, and stay stress-free during tax season.
Stay Legal and Audit-Proof
Tattoo studios are subject to state tax rules, sales tax on certain services or products, licensing renewals, and 1099 filings. Bookkeeping ensures:
Download Our Free Brochure →- Proper tracking of artist income vs. studio revenue
- Booth rental reporting and artist tax compliance
- Deduction support for equipment and supply purchases
- Preparedness for audits, license reviews, or grant opportunities
Ink Is Permanent – So Are Bad Records (Until You Fix Them)
Your art is permanent – but bad books don’t have to be. With the right system, you get clarity, control, and peace of mind.
FAQs
Can I track earnings by artist or booth?
Yes. We can split revenue, expenses, or commissions by artist or work area.
I accept cash, Square, and Venmo — can that all be tracked?
Yes. We reconcile all common payment apps and POS systems into one clean monthly report.
Do I need to send in receipts?
Most expenses can be synced from your business card or bank. You can upload extras through our secure portal.
Can you help with 1099s for booth renters?
Yes. We’ll help track booth rent income and prepare 1099s for independent contractors.
Do I need monthly or just annual bookkeeping?
Monthly helps avoid a mess at tax time and gives you visibility on your cash flow year-round.
Let Remote Books Online Help You Keep the Ink Flowing – and the Books Clean
We support tattoo artists and shop owners with easy, affordable bookkeeping. So you can stay focused on your clients, not your calculator.
Start with a free month of service:
https://www.remotebooksonline.com/bookkeeping/offer
Explore Bookkeeping Support for Artists and Studios:
- Affordable Bookkeeping Services
- QuickBooks Bookkeeping for Creative Businesses
- Compare Bookkeeping Plans
- Tattoo-friendly regions: California, Florida, New York, Texas, Arizona
- City coverage: Los Angeles CA 90001, Miami FL 33101, Brooklyn NY 11201, Phoenix AZ 85001, and Austin TX 73301
