20 Ideas to Increase Studio Revenue Right Now

Here are 20 ideas to help increase revenue at your tattoo studio.

1. Offer Diverse Services: Expand your services to include body piercing, cosmetic tattoos (e.g., microblading), and permanent makeup to attract a wider clientele. Note that the cosmetic tattoo specific businesses generally follow a spa-type format, interior style, and aesthetic so in considering adding this line of business, consider the customer experience and how to help someone not interested in tattoos but interested in spas and pampering feel welcome and appreciated.
2. Sell Branded Merchandise: Create and sell studio-branded merchandise like t-shirts, hoodies, hats, stickers, and art prints to generate additional income and promote your brand. Some brands famously give away t-shirts to clients and at community events as a marketing tool. Realize that community event shirts that work have a broad design appeal and are not overly tattoo-culture focused in their design.
3. Implement Loyalty Programs: Introduce a loyalty program offering discounts or free services after a certain number of visits or a certain amount of spending to encourage repeat business. Coupled with hosting Celebrity Guest Artists this can be a good way to retain collectors as repeat customers.
4. Host Celebrity Guest Artists: Invite well-known guest tattoo artists to work at your studio temporarily to attract their followers and create buzz. This provides community members looking to collect tattoos from specific artists the ability to come back to the shop more often or for customers looking for a specific style to find what they are looking for.
5. Offer Aftercare Products: Sell high-quality tattoo aftercare products, such as lotions and balms, to provide added value to clients and boost sales. These can be included in fees or can be an upsell and requesting that clients return when the tattoo is complete for a check in can be a great way to offer a great post-tattoo interaction, particularly for clients receiving their first or second tattoo.
6. Provide Tattoo Packages: Create package deals for multiple sessions or group bookings, offering a discounted rate to increase the total transaction value when purchased up front.
7. Launch Referral Incentives: Encourage existing clients to refer friends by offering them discounts, loyalty program points, or freebies for each new client they bring in.
8. Enhance Online Presence: Invest in a more professional website to make your studio easier to find. One of the most common challenges for a tattoo customer is to find their local studios and choose to work with them because of how bad websites are across the industry. The customer is using Google and your website more than they are using Instagram when it’s time to engage with a studio.
9. Host Events and Workshops: Organize events like art shows, flash tattoo days, or tattoo conventions to draw in crowds and increase studio exposure. Schedule these at the same time as community events to draw in more people that wouldn’t otherwise stop in. Consider having a presence on the sidewalk during community events to engage people without them needing to commit to entering the shop.
10. Upsell and Cross-Sell Services: Train staff to suggest additional services or upgrades, such as adding color to an existing tattoo or scheduling touch-up sessions, even if those are with other artists. If needed, you can offer a referral fee to artists that refer internally.
11. Email Marketing Campaigns: Build an email list to send newsletters, promotions, and updates, keeping your studio. Email is starting to trend down but it isn’t dead. Email is still a good way to get to a whole group of past clients, giveaway sign ups, and community event contacts.
12. Partner with Local Businesses: Collaborate with nearby businesses like cafes, clothing stores, or gyms for cross-promotions or joint events.
13. Offer Financing Options: Provide payment plans or financing for larger, more expensive tattoo projects through a 3rd party financial provider to make larger projects more accessible to more clients while still getting paid up front.
14. Improve Customer Experience: Enhance the studio's ambiance, offer complimentary beverages, and ensure excellent customer service to encourage positive reviews and repeat visits.
15. Sell Gift Cards and Vouchers: Promote gift cards, especially during holidays and special occasions, to attract new clients through gift-giving.
16. Target Niche Markets: Specialize artists in specific tattoo styles (e.g., traditional, realism, tribal) to help them become the go-to studio for those particular services in the region.
17. Invest in Staff Training: Provide ongoing education and workshops for your artists to improve their skills, leading to higher-quality work and increased client satisfaction.
18. Utilize Online Booking with Deposits: Implement an online booking system that requires a deposit to secure appointments, reducing no-shows and ensuring a more predictable income stream.

These strategies can help diversify your revenue streams, attract new clients, and encourage existing clients to return more frequently. Implementing a combination of these ideas tailored to your studio's unique strengths and market can significantly boost your profitability.