Inkwell Tattoo Collective

Words in [brackets] are blanks you fill in with your own details when you adopt this sample in Supreme Plan AI.

Executive Summary

Inkwell Tattoo Collective is a private-suite tattoo studio in Oregon. We offer custom tattoo work by appointment in a clean, welcoming space, invite guest artists to rent a suite, and sell aftercare products. Our clients want a tattoo they will love for life, made by an artist they trust, in a place they trust.

The problem is simple. A tattoo is permanent, but many people choose a studio based on a photo and a price, and they do not know how the studio handles safety. We explain the process, check ID, follow written sanitation steps and put the price and plan in writing.

Here is what our numbers show. We expect sales of $97,020 in Year 1, growing to $292,440 by Year 5 as we add resident artists, guest artists and repeat clients. We expect a loss of about $1,000 in Year 1 while we build our client base, then a profit from Year 2 (about $6,900), growing to about $34,400 by Year 5.

We need $72,500 in total. That covers $52,000 in startup costs (private suite stations, a sterilization area, artist equipment, opening supplies, the build-out, the lease deposit, licenses and insurance) and a cash cushion for the first months. I am putting in $25,000 of my own money, and I am asking for a $37,500 SBA loan plus $10,000 from an investor or partner.

I am Sofia Reyes, the owner. These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this plan, not promises.

Company Description

Inkwell Tattoo Collective will be a limited liability company (LLC) in Oregon, owned by Sofia Reyes. An LLC is a business type that generally keeps your home and savings separate from the business's debts and lawsuits, although a lender may still ask for a personal guarantee. A business attorney or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) can explain how it works in our state.

What we believe. A tattoo is permanent, so safety, consent and honesty come first. We never rush a design, we say no when a request is not right and we protect every client's health.

What we offer:
- Tattoo sessions. Custom and flash tattoos, booked by appointment with a consultation and deposit.
- Guest artist booth rent. Licensed guest artists rent a private suite by the month.
- Aftercare, merchandise and touch-ups. Aftercare products, studio merchandise and touch-ups.
- Later, as we grow: piercing and a second location. The numbers in this plan do not include these.

The space. In Year 1 we will lease about 1,100 square feet with three private suites, a sterilization room, a waiting area and a restroom. We budget $21,600 a year ($1,800 a month) for rent and utilities, and the plan assumes this grows about 8% a year.

Licenses and insurance. Tattooing is regulated by states and local health departments. Before I sign a lease I will ask the state and county what the studio and each artist need, which usually includes a studio license, an artist license, bloodborne pathogen training, inspections and rules on sterilization and sharps disposal. We will not open or hire until I have the written answers. We will tattoo only adults with valid ID and will follow the law on any exceptions. We will register the LLC with the state, get a business license and an EIN (the business tax number from the IRS, free at irs.gov) and carry general liability and professional liability insurance, property insurance and workers' compensation once we hire.

Where things stand today. This plan is my starting point. Before I sign a lease or buy equipment, I will ask at least 20 people who have tattoos what they look for in a studio, visit at least 5 studios, confirm the licensing and inspection rules and line up at least 3 guest artists who say they would rent a suite. If the numbers do not match this plan, I will change the plan before I spend money.

Problem & Opportunity

Choosing a tattoo studio is a big decision.

1. Safety is hard to judge. Clients cannot always tell how a studio cleans tools and handles needles.
2. Unclear prices. Hourly rates, minimums and touch-ups are not always explained.
3. Rushed consultations. Some studios do not listen or let the client see the design before the day.
4. Hard to find the right artist. Styles differ and clients want a good match.
5. Artists need a safe, professional place to work. Many rent a chair with poor facilities.

How we will find out if people want this before we spend money. I will ask at least 20 people with tattoos what matters most, and ask at least 3 guest artists whether they would rent a suite. Our Year 1 plan needs about 355 sessions and 23 booth-months.

Products & Services

What we sell. We have three revenue streams, each priced simply.

1. Tattoo sessions. The plan assumes an average of about $210 per session in Year 1, rising to about $230 by Year 5. Ink, needles, gloves and disposables cost about $22 per session. We expect about 355 sessions in Year 1, growing to about 930 a year by Year 5.
2. Guest artist booth rent. The plan assumes about $450 per suite-month in Year 1, rising to about $490, with about $20 per month in cleaning and utilities. We expect about 23 booth-months in Year 1, growing to about 82.
3. Aftercare, merchandise and touch-ups. The plan assumes about $24 per item in Year 1, rising to about $28, with about $9 per item in cost. We expect about 505 items in Year 1, growing to about 1,370.

Our prices. A written price or hourly rate for each artist, a deposit to book and a clear touch-up policy.

How it works for a client:
1. The client books a consultation, shares ideas and sees a design before the session.
2. We check ID, a consent form and a health form, and we do not tattoo anyone who is intoxicated or who has a condition that makes it unsafe.
3. The artist uses new needles and sterile supplies, sets up in a clean suite and explains each step.
4. The client leaves with written aftercare instructions and a follow-up plan.

