How to Open a Tattoo Shop in Florida

Interior Of Empty Tattoo Parlor
Attention, entrepreneurs! Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, find out how to open a tattoo shop in Florida.

Tattooing dates back to the 1700s, and since then, it’s continued to gain in popularity globally, including in Florida. Do you want to keep the tattoo phenomenon going?

Do you want to put your artistic passions to good use? If so, it’s understandable that you would be looking for a guide that fills you in on how to open a tattoo shop.

Our guide below will fill you in on all the essential things you need to know. Get ready to open your tattoo parlor and bring your creative dreams to life.

Continue to Hone Your Craft

No matter what you do for a profession, one thing for sure is you can never practice too much. In the world of tattooing, it’s essential that you take the time to continue practicing your tattooing skills because the art you create will be worn on people’s skin for the rest of their lives.

As the owner of the shop, you don’t necessarily need to be a tattoo artist, but you do need to ensure that the artists you hire have quality skills. You might consider looking into an apprenticeship to gain the experience you need to run your tattoo business the right way.

Educating yourself will ensure you run a business that people want to come to for their tattoos every time.

Understand Local Regulations

Before opening your tattoo parlor, you need to contact the local departments to understand the regulations you need to adhere to. You’ll need to ask them about the laws regarding tattooing and sanitation in your area.

If need be, once you speak with the local health departments, they can tell you how to obtain the permits and licenses you need to begin doing business. Without these permits, you can’t open your doors or tattoo anyone.

Create a Business Plan

Creating a business plan is crucial because it will detail every part of your business, from the financial plan to daily tasks. The purpose of having a business plan is so that you can present it to lenders and other investors to secure startup funds.

Business plans can also be used as a reference guide for the future that you can use to expand upon when you plan to grow the business. Don’t forget to include information about the software you intend to use to keep business information organized.

The information collected by the software would include:

  • Business inventory
  • Employee payroll information
  • Clients
  • Business losses
  • Profits

Being organized from the beginning makes things easier as you move forward with conducting your business. Don’t forget to research the question of how much does it cost to start a tattoo shop because the answers need to be included in your business plan.

Decide on the Location

Now that you’ve taken the time to do all the work of obtaining the proper licensing and creating a business plan, the next step in the process is to decide where you will begin offering your services. When choosing the location, think of considering an area where there is a high amount of traffic.

When you survey the building, ensure it provides enough parking for shop clients and has the space you need to tattoo. Also, consider the upgrades and changes you need to make to the building before it’s ready for business.

Choosing the right location can help you become the best tattoo shop in the area.

Buy Shop Supplies

How will your shop run if you don’t have the equipment you need to open it. Ensure your shop is stacked with functioning quality necessities. Without them, you are not able to do business, because you could risk breaching sanitization laws and others that you must adhere to.

Equipment you need includes:

  • Spray bottles
  • Latex gloves
  • Needles
  • Tattoo machines
  • Paper towels
  • Chairs 
  • Tattoo supply stations
  • Telephone

These are just a few types of equipment you need to run a successful tattoo business. Gathering the equipment you need for your tattoo shop also means purchasing furniture.

You want the atmosphere to be inviting yet professional because when people come to get a tattoo, they will be there for a few hours until their tattoo is finished.

Find the Right Staff

Unless you plan on being a one-person-operated tattoo staff, you’ll need to bring some other people on board. When you hire staff, take your time to review the credentials of other artists and ensure they’ve been trained as professional tattoo artists.

The artist you hire will directly represent your shop; therefore, you need to choose the right one. You will also need to consider hiring a front desk person to answer the phones and schedule client appointments for the tattoo artists.

Decide on a Name

What’s going to set you apart from the other tattoo shops in the area? You need to choose a shop name that makes you stand out and will motivate customers to come in and get tattooed by your artists.

Make a list of the names you might choose and take the time to check them on the internet to ensure no one else is using the name you’ve chosen. After you’ve done this, you can move forward with applying for your business license and your EIN, which can be used to file your business taxes.

How to Open a Tattoo Shop?

We’ve created a guide on how to open a tattoo shop above. You need to take time to hone your craft and don’t forget to choose a shop name that no one else has.

Are you ready to take on a new career? Contact the Florida Tattoo Academy and learn your skills to be the best tattoo shop.