Over the years I’ve heard tattoo artists at all stages of their journey earnestly discuss what they wish clients knew before they booked their first appointment. With so many things to consider before setting foot in your first tattoo shop, I compiled the 30 things tattoo artists wish you knew.

From his first tattoo at age 18, to working at biker-owned tattoo shops in the 90s, to owning his shop today, Mark Merchant, owner of @higher_truth_tattoo tells us a bit about his journey where he’s found family, good fortune, validation and an ongoing pursuit of higher truth in everything.

Whether to relocate to a new shop, or to open up their own, tattoo artists leaving seems to be a trend… But why? So we reached out to over 70 shop owners and artists to ask the big question. Check out what they’re saying and leave a comment to help us shed some light on this interesting topic!

If you’re looking to go into business for yourself and open up your own shop, congratulations! Here are 7 things you’ll want to think about while trying to find that perfect space to get your dream off the ground.

As a tattoo shop, you’ve always been focused on building a stellar reputation, getting clients in the door and scoring a roster of talented artists. Now you need the tools to make it easy. At BookedIN we’ve discovered 19 business tools that will help drive traffic, bump up productivity and manage your work/life balance, the keys that every tattoo shop needs to be successful.

If you’re wondering,  “is this online booking thing really worth it?” … look no further. Today we’re chatting with long-time BookedIN user Jason Medina, a tattoo artist and shop owner. For Jason, at first he was hesitant, but after seeing his girlfriend pull in $200 while chilling on the couch watching movies, the allure was just too hard to ignore…

Today we’re Talking Shop with Kari Yocom, a Portland based tattoo artist. Read on for her advice on “making it” in the tattoo industry, the biggest challenges you’ll face when getting started, and the importance of being organized.