Let’s get one thing straight - just being good at tattooing isn’t enough anymore.
The artists pulling in six figures aren’t necessarily the most talented, most followed, or most booked-out. But they are running their business like a business.
They know their numbers. They don’t live in their DMs. And they’re making content that connects and converts.
If you’re ready to scale without burning out, here are three key habits we’ve seen over and over again in high-earning tattooers:
No more “I think I made…” at the end of the month.
Six-figure artists are obsessed with their numbers:
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How much they bring in per session
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What percentage goes to overhead, rent, or payout
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How much ink they use and when it’s time to reorder
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Which services or styles actually earn them the most
You don’t need a finance degree - you need a basic spreadsheet, or better yet, software like Square or QuickBooks that tracks it for you. Knowing your numbers is the first step to making more without working more.
2. They Automate the Boring Stuff
Manual bookings? Constant back-and-forth in your inbox? Not anymore.
Top artists have moved their admin into systems:
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Booking links with automated deposits and confirmations
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Calendar apps that send appointment reminders
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Email responders for FAQs or waitlists
Your energy should go toward your art and your clients - not playing calendar tag. Automation helps you protect your time, eliminate no-shows, and look pro AF while doing it. We recommend a system like SQUARE as it does all of the waivers, calendars, automatic reminders, online scheduling in one place and it's very user friendly.
Posting tattoos isn’t enough. High-earning artists use their platforms to tell a story - their own.
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They show their face.
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They speak to their audience (clients or artists).
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They position themselves as experts, educators, or personalities - not just tattooers.
They make content that gets saved, shared, and booked because it’s engaging and consistent. It’s not about being an influencer - it’s about being visible.
If people don’t know what you do, how you work, or who you serve - they won’t know to book you.
4. They Take Care of Their Bodies
You are your most important tool. If you’re in chronic pain, exhausted, or emotionally wiped - your business suffers.
Tattooers hitting six figures are investing in:
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Ergonomic furniture and workstation setups
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Compression gloves, posture supports, proper lighting
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Breaks, movement, hydration - basic survival, babes
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Mental health support, boundaries, and saying “no” to burnout
Rest is productive. Long careers require long-term thinking.
Big money doesn’t come from chasing every new client - it comes from building loyalty.
- Send thank-you emails and check-ins post-healing
- Offer touch-up windows or birthday promos
- Stay visible through content, newsletters, and stories
- Make their studio feel like a space people want to come back to
The Bottom Line: You’re a Business Owner
Your tattoo machine might be your brush - but your systems, your strategy, and your voice?
That’s your engine.
And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone.
At Electrum, we’re not just about premium products - we’re about helping tattooers grow.
