Can You Open a Tattoo Studio Even If You’re Not a Tattoo Artist?

If you’re a tattoo enthusiast or entrepreneur who’s considering running your own studio, here’s the good news: Yes, you can open a tattoo shop even if you don’t tattoo. However, there are certain things you won’t be allowed to do. 

That’s why we’ve put together a guide for those thinking about owning a tattoo shop but not tattooing. 

In the next sections, we’ll lay out exactly what that involves — from day-to-day responsibilities to complying with licensing and health rules and finding the right artists.

What You Can Do as a Non-Artist Tattoo Shop Owner

If you’re not tattooing, your main job is ensuring the studio runs smoothly and safely, and consistently for both clients and artists. Here’s what that typically entails:

• Studio setup and upkeep: Coordinating the lease and layout, setting up stations, maintaining furniture andequipment, and ensuring cleaning routines arenconsistent day after daym
• Supplies and vendors: Keeping the shop stocked with the right supplies and working with reliable vendors to avoid running short on essentials
• Client experience and flow: Overseeing and handling how people book, what policies they see up front, and how the shop looks in person (that is, organized, clean, and professional)
• Scheduling and admin systems: Setting up a clear process for your tattoo shop appointments, deposits, cancellations, and client paperwork
• Hiring and onboarding: Bringing in qualified, licensed artists (and other employees, if needed) who match your standards, then onboarding them so that rules and routines are clear from day one
• Workplace culture: Applying expectations fairly across the board, keeping communication respectful, and handling problems early so small issues don’t turn into shop drama
• Problem solving: Handling issues quickly (whether it’s client-related or a conflict between employees) so small stuff doesn’t turn into a major problem down the road

Overall, when you handle the operations side well, your artists get to focus on their work, and your clients feel taken care of.

What You Can’t & Shouldn’t Do as a Non-Artist Studio Owner

Even if you own the studio, there are a few hard lines you can’t cross — and they’re the kind that can get your tattoo studio fined, shut down, or possibly even dragged into a lawsuit. 

Below are the main things you should definitely avoid so you stay out of trouble.

• Tattooing without proper licensing/training: You might be a tattoo enthusiast in your own right, but unless you actually have the proper training, you can’t perform any tattoo-related procedure.
• Letting unlicensed people tattoo under your roof: If someone isn’t licensed or approved locally, they shouldn’t be tattooing in your shop. Yes, even if they’re “just helping out” or “still learning as an apprentice.”
• Overstepping into the creative side: You shouldn’t ever micromanage your tattoo artist’s design calls, technique, or style choices. Instead, focus on policies and safety. 
• Shrugging off health regulations and assuming artists will handle it: As the owner, you’re still responsible for the studio environment, sanitation standards, and what happens in your shop day to day.
• Disregarding consent forms or ID/age verification: This is a surefire way to land in trouble, especially with minors or when a client later claims they didn’t agree to what was done.
• Skipping written agreements and clear job expectations: “We’ll figure it out” doesn’t work once money and clients are involved. Every person working in your studio should know what’s expected, especially when it comes to hours, pay structure, and cleaning duties.
• Misclassifying your workers: If someone’s an employee, handle payroll, taxes, and labor rules properly. For booth rental, your agreements and day-to-day rules should reflect that those artists are contractors, not employees. 

The easiest way to think about it is: If it’s something that impacts safety, consent, or licensing, don’t just brush it off or wing it. 

Also read: 15 Ways To Get More Tattoo Clients

Legal & Health Requirements You’ll Need To Handle

Rules vary by location, but the main rule applies everywhere: Even if you’re not tattooing, you’re still responsible for ensuring your tattoo studio is compliant. 

Business basics

At minimum, you’re setting up a real business entity, not a side hustle. 

That means registering your tattoo shop properly, understanding your local business requirements, and carrying insurance that makes sense for a tattoo studio (not generic coverage that leaves gaps). 

Your lease matters more than people think, because some landlords don’t allow tattooing, and certain spaces aren’t a great fit for the workflow or compliance needs. 

You should also make sure the space can support what your shop needs day to day: cleanable surfaces, proper sinks (if required), and a layout that keeps “clean” and “dirty” areas separate. Make sure you handle these basics early to avoid expensive changes after you’ve already built the shop out.

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Shop permits & inspections

In many areas, tattoo studios are considered regulated businesses, which means you’ll likely need to get a shop permit and pass an inspection before opening (and sometimes ongoing inspections after). 

Keep in mind that inspectors care less about your décor and more about whether your setup supports safe tattooing. This includes proper sanitation and sterilization practices, safe sharps disposal, and surfaces that can actually be cleaned and disinfected. 

That’s why it’s important to have shop-wide standards, even if you have artists who are quite experienced. This ensures that everyone is doing things the same, correct way, especially when it comes to sinks, washrooms, and disposal areas. 

It also helps to keep simple records like cleaning logs or procedure checklists, so that your shop is always inspection-ready. Not to mention, these records make training new staff a lot easier and prove that your safety routines are consistent. 

Artist verification

As a tattoo studio owner, you must confirm that every artist working inside your establishment has the right license or registration. Additionally, you should keep record copies on file so you’re not scrambling if an inspector asks. 

If you have guest artists or temporary hires, you’ll want a process for them too, because “visiting” doesn’t always mean “exempt.” 

The more organized your records are, the less stressful inspections become — and the easier it is to stay consistent even when your team changes.

This is one of those areas where being a non-artist owner actually helps, because you’re more likely to double-check paperwork instead of simply trusting someone’s reputation.

Hiring Tattoo Artists When You’re Not an Artist Yourself

When you’re a non-artist owner of a tattoo studio, hiring is one of the most important decisions you’ll make because your artists are the ones who will mainly interact with clients and represent your shop. 

What to look for beyond tattooing skills

It might be tempting to focus only on portfolios to make things easier for you. However, impressive artistic skills don’t automatically equal professionalism, cleanliness, or reliability — all of which are equally as important as talent. 

For starters, look for professionalism in small things: how they communicate with you and the clients, whether they show up on time, and how they talk about clients and past workplaces.

Reliability matters because missed appointments and inconsistent scheduling create chaos for everyone and hurt the shop’s reputation fast. 

You also want a tattoo artist who takes hygiene and sanitation procedures seriously. At the very least, you shouldn’t have to remind them about basics like disinfecting, glove changes, and proper disposal.

Overall, if someone’s talented but sloppy, disorganized, or dismissive about standards, it usually becomes your problem.

Final Word

If your goal is owning a tattoo shop but not tattooing, your focus is on the business behind the art: choosing the right space, setting up a clean and professional studio, hiring (or renting booths to) licensed artists, and keeping the shop compliant with local health rules. 

At the end of the day, you’re aiming to build a tattoo studio that runs smoothly even when you’re not the one servicing clients directly. 

That’s why it’s highly recommended to use a tool like Bookedin so you and your staff don’t need to manually handle the busywork (like client booking, staff scheduling, and deposit collection), while clients know exactly what to expect.

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Featured image credit: Drink Drippy via Unsplash