Gross margin, explained. "Gross margin" is the share of each sale left after paying for ink, needles and supplies. Our plan shows about 87% in Year 1. That money pays the artists, rent, insurance and other bills. Artist pay is counted separately, under payroll.

Market Analysis

Who will use us:
- Adults who want a first tattoo or add to existing work.
- Clients looking for a specific style and a trusted artist.
- Licensed guest artists who need a private suite.

Where we will work. Clients within about 30 minutes of the studio, and guest artists in the region.

How we sized the plan. Our Year 1 plan needs about 7 sessions a week, which one or two artists can do. I will check the real numbers by talking to artists and clients before spending money.

Season. Spring and summer are busy. The numbers show a yearly average.

Competitive Landscape

Other choices clients have:
1. Other studios, many of which are good, so style, safety and reputation matter.
2. Large shops with many artists.
3. Home or unlicensed artists, which are cheaper and unsafe.
4. Traveling guest artists.

How we will win clients: a clean private suite, a real consultation, written prices and consent, and artists whose styles we can show. These are promises we have to keep, and any competitor could make them too, so we will measure ourselves on them every week.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How clients will find us.
- Instagram and TikTok portfolios of each artist's work, posted with the client's permission.
- A free Google business listing with photos and reviews, and online booking.
- Guest artist spotlights and flash days.
- Local partners such as barbers, bars, tattoo supply shops and gyms.
- A referral thank-you for clients who refer friends.

Marketing budget. About $4,800 a year in Year 1 (about $400 a month), growing about 8% a year. The sign, website and portfolio photos are paid for from startup costs ($3,500).

Operations Plan

How the business runs day to day.

The space. A waiting area, three private suites, a sterilization room with an autoclave, a sink for handwashing and a sharps disposal container.

A normal day:
1. Open, set up suites with new barriers and sterile supplies, and review the day's clients and forms.
2. Run sessions with ID checks, consent forms and clear communication.
3. After each client, dispose of needles and sharps in a sharps container, clean and disinfect the suite and sterilize reusable tools.
4. Close, log the autoclave results and restock.

Health and safety. Artists wear gloves, use single-use needles, follow bloodborne pathogen rules, sterilize reusable tools in an autoclave and test it on a schedule. Waste is disposed of as the law requires. We do not tattoo anyone under the legal age, anyone who is intoxicated or anyone with skin conditions at the site, and we do not give medical advice.

Equipment. About $24,000 to start: three suite stations, an autoclave and ultrasonic cleaner, artist tools and a reception desk. We set aside about $4,000 a year after that to replace equipment.

Running costs in Year 1: rent and utilities about $21,600, booking software and card fees about $5,400, marketing about $4,800, insurance about $3,000, sterilization, waste disposal and cleaning about $2,400, and accounting, licenses and legal about $2,400. That is $39,600 in all.

Payment. Clients pay a deposit and the balance by card at the end of the session, so what is owed to us is small.

Management & Organization

Who runs the business. Sofia Reyes, owner and lead tattoo artist. As owner I will tattoo, run the studio, manage guest artists and handle the money. I plan to pay myself $36,000 a year in salary.

The team. Pay figures include payroll taxes and workers' compensation insurance.
- Resident tattoo artist: none in Year 1, one in Years 2 and 3 and two in Years 4 and 5, at about $34,000 a year each.
- Front desk (part-time): one in Years 2 to 4 and two in Year 5, at about $18,000 a year each.

We confirm every license, check portfolios and references, and train everyone on the same safety steps.

People who will help us: a bookkeeper or tax preparer, an insurance agent who understands tattoo studios, a business attorney for a one-time review of the lease and our consent forms, and a free mentor from SCORE or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them.
- Before opening (4 to 6 months ahead): confirm the licensing and inspection rules, ask at least 20 people with tattoos what they want and line up at least 3 guest artists, register the LLC and get an EIN, open a business bank account, get insurance and equipment quotes, find a space, have an attorney review the lease and consent forms and set up booking. Sign the lease only after the licensing answers and the guest artist commitments are in hand.
- Year 1: open with the owner and about 355 sessions, plus about 23 booth-months, $97,020 in sales and a loss of about $1,000.
- Year 2: add a resident artist and a front desk helper, with about 605 sessions, $173,400 in sales and a profit of about $6,900.
- Year 3: grow guest artists and repeat clients, with about 635 sessions, $189,310 in sales and a profit of about $14,100.
- Year 4: add a second resident artist, with about 815 sessions, $251,355 in sales and a profit of about $25,400.
- Year 5: grow to about 930 sessions a year with a team of five, $292,440 in sales and a profit of about $34,400.
Growth depends on booking and keeping clients, attracting good artists and keeping the studio safe and clean, so treat the later years as goals, not promises.

