Booth Rent vs Commission: Which Is Better for Tattoo Studios?

Every studio eventually asks the same question: should artists pay a fixed booth rent, or split each session with the shop?

Neither is always better. It depends on how busy the artists are and who brings in the clients.

How commission works

The artist keeps a percentage of each session and the shop keeps the rest. Splits vary widely by market and experience. Supplies may be covered by the shop or deducted first — agree this upfront.

Good for: newer artists, shops that generate most of the bookings, artists who want predictable overhead.

How booth rent works

The artist pays a fixed amount per week or month and keeps everything they earn. They usually run their own bookings, supplies and taxes.

Good for: established artists with full books, shops that want steady income regardless of how busy the month is.

Who carries the risk

Do the maths with your own numbers

Take an artist's realistic monthly revenue, apply your split, and compare it to your rent figure. The break-even point tells you which side wins. Our commission calculator does this in seconds.

Hybrid setups

Some shops charge a lower rent plus a small commission, or switch artists from commission to rent once their books are full. Whatever you choose, write it down: split, supplies, deposits, cancellations and notice period.

Tracking it without spreadsheets

Tattoo Booking records the artist, price and deposit on every booking, so per-artist earnings are ready when it's time to pay out.

Start with Tattoo Booking — $29.99/month per studio, unlimited artists.