Comparison
Tattoo Shop POS vs. Bare Stripe Terminal: What's the Real Difference?
Stripe Terminal costs $59 and takes cards. That's it. A tattoo shop POS is Stripe Terminal plus everything that turns a card charge into a run studio — the booking that got the client there, the consent that keeps the state off your back, the split payout that pays your artists right.
Verdict
If you're a solo artist doing 5 tattoos a month, bare Stripe is fine. If you're a real studio, the POS layer isn't optional — it's the difference between taking money and running a business.
| Feature | Tattoo Shop POS (Tattoo Booking) | Bare Stripe Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| In-shop card reader | Yes (Stripe reader) | Yes |
| Online booking flow | Yes | Build it yourself |
| Deposits held against session | Yes | Manual PaymentIntent |
| Per-artist payout splits | Automatic (Stripe Connect) | Configure Connect yourself |
| Consent forms + waivers | Built in | None |
| Client history + photos | Built in | None |
| Refunds + chargeback UI | One-click | Stripe dashboard |
| Monthly cost | $29.99 | $0 (+ your build time) |
Get started
Turn a card reader into a real studio.
A tattoo shop POS built on Stripe: online deposits, in-shop card readers, tips, gift cards, per-artist payouts, and healed-photo aftercare.
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Frequently asked questions
- Does Tattoo Booking's POS use my Stripe account?
- Yes — you connect your own Stripe on signup. Money moves directly to your bank, we never touch the funds.
- What card reader should I buy?
- The Stripe Reader S700 ($349) for a shop or the WisePad 3 ($59) for a mobile artist. Both work out of the box.
- How do artist payouts work?
- Each artist can have their own Stripe Connect account; deposits and balances split at charge time. Or run it as one shop account and export a commission report at month-end — your call.
- Do I need this if I only take deposits online?
- No — the online booking + deposit alone covers most solo artists. Add the card reader when you need to swipe balances in the shop.