By your favourite caffeine-fueled Canadian bookkeeper over at Beyond the Ink — where tattoos are forever, but chasing payments shouldn't be.
Let’s talk about something sexier than a full-back dragon
tattoo and scarier than a CRA audit:
your booking and payment process.
Now, I know you didn’t open a body mod studio because you
love spreadsheets (that’s my jam). You did it to make art, build
community, and maybe help someone turn a breakup into a beautiful thigh piece.
Respect.
But listen up: if your client booking process is messier
than a Friday the 13th flash queue and your payment system relies on good vibes
and e-transfers “later,” then friend—we’ve got a cash flow problem.
Let’s fix that, shall we?
🎯 Step One: Make
Booking Painless (Like a Pro Piercer)
Clients shouldn’t have to decode the Da Vinci code to book
an appointment. A clean, easy system means fewer headaches for them and
you.
Pro tip:
Use a legit booking platform. Something with:
- Automated
confirmations (no more “wait, I thought it was next Friday?”)
- Deposits
at booking (to weed out the flaky folx)
- Integrated
calendars so you don’t double-book yourself during lunch again
Not only does this make you look ultra-professional—it also
protects your time. And if you’re a piercer or artist, your time = $$$.
💰 Step Two: Turn Ink
into Income, Fast
The art is permanent. The payment? …Sometimes not.
You ever finish a gorgeous custom piece, client’s crying
tears of joy, and then they hit you with:
“Can I e-transfer you when I get home? I just need to move some money around.”
Buddy. No.
Set expectations early:
- Clear
pricing listed online or via inquiry
- Deposit
required to book
- Payment
due before bandaging begins
You don’t want to be chasing people around like a repo man
with a sketchbook.
📲 Use Tech That
Works While You Tattoo
Here's what your process should look like:
Client books online → Pays deposit → Gets automatic
reminders → Shows up → Pays balance via tap → You smile and never chase a
dollar.
Use a point-of-sale (POS) system that:
- Accepts
all the plastics (credit, debit, the tap-tap-tappy)
- Sends
instant receipts (so no one claims they "lost" it come tax time)
- Tracks
sales by service and artist (hello, bonus structure!)
Think of it as your virtual front desk person who
never calls in sick or steals your stickers.
🧾 Bonus: Easier
Bookkeeping (You're Welcome)
Look, I’m not saying I cry happy tears when I see integrated
invoicing—but I might.
If your booking and payment system talks to your accounting
software, your books stay accurate, clean, and audit-ready. And that means:
- Less
time categorizing mystery income
- More
accurate financials for tax season
- You
finally knowing which artist actually sells the most add-on
piercings
Basically, when your client flow is smooth, your cash
flow stops being a crime scene.
🚫 What NOT to Do
(Seriously)
❌ Rely solely on DMs to book
appointments
❌
Accept cash only “because it’s easier” (it's not—unless you love surprise CRA visits)
❌
Let your cousin "do the books" using an Excel file from 2009
❌
Forget to charge sales tax (hello, penalties!)
🎤 Final Words from
Beyond the Ink
Look, you're an artist. You're running a studio, building
trust with clients, and making the world more beautiful one session at a time.
You shouldn’t have to chase payments or lose sleep over deposit mix-ups.
A streamlined booking and payment system keeps your income
predictable, your schedule organized, and your books balanced. (And yes, you’ll
still get to use your sick holographic appointment cards for in-person flair.)
So here’s your reminder from your friendly Canadian
bookkeeper:
Client flow = cash flow. And cash flow = business longevity.
Now go forth, optimize, and remember — your art may be edgy,
but your systems should be smooth.
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