Opening My Tattoo shop, how to get started

Ok, I have been tattooing now for two years and I must say I picked it up as a natural. My boyfriend has been piercing for five years and I also have a very very skilled tattoo artist and he happens to be my bestfriend. He has been doing it for about five years as well. Where we live there are two or three tattoo shops, and I don't mean to knock peoples work (i know they work hard) but they are not the greatest. The quality of the tats is horrible. To watery in the color, no good shading jobs. . . just not the best work. They also OVER charge out the ass. I moved here a year ago. I am looking to open my own tattoo shop and I know it will take off very well with the quality of the work between us three. I just need some info, and help on getting started and what I will need. I have never worked in a shop. (yes, i have my own autoclaive) Where I came from tattoo pricing was very fair and the job was awesome, so I plan to bring that here. Please, someone help me get started. Thank you.

DUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow.. that really helps.. DUCK I couldntbelieve it was that simple. Asshole.

No No man you got it wrong ...I wasn't flaming YOu and in fact I wish you the best, its just that you will probably GET flamed for that post!!

If you have to ask those questions you probably shouldnt be opening a shop.

EXCATLY!

Hi Pebbles! Haven't heard from ya for a while!

if you are better than those established guys you mentioned, you should know the answers already. But here it goes a hint: In FL you are required an affidavit from an MD, any person tattooing without this little piece of paper is liable for big time jail time. Do you have it. The affidavit requires that your MD comes to the shop and supervises your procedure, shop, gives you quarterly training, among other things he is responsible for. Once you get that, you can apply for your occupational license. The state won't ban you from tattooing from home but they will dig a whole in you if you are don't have the affidavit... Also, if you don't have an MD in the family, and even if you do, good luck with getting that paper signed. Can we see some of your work? And btw, an autoclave is not the only thing required to make safe tattoos.

SWALLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not a tattoo artist, but seriously if you have to ask...you shouldn't be opening up a shop. Not to flame you, but too many people try to open up shops w/o ever having worked at one and they end up having their shop go under and in massive amounts of debt and fines for not knowing how to do things. I don't know if you are in the process or are thinking about doing it in the future, but hopefully your thinking about doing it in the distant future and are just asking for pointers. You really should work at a shop first and so you can see what it's like and so you can at least establish a decent clientele then you may have some return customers when you open your shop. Just my .02 cents.

Hiya Taz.. u aint heard from me at all on this board! must be thinkin of someone else who used to post with this name.. its just some random wank i typed in!

Now Bambi did ya really think I didn't know it was YOU?

shh damn it Taz.. this is my secret id! if u keep telling everyone who i really am i will have to let them all know your real name is Sarah ! HA!

YOU PROMISED not to tell!!!!!!

Hi there, I'm also in Avon Park. My ex husband and I have ran our own shop in Florida and I can help you out with the who's and what's - drop me an email at [email removed] if you'd like, and if you have any questions please feel free to ask!! Sunshine

The same thing is happing to me but its the other way around.Me and my girlfriend want to open a tattoo shop together in Flordia after we finish High School.She wants to be a tattoo artist and a Pearser.She got me into being a Pearser and I also want to be a tattoo artist.This is really important for us because its already hard on us.We've already lost a child when she was a month pregnate and its been really hard.we realy need some help on how to get started.I need to know now because when we move together after we graduate then we can get straight to it.

I read these forums a lot and have never posted before, but i felt this was necessary. I didn't do things right i will admit it. However after five years of tattooing at home I now do work in a legitimate shop and am licensed in the city. You have to do your homework people. Just learning to tattoo is a process that i will continue to learn and evolve the rest of my life. You learn things from everyone you encounter in this business, whether its right or wrong. You have to have some kind of sense to tell the difference. As far as opening a shop, yeah everyone wants to work for themselves and make their own rules. Tattooing is and should be respected as a minor medical procedure, you are after all altering your appearance forever. A respect needs to be had for this art. Opening a shop is a lot about paperwork and inspections and dealing with legalities and so forth. To tell you the truth I would not even ponder the idea without researching the local and state laws in your area and then finding out from your local town hall what is required. You have certifications and zoning and all types of things you haven't even probably thought of. I agree with some other folks here....put in at least five years at a shop before you even attempt this....you will go down in flames. Just my opinions and my thoughts. I work in a crappy section of philly and fix a lot of scratcher tattoos. Its not the best but I am following the rules and learning from some talented artist who I work with. The truth is I am very fortunate I can support my family of four doing what I love to do and that is art. For that I remain thankful. Humbletat

I am truly sorry to say this to you but most tatt artists are just arrogant assholes who will offer you as little help as they can.this is simply because they fear the new talent,it challenges them and forces them to put out that extra bit of work(which to those of us who love the art its really nice to have different styles and some other competition to drive us to our maximum potential,that's how we excel at what we do)and you are going to take their clients. it sounds like you got a decent portfolio and clientele built up so this is what you need to do now.research no one will do it for you,find out your state laws,board of health is a good place to start.save money, you will need it.there are those of us who like to see new shops and we are here all you need to do is look in the right spots.there is also all kinds of advice online try that but don't rely on what anyone says,find out for yourself. Klute Kalevra Underground Grafix