Updated October 21, 2026
Where paying customers actually come from
Customers in Croatia come from several overlapping places. Start with people nearby - neighbours, friends and family often give a first set of paid tasks or small test pieces. Word of mouth from satisfied clients and people at workplaces or study places is important in small towns and mid-sized cities.
Online search and social media are how many people find new artists. People use Instagram, Facebook groups and web searches to look at photos and read short descriptions. In coastal and touristic areas you may get seasonal customers during the summer - tourists book walk-ins or short appointments. Events such as local markets, fairs and creative festivals can also produce one-off paying customers.
- Neighbours, friends and family
- Coworkers, classmates and workplaces
- Social media and online search
- Word of mouth and client referrals
- Seasonal tourists and event walk-ins
How to set a first price and how to talk about money
A first price should cover your direct costs and reflect your time and skill, while staying reasonable for local demand. Include ink, needles, single-use items, disinfectants and the wear on equipment, plus an hourly or per-piece charge for your time. If you are still building a portfolio, start with simpler, smaller designs and set a straightforward price rather than complex discounts.
When you talk about money, be clear and direct. Offer a written or chat confirmation that lists the design, size estimate, date and price. For larger pieces or multi-session work, ask for a deposit to hold the date and explain whether it is refundable. Explain how and when the final payment should be made.
- Calculate material costs per job
- Decide on hourly versus per-piece pricing
- Use simple written confirmations for each booking
- Ask for a deposit for larger or multi-session work
What the first ten customers usually look like
The first ten paying clients are often a mix of familiar and easy-to-reach people. Expect friends and family who want small, low-risk tattoos, coworkers or classmates who saw your work, and a few local walk-ins from your neighbourhood or a nearby café. Many early customers choose simple black-line pieces, small text, or small symbolic designs.
You may also get enquiries from people who found you online and want a small design to test your style. Treat these first clients as opportunities to refine your hygiene routine, communication and aftercare instructions. Ask permission to photograph healed work for your portfolio, but never pressure someone who prefers privacy.
- Friends and family for small pieces
- Coworkers and classmates
- Local walk-ins and neighbours
- Early online contacts who want a simple test design
What to sort out when taking money as an independent person in Croatia
Before you take payments, check the official requirements that apply to you. Ask the Croatian Tax Administration - Porezna uprava - whether you need to register as an obrt, sole trader or company, what tax rules apply and whether you must use the fiscalisation system for receipts. Ask how to report online card payments and what records you must keep.
For health and safety rules, contact the Croatian Institute of Public Health - Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravlje - or your local public health authority about hygiene, sterilisation and site requirements. For contributions and social insurance questions, contact the Croatian Health Insurance Fund - HZZO - and the Croatian Pension Insurance Fund - HZMO - to confirm obligations when you register as self-employed.
If you use a marketplace or platform page, check how payments are handled. On Websta card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe; you set your prices. Confirm with Porezna uprava how to record those payouts in your bookkeeping and whether you must issue a receipt for each sale.
- Ask Porezna uprava about registration, VAT and fiscal receipts
- Ask Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravlje about hygiene rules
- Ask HZZO and HZMO about health and pension contribution obligations
- Confirm bookkeeping and receipt rules for online card payouts
What tends to go wrong in the first months
Common early problems are underpricing, not taking deposits, inconsistent hygiene documentation and unclear cancellation rules. Underpricing leaves you short of covering materials and time. Not asking for a deposit increases no-shows. Poorly recorded bookings or missing receipts cause stress at tax time.
Other practical issues include photos that do not show healed work, overcommitting your schedule, and unclear boundaries about touch-ups or complaints. Plan for no-shows, take simple written confirmations, and keep a small buffer for extra time between bookings to disinfect and set up.
- Underpricing and not charging for materials
- No-shows when there is no deposit
- Inadequate bookkeeping and missing receipts
- Overbooking and insufficient time between clients
Practical steps to get bookings and manage payments
Start with clear photos of healed tattoos and a short description of what you offer. Use a consistent booking process - phone, messaging and a booking page - and confirm appointments in writing. Decide how you accept payments and state that on your materials - cash, card, and online card through a platform.
For multi-session work, write a simple agreement on scope, number of sessions and deposits. Keep basic bookkeeping from day one - a spreadsheet of dates, clients, services, gross receipts and expenses will help when you check details with Porezna uprava.
- Keep a portfolio of healed work and clear service descriptions
- Confirm bookings in writing and set cancellation rules
- Record all sales and expenses from the first job
- Use deposits and simple written agreements for larger work
How a Websta profile fits into this workflow
A Websta profile gives you a page you can send to clients and that can be found through a local marketplace. Put services, prices, photos and a clear booking method on the page so enquiries become bookings more easily. Websta supports online booking and the ability to show set services and prices.
On Websta card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe. That means you receive the money into your account that you control, and you decide the price. Use the Websta page as a formal place to link to when you confirm appointments, and keep the same price and cancellation rules there as in your messages.
- A single URL you can send to clients and post on social media
- List services, photos, prices and booking details in one place
- Payments via Stripe are paid out to your own bank account
- Use the profile as part of your booking confirmation workflow
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to register to take money for tattoo work in Croatia?
- Most people who take regular paid work should check with Porezna uprava to see whether they must register as an obrt, sole trader or company and what tax and reporting rules apply. Ask specifically about VAT thresholds, fiscal receipts and how to report online card payouts.
- What hygiene rules should I follow before offering tattoos?
- Contact the Croatian Institute of Public Health or your local public health office to confirm hygienic standards, sterilisation and premises requirements. They can tell you the rules for single-use items, waste disposal and documentation.
- Should I ask for a deposit for appointments?
- Yes. For larger pieces or multi-session bookings a deposit reduces no-shows and protects your time. State whether deposits are refundable and how they apply to cancellations in writing before the appointment.
- Can I accept card payments through my own account?
- Yes. On Websta card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe. Check with Porezna uprava how to record those payouts in your bookkeeping and whether you must issue fiscal receipts.
- How do I price my work as a beginner?
- Cover all material costs and add a realistic hourly or per-piece fee for your time. Keep prices simple for small pieces while you build a portfolio, and raise them as your experience and demand grow. Test the local market by looking at other artists and by asking direct feedback from early clients.
About the numbers
Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.