Body piercing, often known as body alteration, has grown in popularity as a form of self-expression for people of all ages. A competent piercer may pierce everything from a basic ear piercing to more complicated places like the eyebrow, tongue, and nose.
Table of Contents
Follow these ten steps to open a body piercing shop:
Make a Body Piercing Shop Plan
Make your Body Piercing Shop a Legal Entity.
Tax registration for your Body Piercing Shop
Create a Business Bank Account and a Credit Card
Create an accounting system for your Body Piercing Shop.
Obtain the Required Permits and Licenses for Your Body Piercing Shop
Purchase Body Piercing Shop Insurance
Create a Body Piercing Shop Brand
Make a website for your Body Piercing Shop.
Configure your Business Phone System
Starting a company entails more than just registering it with the state. This basic guide to opening a body piercing store has been put together by us. These stages will guarantee that your new company is well-planned, correctly registered, and legally compliant.
STEP 1: Make a business plan.
A well-thought-out strategy is vital for entrepreneur success. It will assist you in mapping out the intricacies of your organisation and uncovering some unknowns. Consider the following crucial topics:
What are the initial and continuing expenses?
Who is your intended audience?
How much money may you charge your customers?
Fortunately, we have done a lot of the legwork for you.
What are the expenses of starting a body piercing shop?
Many piercing shop owners have said that they were able to start their businesses with less than $2,000 in cash. They reinvested their gains as the company grew, eventually extending the store.
When deciding on a place, thoroughly investigate the locations you’re considering. Many businesses rely heavily on walk-ins, so choose a location with a high volume of foot traffic. If feasible, divide your area into different rooms. As time passes, you may wish to add more piercers or painters.
Before you start your business, you’ll need to invest in the following items:
Piercing supplies
Jewelry for the body
Sterilization and hygiene materials – A new autoclave might cost between $2,000 and $8,000. Shopping for old equipment might help you save money.
Products for piercing aftercare
First-aid supplies/medical supplies
Piercing chairs cost $250-$500 new, but may be bought at a lower price if purchased secondhand.
Inventory displays and cabinets
What are the continuing costs of running a body piercing shop?
In addition to regular overhead costs, your most significant recurring expenditures will be marketing and supplies. Every day, cleaning products, gloves, and jewellery will be utilised. Piercers report spending $1,000-$2,500 a year on supplies when they first start out.
Who is the intended audience?
The majority of piercing shop customers are between the ages of 18 and 30. As a result, many company owners seek to locate their establishment in an area where young people visit or dwell, such as near a university. Some establishments cater to a slightly younger demographic, namely girls having their ears pierced for the first time. However, in order to achieve long-term success, you must cater to customers of all ages, since body alteration has grown in popularity among both young and elderly people.
How does a piercing parlour generate money?
Piercing shops profit from each piercing done. Several artists usually share studio space, typically with varied skills and abilities. Each artist either pays the owner rent or contributes a percentage commission on each client served.
How much money may you charge your customers?
The cost of a piercing varies based on the jewellery chosen and the location of the piercing on the body. Pricing begins at $35 and may go up to $90.
How much money can a piercing store make?
Professional body piercers make between $26,000 and $37,000 per year. This is their profit after monthly payments to you of a share of their profits. The more piecers you hire, the more customers you may service, increasing your revenues enormously. As your store gains a name in the neighbourhood, you may earn far over $100,000 per year.
How can you increase the profitability of your company?
Many piercing establishments provide items and services other than piercing. You might increase the profitability of your company by doing the following:
Sell piercing jewellery – many clients prefer changing up their jewellery on a regular basis.
Keep an assortment of aftercare supplies on hand.
Sell local artwork
Maintain a tattoo artist staff
STEP 2: Establish a legal entity
Sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation are the most frequent business structure forms.
If your body piercing establishment is sued, forming a formal business organisation, such as an LLC or corporation, prevents you from being held personally accountable.
STEP 3: File your taxes
Before you can begin for business, you must register for a number of state and federal taxes.
To register for taxes, you will need to get an EIN. It’s really simple and completely free!
Taxes on Small Businesses
Depending on the business form you choose, you may have multiple choices for how your company is taxed. Some LLCs, for example, may benefit from being taxed as a S company (S corp).
These guides will teach you more about small company taxes:
Taxes on LLCs
LLC vs. sole proprietorship
Corporation vs. LLC
S Corp vs. LLC
How to Form a S Corporation
S Corporation vs. C Corporation
There may be state taxes that apply to your company. In our state sales tax guides, you may learn more about state sales taxes and franchise taxes.
STEP 4: Establish a company bank account and credit card
Personal asset protection requires the use of distinct business banking and credit accounts.
When you combine your personal and business accounts, your personal assets (your house, vehicle, and other possessions) are at danger if your company is sued. This is known as penetrating your company veil in business law.
Furthermore, understanding how to develop corporate credit may help you get credit cards and other financing in your company’s name (rather than your own), lower interest rates, larger lines of credit, and other benefits.
