Money & policy
What Should a Tattoo Intake Form Include?
6 min read · Updated August 2026
An intake form is a quoting tool, not paperwork. Done right, the artist's first reply is a price and a date instead of four more questions.
Contact and basics
Name, email, phone, age confirmation, and how they found you. The last one tells you which marketing is actually working.
The design brief
This is the section that decides whether a quote is possible.
- Description of the idea in the client's own words
- Style — traditional, blackwork, realism, fine line, Japanese, script, cover-up
- Reference images upload
- Placement on the body, and whether it wraps
- Approximate size in cm or inches
- Colour or black and grey
- Is this a cover-up or a reworking of existing work? (upload a photo if so)
Budget and availability
Asking for a budget range is not rude, it's efficient — it stops you designing a full sleeve for someone with a small budget. Availability as day-of-week and time-of-day preferences saves an entire round of messages.
Early medical flags
A couple of screening questions here — allergies, blood thinners, pregnancy, skin conditions at the site — catch problems before someone travels in. Full medical screening still belongs on the consent form.
Policy acknowledgement
Finish with a tickbox for the deposit and cancellation policy so expectations are set before the artist spends time on a quote.
Keep it short enough to finish
Every field costs you enquiries. If a question doesn't change the quote or the safety of the session, cut it or move it to the consent form.
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Quote from the first message
Intake questions attached to your booking link, so enquiries arrive ready to price.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is an intake form the same as a consent form?
- No. Intake gathers what the artist needs to quote and schedule. The consent form is the signed legal record with full medical screening, taken before tattooing.
- How long should an intake form be?
- Short enough to complete on a phone in a couple of minutes. Anything beyond that measurably reduces completed enquiries.
- Should I ask for a budget?
- Yes, as a range. It prevents wasted design time and awkward conversations at the quote stage.
Keep reading
- How to Create a Tattoo Studio Consent Form
- How to Book Tattoo Consultations Online
- How to Price Tattoo Sessions