Many tattoo shop owners struggle with managing payments, tracking deposits, and splitting tips fairly. Cash boxes or basic card readers can make it difficult to see daily sales, calculate tattoo artist commissions, or know what’s coming in each week.
A reliable point-of-sale (POS) system solves these problems by bringing everything into one place. It helps you process customer payments, deposits, non-tattoo sales, and artist payroll without relying on spreadsheets.
This article covers the best point-of-sale systems for tattoo shops, including their features and pricing. We'll also show you how Porter's tattoo POS helps you run a smoother, more profitable tattoo business.
1. Porter
Best for: Tattoo shop owners seeking an all-in-one POS solution that handles everything, from payments and deposits to client management and scheduling.
Porter makes it easy for you to accept payments via checkout links or a dedicated POS hardware device.
A secure online link will be sent to your clients after their session. This is where they pay and leave a tip using any debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, or other form of payment.
If you prefer a traditional checkout experience, you can use Porter's POS hardware. Simply choose an appointment on this device, and let the client pay at the front desk by tapping or swiping their credit card.
With Porter, you can also automatically collect deposits when customers schedule an online appointment. This helps make sure only serious clients book, which can reduce no-shows and late cancellations.
Tattoo businesses that use Porter have seen 68% fewer no-shows and cancellations.
In addition to tattoo services, you can manage and sell retail items within Porter. It's easy to track sales, tax settings, and even pay commissions on product sales to your tattoo artists. Plus, you can get up to 17% more revenue per appointment when you offer retail checkouts.
However, Porter is more than just a POS system. It’s the first all-in-one tattoo software platform that combines online booking, payments, POS, inventory management, analytics, and marketing tools.
Get started today and say goodbye to spreadsheets and DMs!
Key Features
- Checkout links: Send checkout links to clients after their session, where they can review payment details, add tips, and pay using debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, and other forms of payment.
- Zero processing fees: Keep more of your revenue by passing processing fees to clients where permitted. Porter makes it simple and compliant.
- Buy now, pay later: Customers can pay for larger, higher-value tattoos over time without worrying about upfront costs. Meanwhile, you always get paid in full within Porter.
- Optional POS hardware: This allows customers to pay by swiping or tapping their credit card at the front desk.
- Automated deposit collection: Porter instantly collects and manages deposits when clients book.
- Retail checkouts: Add retail products, such as aftercare products, jewelry, and merch, to the checkout page for seamless inventory tracking.
- Automated payroll: Porter automatically calculates artist commissions based on the rates you set to eliminate manual payouts.
- Financial reports: Track total revenue, deposits, tips, taxes, and artist payouts all in one place. You can filter by date, tattoo artist, payment date, and more. Plus, download the report as a CSV file.
- Appointment scheduling: Clients can self-book through custom Porter tattoo-booking forms and links. Alternatively, you can add an appointment yourself and control your calendar settings.
- Automated reminders: Porter sends reminders to clients before their appointment to reduce no-shows and late cancellations.
- Digital waivers: The platform attaches liability waivers and consent forms to each appointment, which clients can access and sign on the day of their session.
- Marketing tools: Porter creates customer profiles and segments your client base so you can send personalized emails and SMS campaigns.
Pricing
Porter offers three different subscription plans depending on whether you’re a solo tattoo artist or running a full studio. Every Porter subscription includes the checkout links feature.
Artist Essentials
Priced at $35/month, this plan suits individual tattoo artists who want the basics to manage their business.
It includes calendar and scheduling software, deposit collection, payments, automated reminders, post-appointment follow-ups, in-app chat, reports, and access to optional POS hardware.
Enjoy a 30-day free trial today!
Artist Pro
The Artist Pro plan, which costs $65/month, helps you grow your tattoo business.
It comes with everything in the Artist Essentials subscription, plus automated liability waivers and consent forms, marketing tools, 100 free SMS messages per month, and 250 free emails each month.
Plans for Studios
Priced at $250/month, the Studio Pro plan is best for tattoo shops and multi-artist studios.
It includes everything in Artist Pro, plus unlimited artists and tattoo studio staff, sales tax collection, automated commission splits, 1099s for artists, general shop booking requests, and a custom shop website.
They also offer the Studio Ultimate plan, which comes with unlimited shop locations and custom pricing.
Schedule a demo to learn more!
POS Hardware
Want to provide a traditional checkout experience for your customers? You can purchase Porter's POS hardware device.