What we check every week: sessions, deposits, no-shows, guest artist occupancy, aftercare sales, safety logs, reviews and cash in the bank.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it. Total we are raising: $72,500.

How we got that number. The Funding Need Calculator in this plan adds up three things:
- Startup costs of $52,000, listed item by item in the Startup Costs section: $9,000 for three private suite stations with chairs and lighting, $4,800 for autoclave, ultrasonic cleaner and sterilization area, $7,200 for tattoo machines, power supplies and artist tools, $3,000 for reception desk, computer and card reader, $5,500 for opening inks, needles, gloves and supplies, $9,000 for flooring, sinks, walls and lighting, $4,800 for lease deposit and first month of rent, $1,500 for business, studio and artist licenses and permits, $2,200 for legal and accounting setup, $3,500 for sign, website and portfolio photos, and $1,500 for first insurance payment.
- A cash cushion of about $18,900: about 3 months of running costs. Our cash stays above zero in every year of the plan, but lenders still want a cushion in the bank for slow weeks and surprises. They call this "working capital."
- Together that comes to about $70,900, rounded up to the nearest $500: $71,000.
We are raising $1,500 more than that, $72,500 in all, to leave extra room for loan payments in the first years and for rent before the suites are full.

Where the money comes from:
- My own money: $25,000.
- Amount requested as a loan: $37,500.
- From an investor or partner: $10,000.

Kind of funding we are looking for. An SBA 7(a) small loan through a local bank or community lender, plus investor or partner money. SBA Microloans, which go up to $50,000 through nonprofit lenders, are another place to ask; their repayment times are usually shorter, so the monthly payment would be higher. Investor or partner money is not paid back with interest, but the person gets a share of the business. A family member, a friend, a local investor or a business partner could fill this part. Put any agreement in writing.

How we will pay it back. We expect a loss of about $1,000 in Year 1 while we build our client base, then a profit from Year 2 (about $6,900), growing to about $34,400 by Year 5. With this funding, the business has money in the bank at the end of every year of the plan, and the lowest year-end balance is about $49,400, at the end of Year 1. The loan is planned at 12.75% interest over 10 years, so payments of about $554 a month (about $6,653 a year) are already included in our cash flow. We chose 12.75% as a cautious planning rate. Ask the lender for the real rate, which may be lower or higher.

What we are offering the lender: our equipment as collateral (something the lender can claim if the loan is not repaid) and my personal guarantee (my promise to repay from my own money if the business cannot).

A smaller first step, if needed. If we cannot raise the full amount right away, we can start smaller and grow into this plan:
- Phase 1: start as a single licensed artist renting a suite in an existing licensed studio (check the rules), taking about 8 sessions a week while keeping your current job. Startup can be roughly $4,000 to $7,000 for tools, insurance and a booking page. Get your own quotes.
- Phase 2: once you are booked weeks ahead, lease a small studio, add guest artists and follow this plan.
To plan the smaller start, make a copy of this plan (use Duplicate) and lower the numbers to match.

All numbers in this plan are estimates. We will update them as real results come in.

Appendix Notes

Documents to attach before you send this plan:

- Your resume (one page is fine) and any licenses or training certificates.
- A personal financial statement (a list of what you own and what you owe; lenders usually provide a form).
- Business registration papers and your EIN (your business tax number from the IRS, free at irs.gov).
- Proof of insurance, or a quote.
- Your consent form, aftercare sheet and sanitation procedures.
- Proof of your artist license and bloodborne pathogen training, or the agency's written answer.
- A letter or quote for the space, and the lease once you have it.
- Quotes for the sterilization and station equipment.
If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.

The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Tattoo Sessions: about $210 per session in Year 1, rising to $230; about $22 per session in direct costs, rising to $26; about 355 sessions in Year 1, growing to 930.
- Guest Artist Booth Rent: about $450 per booth-month in Year 1, rising to $490; about $20 per booth-month in direct costs, rising to $22; about 23 booth-months in Year 1, growing to 82.
- Aftercare, Merchandise and Touch-Ups: about $24 per item in Year 1, rising to $28; about $9 per item in direct costs, rising to $11; about 505 items in Year 1, growing to 1,370.
- Pay: Owner / Lead Tattoo Artist $36,000 (1/1/1/1/1); Resident Tattoo Artist $34,000 (0/1/1/2/2); Front Desk (part-time) $18,000 (0/1/1/1/2). The numbers in parentheses are how many people we plan to have in Years 1 through 5. Pay figures are yearly and include payroll taxes and workers' compensation.
- Other yearly costs in Year 1: studio rent & utilities $21,600, booking software & card fees $5,400, marketing $4,800, business insurance $3,000, sterilization, waste disposal & cleaning $2,400, and accounting, licenses & legal $2,400. These grow between 5% and 15% a year as the business grows.
- Clients pay by card at the end of the session and guest artists pay monthly. At the end of Year 1 about $970 (1% of Year 1 sales) is card payments or booth rent still to come.
- Tax rate: 21%.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and research.

Startup Costs