Do I need to register with KvK to tattoo part-time?

Yes. You should register your business activity with the Kamer van Koophandel (KvK). If you are unsure how to classify your activity or need advice about being self-employed alongside a job, ask KvK directly.

Can I accept card payments and have the money go to my account?

Yes. Websta uses Stripe so card payments from customers are paid out to the provider's own bank account through Stripe. Check with your accountant how to record those payouts for tax purposes.

What hygiene checks should I expect in the Netherlands?

Contact your local GGD or municipal public health service and ask about infection-control requirements, sterile equipment, waste disposal and whether inspections or registration are required for tattooing in your municipality.

How should I set my first price?

Base it on material costs, setup and cleanup time, your design time and an hourly rate for your labour. Factor in taxes and insurance. Offer price ranges for common sizes and confirm quotes in writing before starting work.

Do I need insurance for tattoo work?

You should ask insurers about professional liability and business insurance for tattooing. Insurance needs vary, so get quotes and ask what incidents and claims are covered.

How to make money as a tattoo artist in the Netherlands

Updated October 21, 2026

Where paying customers come from

Customers come from several predictable places. Neighbours and people from your social circle are often the first source because they already trust you. Colleagues at work and friends from hobby groups or sports clubs can provide steady small jobs. Students and younger people often search online for affordable or custom work, and they use social media and search engines to find local artists. Word of mouth remains important: a single good result can bring referrals from several new clients.

Offline places include workplaces, local events, markets and student unions where people meet you in person. Online search and social channels let strangers find your work by style and location. The Websta marketplace also connects local task-posters with providers, and you can send anyone a single profile page with services, photos, prices and booking options.

Neighbours, friends and colleagues
Local events, markets and student connections
Online search and social media
Word of mouth and referrals
Marketplace task-posters and direct inquiries

How to set a first price and talk about money

Start by calculating your real costs per job: disposable materials (needles, gloves, inks), sterilisation and cleaning supplies, electricity and water for the workspace, and the time you spend on design and tattooing. Add a modest hourly rate for your labour and remember to factor in taxes and insurance when you set a take-home target. For small, simple tattoos consider a minimum session fee to cover setup and hygiene even if the tattoo takes little time.

When talking to clients, give price ranges rather than a single number for every design. Explain what is included - design time, aftercare advice, touch-ups - and state your deposit and cancellation policy up front. Use written messages or the booking page to confirm the agreed price before you start work. Deposits reduce no-shows and make conversations about refunds clear.

Calculate materials + cleanup + your time
Include tax and insurance in your pricing plan
Use a minimum session fee for small pieces
Give price ranges and confirm quotes in writing
Ask for a deposit to reduce cancellations

What the first ten customers usually look like

The first ten customers are rarely strangers who book a large, complex back piece. Expect a mix of friends, acquaintances, neighbours and a few local clients who found you online. Many of the earliest jobs are small black-line work, simple lettering, flash pieces or initials. Some will be tests of your lines and healing; others will ask for custom work once they like your style.

Treat these first clients as both customers and references. Ask permission to photograph healed tattoos for your portfolio and to be listed as a reference. A steady, small stream of well-documented early jobs matters more than a single ambitious piece.

Friends, neighbours and colleagues
Local online leads and students
Simple tattoos and flash work
Clients who become referrals and portfolio pieces

Money, taxes and official checks to sort out in the Netherlands

Registering a business and handling tax are core steps. You need to register your business with the Kamer van Koophandel (KvK). For tax rules, invoicing and VAT you should check with the Belastingdienst - ask whether you must charge BTW on your services, how to file income tax and what records to keep. For health and hygiene rules, contact your municipal public health service or the GGD to ask about infection-control requirements, safe waste disposal and whether your workspace needs inspection or registration.

If you plan to accept card payments, you can use a payment processor such as Stripe; on Websta card payments from customers are paid out to the provider's own bank account through Stripe. Ask your bank or accountant about how those payouts should be recorded, and check with insurers about professional liability or business insurance for tattooing.

Register with Kamer van Koophandel (KvK)
Ask Belastingdienst about VAT, invoicing and record keeping
Check hygiene and inspection rules with your local GGD
Record Stripe or card payouts with your accountant
Ask insurers about professional and liability coverage

What tends to go wrong in the first months

Common problems are underpricing, unclear terms, poor scheduling and inconsistent hygiene procedures. Underpricing leads to unsustainable workloads; unclear terms cause disputes over cancellations, refunds and touch-ups. Not keeping proper records makes taxes harder and risks fines. Operationally, clients who cancel or don’t show up waste slots unless you charge or collect a deposit.

Technical issues include inconsistent photography of healed work, which limits portfolio value, and poor client communication that creates misunderstandings about design or healing. Plan for slower periods and keep basic bookkeeping from day one to avoid surprises.

Underpricing and not including costs or tax
No deposit or cancellation policy - leads to no-shows
Insufficient hygiene documentation or inspection
Poor portfolio photos - less chance of referrals
Missing bookkeeping and tax records

How a Websta profile fits into your work

A Websta profile is a single page you can send to clients and use in listings. It shows services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking when available. That gives people a consistent place to see your work and book a session. The marketplace part of Websta lets people nearby find providers by service and location and post tasks that providers can respond to.

Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe. You set your prices on the profile; the page functions like a small website without you needing to build one. Use the profile link in your messages, social media and printed materials so potential clients see the same terms, photos and booking options every time.

Single shareable page with services, photos and booking
Marketplace helps local customers find and post tasks
Card payments go to your bank account through Stripe
You set the prices and list what is included

Practical next steps

Make a short checklist: register with KvK, contact Belastingdienst about VAT and invoicing, ask your GGD about hygiene rules, arrange basic business insurance and set up record-keeping. Decide a minimum session fee and a deposit policy, prepare clear written quotes and take good photos of healed tattoos for your portfolio. Create a Websta profile, add a few well-lit images, list typical services and prices, and use the booking and payment options so clients can confirm quickly.

Earning from tattooing takes time, repeat work and steady exposure. Treat early customers as both income and marketing, keep clear records, and ask the authorities named above for specifics if you are unsure.

Register with KvK and check tax rules with Belastingdienst
Ask your GGD about hygiene and workspace requirements
Decide deposit, cancellation and minimum session fees
Prepare portfolio photos and client consent for images
Create and use a Websta profile for bookings and payments

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register with KvK to tattoo part-time?: Yes. You should register your business activity with the Kamer van Koophandel (KvK). If you are unsure how to classify your activity or need advice about being self-employed alongside a job, ask KvK directly.
Can I accept card payments and have the money go to my account?: Yes. Websta uses Stripe so card payments from customers are paid out to the provider's own bank account through Stripe. Check with your accountant how to record those payouts for tax purposes.
What hygiene checks should I expect in the Netherlands?: Contact your local GGD or municipal public health service and ask about infection-control requirements, sterile equipment, waste disposal and whether inspections or registration are required for tattooing in your municipality.
How should I set my first price?: Base it on material costs, setup and cleanup time, your design time and an hourly rate for your labour. Factor in taxes and insurance. Offer price ranges for common sizes and confirm quotes in writing before starting work.
Do I need insurance for tattoo work?: You should ask insurers about professional liability and business insurance for tattooing. Insurance needs vary, so get quotes and ask what incidents and claims are covered.

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.

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