The Business of Tattooing: Tattooing through chaos: what’s working in 2025

Memphis Mori

Aug 11, 2025

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The Business of Tattooing: Tattooing through chaos: what’s working in 2025

Tattooing in 2025 Isn’t Just About Art Anymore.
It’s about resilience.
It’s about surviving slow seasons, rising costs, and the constant background noise of “the world is ending.”

If your shop feels quiet, your energy’s low, and everything costs more — you're not imagining it. You're not alone. And you’re definitely not failing.

LET’S NAME WHAT’S HAPPENING:
Booking is slower across the board - even for talented, established artists.

Clients are canceling more often (money’s tight everywhere).

Costs of ink, rent, and supplies have all gone up.

Social media isn’t hitting the way it used to.

And on top of that, you’re supposed to be an artist, a therapist, a business owner, and a content creator?

Let’s take a breath.

**Rework your pricing to reflect your actual expenses.**

If supplies cost more and your overhead went up, your pricing should too. You’re not greedy — you’re staying afloat. Even a $20/session increase can add up fast.

Track your average hourly rate, not just what you charge.

Did that $300 tattoo take 5 hours because of setup, cleaning, and no-shows? Then you made $60/hr, not $150. Use that info to set minimums or adjust scheduling.

Stop over-ordering. Start auditing.

Look at what you actually use per month. Do you need 100 cartridges in every configuration? Probably not. Shop smarter, not more.

Build a cancellation policy and enforce it.

Respect your time. Make deposits mandatory. Offer reschedules with notice, but stop eating the cost of late cancellations.

Batch your admin work like you batch tattoos.

Set aside 1–2 hours a week to do all your bookings, emails, and supply orders in one go. Saves your brain — and your time.

Book in blocks, not random chaos.

If your energy’s fried, try grouping similar tattoos (like small pieces or day sessions) on the same days. Fewer context switches = better focus and less burnout.

Automate what drains you.

Auto-replies. Booking links. Email reminders. Even just using pre-written responses for FAQs can save you hours.

Offer packages or loyalty incentives.

Instead of discounts, try “buy 3 sessions, get free aftercare” or “free flash add-on after 5 tattoos.” Keeps people coming back without undercutting your rates.

Invest in supplies that save time, not just money.

If Cleanse replaces 3 products, or Dermor wraps speed up bandaging, that’s worth it. Time is money — protect both.

Remember: you’re the business. Protect yourself like one.

Take breaks. Set boundaries. Get therapy if you can. You’re the asset. No one benefits if you burn out.

We know it’s hard right now.
Running a tattoo business—or just getting out of bed some days—feels heavier than it used to. The world is expensive, the internet is loud, and showing up every day to create something meaningful is no small thing.

If you're still here, still tattooing, still trying? That’s not just survival. That’s resilience. That’s power.

We're not here to preach hustle culture. We’re here to remind you that you're allowed to rest, to adapt, to ask for help—and to keep building something beautiful in the middle of the chaos.

You're doing better than you think. And you’re not alone.