Tattoo booth rent and guest artist payments · how shops set it up
Clear payments.
Booth renters, commission artists and guest spots all get paid differently. Here is how tattoo shops set up payments so every artist is paid correctly.
Who takes the payment?
In a single-artist studio, payments are simple. In a shop with booth renters, commission artists and guest spots, the first question is always the same: whose payment is it? The answer shapes how you set up tattoo payments at the counter.
Two common setups.
- Booth renters often take their own payments.
- Commission shops usually take every payment at the counter.
- Many shops use a mix. Still deciding? Booth rent vs commission math →
Artists take their own payments.
- Each artist takes cards at their station, often on a handheld.
- Deposits go to the artist doing the work.
- The shop collects booth rent on a set schedule.
- Each artist keeps their own records for taxes.
The shop takes every payment.
- One counter terminal, with handhelds at stations if you want them.
- Every sale is recorded with the artist who did the work.
- Tips are paid out on the same schedule as commission.
- With InkedIn Tools, every artist gets their own calendar and booking link.
Shop-wide basics.
- Post your prices. Cash price and card price everywhere.
- One deposit policy for every artist.
- Clear tip handling so artists know when tips arrive.
- A set payout schedule, every week or two.
- Put it in writing: rent, splits and payout timing.
- Guest spot? Agree on all of it before day one.
Good to know.
How do booth renters take payments at a tattoo shop?
Booth renters usually take payments for their own work, often with their own card terminal, and pay the shop rent separately. Each artist keeps their own records.
How do commission tattoo shops handle payments?
The shop takes every payment at the counter, records which artist did the work, and pays each artist their share on a set schedule, including tips.
How should a shop pay a guest artist?
Agree on the split, deposit policy and payout timing before the guest spot starts, and put it in writing. Most shops pay guest artists at the end of the spot or on their normal payout day.
Can Revify work for shops with booth renters?
Every shop's setup is different. Book a 15-minute demo and tell us how your shop runs, and we will walk through the options.
More for shop owners.
Tell us how your shop runs.
Booth rent, commission, guest spots or a mix. Book a 15-minute demo and we will walk through the setup that fits.
Book a demo →See what you'd earnMerchant accounts are subject to approval. Monthly Cash-back is up to 0.75% of card sales and depends on your card-price tier.