A custom tattoo is usually paid for in pieces: a design deposit when the appointment is booked, then hourly sessions until the piece is finished, often with a tip for the artist. Clients want a record of what they paid; studios need a record that the client’s age was checked and that aftercare was explained. This Tattoo Studio Invoice Template covers all of it, in the bold style of an American traditional flash sheet: a black header scattered with gold and white stars and the title on a red ribbon banner.
For Tattoo Studios and Independent Artists
It suits tattoo studios, independent and guest artists, piercing studios offering tattoos, cosmetic tattoo and microblading artists, and tattoo removal clinics. The sample shows Iron Rose Tattoo Co. invoicing a client for a custom rose and dagger on the left forearm, completed over two sessions.
Flash-Sheet Stars and a Ribbon Banner
The header is almost black. Five-pointed stars in gold and white are scattered across it, like the stars that fill the gaps on a classic flash sheet. In the middle, a red ribbon banner with folded tails at each end carries TATTOO INVOICE in Rye, a western-style display font, trimmed with thin gold lines. The studio name, license number, and phone sit beneath in gold capitals, with the address and website in gray. A black footer band carries a row of gold stars.
On the cream body, the client block records the client’s name, date of birth with ID checked, phone, and email. The facts list the invoice number, artist, and placement. A design strip describes the design, style, size, sessions, and color. The items table lists the custom design fee, each session’s hours and the aftercare balm, followed by an aftercare checklist, the totals with the deposit applied and a line for the tip, and the client’s signature.
How Tattoo Pricing Usually Works
Studios price in different ways, and clients understand the bill better when the method is stated:
| Method | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Shop minimum | Small, quick tattoos | $80-$120 covers setup and a small piece |
| Flat price per piece | Flash designs and small custom work | A set price agreed before starting |
| Hourly rate | Large custom pieces over several sessions | $150 per hour, billed to the quarter hour |
| Day rate | Full-day sessions on back pieces or sleeves | A fixed price for a 6-8 hour session |
The Sample Piece
The custom design and stencil cost $120, which the $150 booking deposit covered and more. Session one (line work, three hours) and session two (color and shading, three and a half hours) are billed at $150 per hour, and an aftercare balm adds $15, for $1,110.00. The deposit is applied, leaving $960.00, with a blank line for the client to add a tip.
Recording Age Verification and Consent
In most places, tattooing a minor is illegal, and studios must check photo ID and keep a signed consent form. The client block shows the date of birth with ID checked, and the signature line notes that consent is on file. Keep the signed consent form and a copy of the ID according to your local health department’s rules.
The Aftercare Checklist
Good aftercare decides how a tattoo heals, and clients forget verbal instructions. The checklist on the invoice gives them the essentials to take home: keep the wrap on for a few hours, wash gently twice a day, apply a thin layer of balm without picking, avoid swimming and sun for two weeks, and book a free touch-up within 60 days. Edit the lines to match your studio’s own aftercare advice.
Editing Sessions and Totals
The design strip, items table, and totals are editor tables. Double-click them or use Edit Table Data; add a line for each new session with + Add Row and remove unused rows with – Remove Last. Hours and rates are typed values, so calculate each session and the balance yourself.
Deposits and Rescheduling
Design deposits pay for the artist’s drawing time and hold the appointment. Most studios apply the deposit to the final session and keep it if the client cancels at short notice. Put your policy on your booking form and mention it when you invoice: Deposit applied to final session; forfeited with less than 48 hours’ notice.
Restyling the Banner and Stars
The ribbon banner is a group of shapes; recolor it teal, mustard or black to fit your studio. The stars can be moved, recolored, or replaced with swallows, roses, or anchors from the library. For a fine-line or minimalist studio, swap Rye for a clean serif and change the black header to cream for a lighter look.
Printing and Emailing
The invoice is designed for letter-size paper. Print it at the end of the final session so the client leaves with the aftercare checklist in hand, and email the PDF as a record. The dark header prints best on a laser printer.
Touch-Ups and Cover-Ups
Free touch-ups within a set period are standard for work done at your studio. Record them on the client’s file as a line at zero cost so the history is complete. Cover-ups of another studio’s work, by contrast, are usually priced as new custom pieces because they need more design time.
Booking Multi-Session Pieces
Large pieces such as sleeves and back pieces take many sessions over months, with healing time between them. Keep one invoice per session, or one running invoice updated after each session, and list the session dates and hours so the client can see progress and total cost. Many artists ask for a new deposit to hold each future session, credited on the day.
Tattoo Invoice FAQs
Can I bill a flash design at a flat price?
Yes. Replace the session hours with one line for the flash piece at its set price.
Should tips go on the invoice?
Many clients tip in cash; the tip line lets you record card tips or leave it blank.
Can I use this for piercings?
Yes. Replace the design lines with the piercing and jeweler, and adapt the aftercare checklist.
Do I charge sales tax on tattoos?
Some states tax tattoo services and products; check your local rules.