Porter's register packages cost around $400 and go up to $1,000 based on the hardware tier.
You can pay for the hardware either up front or via a monthly payment plan over 36 months. You can also customize the device any way you want.
Get started today and enjoy a fully flexible tattoo POS!
2. Keep the Fees
Best for: Tattoo businesses that have high card-transaction volume and want to avoid losing money to processing fees for each sale.
Keep the Fees (KTF) offers dual pricing technology, which shows a card price and a slightly discounted cash price to clients. If they choose to pay with cash, they avoid the hidden fees that usually come with card transactions.
KTF uses a virtual terminal or a POS hardware device that automatically shows both prices via digital receipts. This eliminates manual calculations, which are prone to human mistakes.
The platform also has built-in reporting and inventory management features. These help you track sales and monitor trends to inform your marketing efforts.
You can even manage artist commissions with KTF. Simply customize the rates for each artist based on their skills, experience, or contribution to your tattoo shop’s profits. The platform automatically calculates artist payouts for transparency.
Key Features
- Dual pricing technology: Display a cash price and a card price on every transaction so customers can choose how they pay.
- Zero processing fees: The platform accepts card payments without extra fees to ensure you save money on each transaction.
- Reporting dashboard: Gain clear insights into daily sales, card vs. cash payments, and clients' transaction history.
- Inventory management: Maintain an up-to-date inventory of all the items used in your tattoo studio, such as tattoo machines, piercing equipment, needle trays, bandages, and scissors.
- Automated commissions: Calculate artist commissions based on percentages you set to reduce manual work.
Pricing
Keep the Fees offers tiered plans based on the size of your studio, with all features included in every package.
- Individual ($69.99/month): It caters to solo or dual artist shops.
- Mid-size ($99.99/month): This plan suits tattoo shops with three to six artists.
- Large studio ($129.99/month): It supports more than seven tattoo artists, making it useful for large tattoo businesses.
If you manage multiple locations, you’ll pay 50% of your plan price for each extra business address.
3. DaySmart Body Art
Best for: Tattoo shop owners who want to speed up client purchases through integrated payment processing.
DaySmart Body Art accepts online card payments and deposits, so your clients can pay or put down a deposit. This helps lock in appointments and reduce no-shows.
Every transaction is secure and meets PA-DSS/PCI compliance. Meanwhile, desktop checkout devices comply with EMV standards to protect your business and customers from credit card fraud.
The platform also supports automated payment reconciliation and reporting. It can minimize confusion and reduce administrative workload.
Reputation management is another standout feature. It automates review requests, making it easier for customers to provide positive feedback. This boosts your tattoo and piercing studio's reputation in the service industry.
DaySmart Body Art lets you sell online gift cards. These are fully customizable, so you can create designs that align with your brand. They also help boost revenue.
Key Features
- Secure credit card processing: Accept payments in-shop or online with encrypted transactions, deposits, and contactless checkout.
- Online gift cards: Sell customizable gift cards that clients can purchase and redeem online to boost revenue.
- Reputation management: Automate review requests and respond to feedback to build client trust.
- Appointment scheduling: Let clients book online 24/7 and manage your schedule through online booking software.
- Text marketing: Send automated text promotions and referral codes to keep clients coming back.
Pricing
DaySmart Body Art offers custom packages to suit any business level. Each plan includes unlimited training, integrated payment processing, and customer support via phone, chat, or email.
- Basic ($29/month): It includes a single user, basic booking features, integrated 500 text messages, and 1,000 emails per month.
- Deluxe ($69/month): This plan supports up to three users, which suits small tattoo businesses. It comes with advanced booking features, gift cards, multi-ticket checkout, basic payroll, 1,000 text messages, and 5,000 emails every month.
- Deluxe Growth ($149/month): Similar to the Deluxe plan, this package provides access to three team members. However, it provides up to 10,000 emails per month and two-way texting.
- Premium ($199/month): It includes six users, everything in the Deluxe Growth plan, 2,500 text messages, and 10,000 emails every month.
4. SumUp
Best for: Tattoo studios seeking a POS system with transparent pricing and automated loyalty rewards.
SumUp is an all-in-one POS system that offers transparent pricing. Card payments are processed at a flat rate of 2.6% + $0.10. Meanwhile, online transactions are charged an additional 3.5% + $0.15.
The platform lets you accept online payments, track tips, and automate inventory management. It instantly scans new shipments once they arrive and sends low-stock alerts so you can reorder supplies before you run out.
