Should Tattoo Shops Post Prices? How to Build a Price List Clients Trust
Should Tattoo Shops Post Prices? How to Build a Price List Clients Trust
The short answer: post the prices that don't change, and quote custom work case by case. Your shop minimum, hourly rate range, flash prices, deposit policy, and cash and card prices should be easy to find before anyone walks in. Custom pieces still need a consult. Clients just want to know roughly what to expect before they get there.
Clear pricing cuts down on awkward conversations at the counter, filters out clients who won't book, and makes the people who do book trust you more. Here's what to post, how to write it, and what to leave for the consult.
What to post
| Item | Example | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Shop minimum | $100 minimum | Covers setup and supplies, so small tattoos don't cost the shop money. |
| Hourly rate (range) | $150–$200/hr depending on artist | Gives a baseline for larger work. |
| Flash prices | Priced on each sheet | Walk-ins can decide quickly. |
| Deposit policy | $100 deposit, applied to the final session | Sets expectations before booking. See how much deposit to take. |
| Cash price and card price | Both shown for every service | No surprises at checkout. |
| Touch-up policy | Free within 90 days | Answers the most common question after a session. |
What to quote case by case
- Custom pieces: give a range after the consult ("about 3 to 4 hours, $500–$700") and explain what could change it.
- Large or multi-session work: a per-session rate or a day rate, with the number of sessions as an estimate, not a promise.
- Cover-ups and reworks: these depend on what's already there, so always quote in person.
Not sure whether to charge hourly or by the piece? See hourly vs. flat-rate tattoo pricing.
Where to post prices
- On the wall or a board at the front desk.
- On your website and booking page, next to the deposit policy.
- In your Instagram highlights and the auto-reply clients get when they message you.
- On the booking confirmation, together with the deposit amount.
Showing a cash price and a card price
More shops now post two prices for every service: a cash price and a card price. Clients see both on the board and on the receipt, and they choose how to pay. Shown clearly, it doesn't feel like an extra charge, because nothing gets added at the end. It's just two prices posted up front.
Sample price board
| Service | Cash price | Card price |
|---|---|---|
| Shop minimum | $100.00 | $103.50 |
| Flash, small | $150.00 | $155.25 |
| Hourly (custom) | $175.00 | $181.13 |
| Deposit | $100.00 | $103.50 |
This setup is called dual pricing. It has to follow card-network rules and some state rules, including signage, the wording on receipts and how the terminal shows both prices. Revify sets all of that up for you. For the client side of it, see do tattoo shops take credit cards?
Wording that works
- "Prices start at our $100 shop minimum. Custom work is quoted at your consult."
- "Cash price and card price are shown for every service. Pay however you like."
- "Your deposit holds your slot and comes off your final session."
Keep it short and friendly, and say it the same way on the wall, the website and in messages.
Why clear pricing pays off
- Fewer price-shoppers taking up consult time.
- Fewer disputes and chargebacks, because the client agreed to the price before you started.
- Better reviews. "No surprises" is one of the most common things happy clients mention.
- With a cash price and a card price, the shop keeps its full cash price on card sales. With Revify, it also earns Monthly Cash-back of up to 0.75% of card sales.
The bottom line
Post your minimum, rate range, flash prices, deposit policy, and cash and card prices. Quote custom work after a consult. Keep the wording the same everywhere clients see it.
