Here are some essential tips to help you stop leaving money on the table and start treating your tattoo income like the business it absolutely is:
Track Every Single Expense
Yes, Even That One
If it helps you run your tattoo business, it could be tax-deductible. Think:
- Gloves, needles, cartridges, machines
- Stencil paper and primer
- Furniture (yes, even that rolling stool)
- Continuing education (seminars, classes, conventions)
- Marketing (website, social media ads)
- Rent or booth fees
- Cleaning supplies
Electrum pro tip: Keep digital or paper receipts in a monthly folder.
Bonus points if you label each expense with a category.
Get an Accountant Who Knows Tattooing
Your cousin’s friend who does taxes for Uber drivers isn’t going to cut it.
Your cousin’s friend who does taxes for Uber drivers isn’t going to cut it.
Look for someone who:
- Specializes in self-employed creatives or tattoo artists
- Knows what deductions you’re entitled to
- Can help you plan quarterly tax payments to avoid getting slammed in April
Real talk: A good accountant will save you money, not cost you.
Use Apps That Make You Look Like You Have Your Sh*t Together
Don’t wait until tax season to figure out where your money went.
Try:
Don’t wait until tax season to figure out where your money went.
Try:
- QuickBooks Self-Employed or Wave for tracking income/expenses
- MileIQ if you drive to guest spots or conventions
- Google Drive or Dropbox for digital receipt storage
Start Thinking Like a Business — Because You Are One
Tattooing is art, but it’s also your livelihood.
That means:
Tattooing is art, but it’s also your livelihood.
That means:
- Track your income (cash, e-transfer, card, all of it)
- Set aside taxes as you go (aim for 25–30%)
- Consider opening a separate business account so you’re not mixing personal + business funds
Don’t Skip Your Taxes. Seriously.
We get it — cash culture is real.
But skipping taxes can:
We get it — cash culture is real.
But skipping taxes can:
- Jeopardize your ability to get loans/mortgages
- Create huge fines or legal trouble later
- Undermine the legitimacy of your career
You deserve to build wealth from your work. Doing your taxes right is part of that.
✅ TL;DR: Your Quick Tattoo Tax Checklist
- Track every expense
- Hire an accountant who gets tattooing
- Use apps to automate your life
- Separate business and personal finances
- File your taxes (no ghosting the CRA/IRS)
Let’s normalize financial literacy in tattooing.
