Tattoo booking with deposits: how it works

Almost every tattoo shop asks for a deposit before a session. It protects your time and the client’s spot. Here is how deposits work, how to set your rules, and how to take them online instead of by bank transfer and screenshots.

Why tattoo shops ask for a deposit

A tattoo appointment blocks an artist’s chair for hours, and often there is a custom design drawn in advance. When a client doesn’t show up, that time and work are lost. A deposit does three things:

• It confirms the client is serious about the appointment
• It covers the drawing time if the client cancels
• It makes late cancellations rarer, because there is something at stake

How much to ask

There is no fixed rule. Common approaches:

• A fixed amount for small pieces and flash
• A percentage of the expected price for larger work
• The price of one session for multi-session pieces

The deposit is usually deducted from the final price, so the client doesn’t pay extra — they pay part of the price earlier.

Write a clear deposit policy

Clients accept a deposit more easily when the rules are clear before they pay. Put these points in writing, on your website and in the booking confirmation:

• How much the deposit is and that it is deducted from the final price
• Until when the client can reschedule without losing the deposit (for example 48 hours before)
• What happens on a no-show or a late cancellation
• How many times an appointment can be moved
• Whether the deposit can be transferred to another person

Check the consumer rules in your country. Rules for prepayments and cancellations differ per country; a clear policy that the client accepts before paying is the basis everywhere.

From request to session

A good online booking flow looks like this:

1. The client fills in a tattoo booking form with idea, placement, size and reference images.
2. The artist reviews the request and accepts it, or asks a question.
3. The client receives a link to pay the deposit online — iDEAL, card, Bancontact or Apple Pay.
4. After payment the appointment is confirmed by e-mail, with your deposit policy.
5. A reminder goes out before the session, with any preparation tips.
6. At the session the deposit is deducted from the final price.

Online deposits versus bank transfers

Many shops still ask for a bank transfer and a screenshot as proof. That works, but it costs time: checking your bank app, matching payments to names and chasing people who forget. An online payment link is confirmed automatically and is linked to the booking. The money goes to your own account at a payment provider such as Mollie or Stripe, which charges a small fee per transaction. At OnlineTattoo.art, online deposits are in development as an add-on; see the add-ons on our pricing page.

Deposits for flash

For flash, the deposit doubles as a claim. A client who pays the deposit for a one-off design reserves it; the design is then marked as claimed so nobody else can book it. More about this on the page about how to sell tattoo flash online.

How it works at OnlineTattoo.art →