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Accounting and invoicing for tattoo studios

Appointment deposit, sessions, guest artists, piercings and aftercare products: a tattoo studio takes money upfront and bills sessions. Saldiqo issues deposits for appointments, writes invoices for guest artists and studio rent and records inks, needles and hygiene supplies as expenses.

Updated:

What comes up for tattoo studios

Deposit for the appointment

Whoever books a tattoo pays in advance. The deposit has to belong to the appointment and be treated clearly on cancellation.

Guest artists and renters

Artists rent stations or share income. Both need billing.

Material and hygiene

Needles, inks, gloves, films and disinfectant are consumables with many small invoices.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Deposit as a stage invoiceQuote for the project, deposit, final invoice.
  • Rent as a recurring invoiceGuest artist rent on schedule.
  • Capture materialCapture receipts by phone photo.
  • Credit note on cancellationA correction stays linked to the deposit.

Typical invoice lines

Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.

  • Tattoo session, 4 hours, upper arm
  • Deposit for the appointment on 12 December
  • Guest artist station, week
  • Aftercare set
  • Piercing including jewellery
  • Gift voucher worth 100

Tax and invoicing in the UK

What applies to invoices in the UK, in short. As of October 2026.

VAT
Standard rate 20 %, reduced rate 5 % and zero rate 0 %. Saldiqo calculates each invoice line with the rate you pick.
VAT registration
You must register once your taxable turnover passes £90,000 over any 12 months, or you expect to pass it within the next 30 days. You can deregister below £88,000. Until you are registered, your invoices show no VAT, and Saldiqo adds up your 12-month turnover for you.
What goes on an invoice
If you are VAT registered: your VAT number, the tax point, unit prices and the VAT total in pounds. A limited company shows its registered name on every invoice, and its company number, registered office and part of the UK on letters, order forms and the website.
E-invoicing
There is no mandate today. From April 2029 e-invoicing is planned for all B2B and B2G sales that carry VAT, through Peppol. The exact date and standard are not yet in law, and the government’s roadmap follows with the Budget on 28 October 2026.
VAT returns
VAT returns go to HMRC through Making Tax Digital, usually quarterly, due one month and seven days after the period. Saldiqo shows sales and VAT per rate and exports CSV. It does not submit to HMRC, and for Making Tax Digital you need software recognised by HMRC.
Record keeping
Keep VAT records for 6 years.
Late payment
Statutory interest on late business payments is the Bank Rate (3.75 % in the second half of 2026) plus 8 points, so 11.75 %. On top comes fixed compensation of £40, £70 or £100, depending on the amount owed (under £1,000, from £1,000, from £10,000). Consumers have no statutory interest.
Getting paid
Your sort code and account number are on every invoice. Customers pay by Faster Payments or Bacs, and banks check the account name with Confirmation of Payee. There is no QR standard in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

How do I bill deposits?

With a deposit invoice from the quote. The final invoice deducts it.

How do I treat a cancellation?

With a credit note to the deposit if you pay it back, otherwise as a no-show fee.

Do tattoo studios in the UK have to charge VAT?

Only once they are VAT registered. Registration is required when taxable turnover passes £90,000 over any 12 months, or is expected to within the next 30 days. Below that you may register voluntarily. If you are not registered, you must not show VAT on your invoices.

Do tattoo studios in the UK need e-invoicing?

Not today. A mandate for B2B and B2G sales with VAT is planned from April 2029, and the details were still open as of October 2026. You can keep sending PDF invoices for now.

How long should tattoo studios keep invoices?

Keep VAT records for 6 years. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.

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Write invoices, match payments, collect receipts and send reminders: free and without a trial period.

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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.