08/20/2026
An artist friend of mine posted this figured I’d share
Ok, apparently something needs explained to you all about why there is a $100 shop minimum for tattoos. So here we go...
You think that "its only a 15 minute tattoo, why does it cost so much?"
Lets break it down. Before you ever sit in my chair I've spent time talking to you, drawing a design, resizing it, printing a stencil, setting up a sanitary work station, and wrapping and using supplies that will never be used on another person. You can estimate the cost of needles, bibs, ink caps, razors, gloves, the ink itself, machine bags, bottle bags, disinfectant and other cleaning supplies, and aftercare to run anywhere from $20-30 per tattoo.
Then I tattoo you. Maybe that part only takes 15 minutes. Afterwards im going to go over all your aftercare once you've been bandaged. Then im going to completely break everything down, sanitize, and start all the way over before anyone else can sit in my chair.
Now don't forget, the guy that owns the shop gets a cut. That can be anywhere from $30-50 of that $100 minimum.
And lets not forget that Uncle Sam is gonna take his cut.
So that "$100 for 15 minutes"... yeah it wasn't $100 and it wasn't 15 minutes. This is why we have a minimum.
You are paying a professional to perform a permanent procedure on your body after they have created a design and provided you with a clean, safe, sanitary environment, and still be here the next time you want them to do it again.
Thats what the shop minimim pays for.