SumUp also features loyalty programs through its Connect feature. Customers earn points toward free touch-ups, flash specials, or merchandise.
On top of these capabilities, SumUp includes built-in time tracking and scheduling tools. These help you track artist hours, sales, commissions, and tips without switching between different platforms.
Key Features
- Transparent payment processing: SumUp charges a transparent processing fee so that you always know what you pay.
- Automatic tip tracking: Every checkout offers a tipping option and records tips by each artist to ensure an accurate payroll.
- Inventory tool: SumUp’s receive-and-reconcile tool monitors shipments and notifies you when items need restocking.
- Loyalty rewards: Clients earn points or rewards toward future touch-ups or merch to encourage repeat business.
- Staff management: Built-in time clocks, commission tracking, and dashboard tools help you monitor artist performance and shift hours.
Pricing
SumUp is available in different subscription plans to suit all types of tattoo studios.
- POS with Connect Lite ($99/month): It features a cloud-based POS system, customer database, and dedicated installation and training services.
- POS with Connect Plus ($199/month): This plan includes everything in the Connect Lite package, plus customer rewards, automated marketing, and two monthly promotions.
- POS with Connect Pro ($289/month): It suits growing tattoo businesses that need loyalty features and unlimited marketing promotions enhanced by AI.
Why Tattoo Shops Need a Point-of-Sale System
After learning about the best POS systems, you might be curious if you really need one for your tattoo studio. Here are the top reasons why POS matters:
Simplify Payment Processing and Tipping
When you’re busy tattooing, the last thing you want is payment confusion at the front desk.
Fortunately, POS systems let you take in-store payments by card, cash, or mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. They also record every transaction automatically to reduce manual data entry and human errors.
Some platforms even split payments between tattoo artists and collect tips in one click. This keeps your books clean and makes your end-of-day closeout simple. Plus, it helps you get paid faster so you can stay focused on your art.
Manage Appointments Seamlessly
Missed bookings cost money. A POS system with integrated scheduling software makes online booking simple for you and your clients.
Customers can schedule appointments online, pay deposits, and receive automated confirmations that show up on their phones or email.
Meanwhile, tattoo store managers or owners can see their whole calendar in one dashboard and adjust times on the fly. This reduces no-shows and keeps tattoo artists busy.
Handle Artist Commissions and Payroll
Paying your artists shouldn’t take hours of manual calculations.
A good POS system tracks every service, tip, and product sale. It also automatically calculates what each artist is owed.
You can set custom commission rates and generate payouts with a few clicks. This saves time, reduces errors, and keeps everyone happy on payday.
Track Inventory and Supplies
Running out of gloves, needles, or ink mid-session is stressful. The best POS systems often include inventory tracking so you always know what’s in stock.
When an item is sold or used, the platform updates your inventory and even sends alerts when levels are low. This prevents last-minute supply runs and helps you reorder before running out.
It can even track aftercare sales and other retail items, giving you insight into what’s selling best and where you’re making extra revenue.
Get Paid Quickly With Porter's Tattoo POS
Porter's tattoo POS system lets you collect deposits upfront and check out appointments with or without hardware.
You can send payment links to clients so they can pay from their phones using their credit cards, Apple Pay, or any method. The system automatically calculates tips and commissions for each artist. No extra math or manual calculations needed.
Prefer a traditional checkout process? Enable in-person card swiping or tapping using Porter's POS hardware.
Beyond payments, you get online booking, waiver forms, CRM, marketing, and reporting tools in one dashboard. Say goodbye to DMs, spreadsheets, and email threads.
Get started today to simplify your tattoo studio's operations!
FAQs About the Best POS System for Tattoo Shops
What are the benefits of using a POS system for tattoo studios?
A POS system keeps your shop organized by managing payments, deposits, and tips in one place. It also handles appointments and tracks client history, so you can see past visits, handle walk-ins faster, and send reminders automatically.
This saves time and keeps your daily operations running smoothly without manual spreadsheets.
How to choose the best POS system for tattoo businesses?
Start by listing your shop’s specific needs, such as the number of artists, booking tools, or marketing features. Then, compare different platforms that offer those functions within your budget. Look for options with free trials so you can test the POS system before committing.
How do you set a tattoo price?
Tattoo pricing usually depends on the artist's experience, the shop's location, and the design complexity. Many shops use an hourly rate and set a minimum price for small pieces. They also rely on a POS system to track time, materials, and payments.
This helps them stay consistent and charge fairly for every client session.
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