Tattooing is in high demand and that is not going to change - if you have the craft, the business side can be set up surprisingly quickly. Here is what to sort out before your first client, and what to watch out for with taxes.
Sole proprietor or company?
Most tattooers start as a sole proprietor: registration is fast, admin is light and it is easy to run alone. If you are opening a shared studio with partners or planning serious investment, consider a limited company instead - it changes both your tax frame and your personal liability.
The checklist before day one
- Business registration with the relevant authority (in Hungary: central e-registration for sole proprietors)
- Tax number - you will need it for invoicing
- Authority notification: tattooing must be notified to the competent local health authority, which also inspects your hygiene standards
- Invoicing: pick an online invoicing tool and register for e-invoicing where required
- Insurance: liability insurance for your activity - often mandatory when renting a chair or premises
- Rented chair or your own studio - this decision shapes most of your cost structure
Taxes in short
The key decisions are VAT status (small-business exemption vs. VAT registration) and how your profit is taxed (personal income tax, flat-rate taxation, or corporate tax for a company). The right answer depends on your revenue and costs, and the thresholds change - always check the current rules with your tax authority or an accountant. A good accountant pays for themselves in the first months.
What to have ready on day one
- A finished price and service list
- A consent form template, printed or on a tablet
- An aftercare sheet you hand to every client
- A working booking system - see below
Start with online booking
Your first clients will mostly come from Instagram - but drowning in DMs is not a business plan. An online booking system like Appointio brings order from day one: clients book through the link in your bio, you see your calendar, reminders go out automatically. Admin stops eating the hours you could spend tattooing.