Establish a business bank account.
Opening a business bank account is not only required when asking for business financing, but it also:
Separates your personal assets from the assets of your firm, which is required for personal asset protection.
It simplifies bookkeeping and tax reporting.
Create a net 30 account.
Net 30 accounts are used to develop and grow company credit while also increasing cash flow. Businesses use a net 30 account to purchase items and refund the whole debt within a 30-day period.
Many net 30 credit suppliers submit information to the main business credit agencies (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business Credit). This is how firms establish business credit in order to get approved for credit cards and other lines of credit.
Apply for a business credit card.
Obtaining a business credit card benefits you in the following ways:
Put all of your company’s costs in one location to separate personal and business spending.
Build your company’s credit history, which will be important for raising funds in the future.
STEP 5: Establish business accounting
Recording your numerous costs and sources of revenue is crucial to assessing your company’s financial status. Keeping precise and thorough accounting also makes yearly tax filing much easier.
STEP 6: Obtain all required permissions and licences
Failure to get appropriate permissions and licences may result in significant penalties or possibly the closure of your firm.
Requirements for State and Local Business Licensing
To operate a body piercing shop, certain state permissions and licences may be required. Visit the SBA’s reference to state licences and permits to learn more about licencing requirements in your state.
For information on local licences and permissions, visit:
Check with the clerk’s office in your town, city, or county.
Contact one of the local organisations mentioned in the US Small Business Associations database of local business resources for help.
For information on local licences and permissions, visit:
Check with the clerk’s office in your town, city, or county.
Contact one of the local organisations mentioned in the US Small Business Associations database of local business resources for help.
Liability Release
XXX companies should have their customers sign a release of responsibility to prevent liabilities and any litigation. Here’s an example of one of these forms.
When you join up for Rocket Lawyer’s premium membership, you can easily produce a professional release of liability form for your body piercing company. Members have access to hundreds of legal agreements and on-call lawyers for free legal assistance for $39.95 each month.
Occupancy Certificate
A piercing shop is usually operated from a storefront. A Certificate of Occupancy is often required for businesses that operate from a physical site (CO). A certificate of occupancy certifies that all building rules, zoning laws, and government requirements have been satisfied.
If you intend to rent office space:
In most cases, it is the landlord’s obligation to get a CO.
Before leasing, ensure that your landlord has or can get a valid CO for a piercing company.
A new CO is often required after a big remodelling. If your location will be refurbished before opening, incorporate wording in your leasing agreement saying that lease payments would not begin until a valid CO is given.
If you want to buy or construct office space:
It is your responsibility to secure a valid CO from a local government entity.
Examine all building rules and zoning standards for your business’s location to verify compliance and the ability to acquire a CO.
Agreement on Informed Consent
It is advised that customers sign informed consent agreements in order to reduce legal responsibility and promote transparency.
Here is more information about informed consent agreements.
Minors, in particular, must seek the approval of a parent or guardian before getting any piercings.
STEP 7: Obtain commercial insurance.
Insurance, like licences and permits, is required for your company to operate safely and legally. In the case of a covered loss, business insurance protects your company’s financial well-being.
There are several sorts of insurance plans designed for various types of companies with varying risks. If you are unaware about the hazards that your company may encounter, start with General Liability Insurance. This is the most popular coverage required by small companies, so it’s a good place to start for yours.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance is another important insurance product that many companies need. If your company will have workers, your state may require you to purchase Workers’ Compensation insurance.
STEP 8: Establish your brand
Your company’s brand is what it stands for, as well as how the public perceives it. A strong brand will help your company stand out from the crowd.
How to Market and Promote a Body Piercing Shop
As the proprietor of a body piercing store, you must dedicate some of your time to marketing. Prospects will often spend hours scouring social media for a business that seems polite and informed, as well as one that emphasises the value of cleanliness. Maintain an active social media presence at all times. The Association of Professional Piercers is also an excellent resource for marketing and networking.
How to Keep Customers Returning
In terms of recruiting and maintaining consumers, word of mouth will be your most significant business tool. Establish a reputation for your store by ensuring that your personnel is competent and courteous, and that the shop is always immaculate. This will distinguish you from the competition and draw clients from all around.
STEP 9: Create your company’s website.
After you’ve defined your brand and designed your logo, the next step is to build a website for your company.
While developing a website is an important step, some may be concerned that it is out of their grasp due to a lack of website-building skills. While this was a fair concern in 2015, online technology has made significant advances in recent years, making the lives of small company owners considerably easier.
The following are the primary reasons why you should not put off developing your website:
Every genuine company has a website, period. When it comes to bringing your company online, it doesn’t matter what size or sector it is.
Social media accounts, such as Facebook pages or LinkedIn company profiles, are not a substitute for your own business website.
STEP 10. Install your company phone system.
Getting a phone for your company is one of the finest methods to keep your personal and professional lives distinct and private. That isn’t the only advantage; it also helps you automate your company, provides it legitimacy, and makes it simpler for prospective clients to identify and contact you.