How To Start A Tattoo Business In South Africa
What is a Tattoo?
A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting ink, dyes, and/or pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. The art of making tattoos is known as tattooing. Tattoos comprise three broad categories: purely decorative, symbolic, and pictorial.
How To Start A Tattoo Business In South Africa
1. Licenses
It’s easy to draw on paper, but not so easy to ink someone’s body. You need to have a license that allows you to work as a tattoo artist. This license is not just given to anyone, you will have to go through a tough process to obtain your license. You should be a certified tattoo artist; you should have worked a certain number of hours and performed a certain number of tattoos before being licensed.
2. Operating premises
Operating premises are very important for any business that deals with clients physically. You will need to rent a space, working from home is not recommended at all. The size of the premises you rent will be determined by the number of artists you plan to have. Will you be the sole tattoo artist or will you hire other artists?
It’s not uncommon to see tattoo studios with extra space just to rent out to other artists. Most of these artists are usually traveling artists or just artists that can’t afford to lease a commercial space.
3. Renovations
You might rent out a space that used to be a restaurant or furniture shop; you will need to remodel it to match the feel of a tattoo studio. Renovations will include painting, putting up art and buying furniture. Furniture might include things like a couch for your clients to sit on while waiting.
4. Insurance
A lot can go wrong while tattooing people; which might lead to them suing your tattoo business. The best thing to do is to get insurance that will cover you in such cases.
5. Marketing
Operating out of a storefront is a form of marketing in itself. However, it can take time before people really start noticing your parlour. You are going to have to do some forms of marketing if you want to reach a wider clientele sooner.
Word of mouth usually works very well. A lot of people that are getting a tattoo for the first time usually know someone who has a tattoo and would much rather be referred to a tattoo studio because of trust. You will have to provide exceptional services in order to get clients through word of mouth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you need a Licence to tattoo in South Africa?
Tattooists are required to register with their local authority and meet bylaws in relation to cleanliness and structure (see Registration below). Many organizations are fighting for legislation to be tightened for tattooing and skin piercing practices, including the introduction of licensing.
How much does it cost to do a tattoo in South Africa?
With tattoo starting prices at around R500 and going up to R1 200 or more an hour for larger works, a popular studio could turn over R80 000 or more a month. Going by Del Rocca’s figures, a conservative estimate of the value of ink on the skin would be in the region of R60 million a year in South Africa.
How much do tattoo artists make in SA?
The average tattoo artist gross salary in South Africa is R129,215 or an equivalent hourly rate of R62. In addition, they earn an average bonus of R1,693. Salary estimates based on salary survey data collected directly from employers and anonymous employees in South Africa.
How much does it cost to open a tattoo shop in SA?
The average cost of opening a tattoo parlor can be as high as $50,000. However, with the increasing demand for body art, you may be able to recoup your investment in a short amount of time if you own a successful tattoo shop.
Can you get a job with a tattoo in South Africa?
In South Africa, most companies do not have policies relating to body modification but recruitment experts warn that there are employers who may not hire a tattooed or pierced candidate. If you think about it, tattoos in the creative field are accepted because of the environment,” Makhubele said.
What age can you legally get a tattoo in South Africa?
South Africa, by contrast, is one of several countries with no specific legislation governing tattooing of minors. However, the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 states that tattooing a minor amounts to maltreatment and, therefore, it is an offence to tattoo anyone under the age of 18.
How much is a small tattoo in South Africa?
Small tattoos are always a fan favorite because they have really cool designs and usually don’t take too much time or planning. A small tattoo on average costs about $50 to $80 total, and usually won’t take more than an hour.
How much do 3D tattoos cost in South Africa?
3D Tattoo Prices. On average, 3D tattoo prices will cost around $200 per hour of work or more because only a well-experienced tattoo artist can do them correctly. The 3D effect requires extra work with light shading in just the right areas to make the design pop out.
Do tattoos stop hair from growing?
The location of the hair follicle is significantly deeper down than the deposition of the tattoo ink. Thus, it won’t affect nor hinder hair growth. Tattoo artists should shave the area in which they’re about to tattoo so they can work more precisely and see more clearly.
How much do tattooists earn in South Africa?
Famous body artists can earn up to $500 per hour, or more. But most work in studios where clients pay around $150 per hour, and the number of daily visitors can range from zero to a line out the door.
Is owning a tattoo shop profitable in South Africa?
Is owning a tattoo shop profitable? Research shows that it is easy to start a tattoo shop and take a short time to recoup all your expenses. On average, established tattooists earn upwards of $50,000 a year. So yes, it’s a profitable business.
Is there money in tattooing?
Some tattoo artists can earn as much as $300,000, while others earn as low as $12,000. To be more specific, currently, the highest-earning tattoo artists make annually around $260,000, while the lowest-earning tattooist in 2021 earns approximately $39,000.