How to Make Money Tattooing

With most people still waiting for the economy to turn back around alternative careers are becoming increasingly popular. More and more people are looking at tattooing as a serious source for their own income as it is an art form that is as old as humanity and only seems to be getting increasingly popular. Factor in the huge profits that can be made by the most skilled tattoo artist and it is no surprise that more and more people today are buying tattoo kits.

There are several ways to make money tattooing, and each has its ups and downs. The most obvious way to make money tattooing is as a tattoo artist. When getting a design permanently embedded in their skin people want an artist that they feel comfortable trusting with such a lifelong commitment and they are willing to pay for the skill that earns that trust. Tattoo artists may have to pay for their inks, but in the end they set their own rate based on their estimation of the work involved, which means they work for the price they name. Obviously, this can be highly lucrative, especially if you have a developed reputation and or customer base.

The downside is it takes a lot of time and work before you start making money as a tattoo artist. Not only do you have to pay for tattoo kits and inks, which are not cheap, you have to serve your time as an apprentice. The length of an apprenticeship varies, but this is an involved process that can usually take months or longer, during which the apprentice is not paid for their work in the tattoo shop. Once the apprenticeship is over, a new tattoo artist can start making money with their trade, but to get regular traffic and customers to make it a sustainable venture, you'll have to invest time in developing a customer base and a solid reputation for quality work amongst them. Even if you get a chair in an established shop, it is still going to take time to start getting a steady stream of customers in your seat.

Another way to make money tattooing is in tattoo design. Tattoo artists are highly specialized craftsman who do much more than just "draw." If you however have an artistic inclination and enjoy designing tattoos, but lack a desire to take the time necessary to learn the complete process or just don't have any space for tattoo kits you can always try to make money selling tattoo designs. There are websites that specialize in selling tattoo designs that you could submit to, or even try building your own. Some of these websites are pay per image, while others are membership sites that give users access to the sites updates and archives.

The best starter tattoo kits will definitely help you if you plan on going the artist route. But if you’re not comfortable working with a needle, you may be able to make money tattooing by creating designs. Whichever you choose, tattoo kits are the best way to save money while learning your dream of becoming a tattoo artist.