How should I look at a tattoo studio’s online booking and deposit habits?

Start with the process a client goes through. Try booking yourself. Is it clear, quick and consistent between artists? Ask which tool takes the bookings, who holds the login and whether the data can be exported. If bookings arrive through artists’ personal messages, the studio may not control its own calendar.

Next, look at deposits. Ask what the policy says, how it is applied and what happens to deposits when appointments are cancelled or moved. Request a statement of deposits received for work not yet done, since that is money tied to future obligations. Ask how refunds are handled and whether disputes have occurred.

Finally, read the patterns. High no-show rates, repeated rescheduling and last-minute cancellations can show weak policies or a client base that is hard to manage. Your accountant can show how deposits appear in the accounts, and your lawyer can add protection to the purchase terms. Ask how deposits would transfer at closing, and who would honour them. Look too at what clients are told about deposits when they book, because unclear wording leads to arguments and refunds. Screenshots of the booking steps are worth keeping as a record of how the process looked before you took over.

Key takeaways

• Try the booking process yourself and see who controls the account.
• Request a list of deposits held for work not yet done.
• Study cancellation and no-show patterns, not only totals.
• Ask how deposits and bookings are handled at closing.