Getting started with InkWell

InkWell is built for tattoo artists and studios who need a professional way to receive booking requests, collect deposits, and manage appointments.

The goal is straightforward: fewer lost inquiries, faster deposit collection, and a clear schedule — without adding operational complexity.

You set up your profile and services. Clients submit booking requests through your public page. You review, quote, and collect a deposit before confirming.

Nothing more than necessary. Nothing less than reliable.

What InkWell is designed for

InkWell works best when:

• You take booking requests and want a structured way to manage them.
• You collect deposits before confirming appointments.
• You want card payments handled securely via Stripe.
• You manage your own schedule and availability.
• You need clarity around deposits, payouts, and VAT.

InkWell is not a marketplace and does not interfere with your brand. Clients book directly through your studio page under your trading name.

How it works at a high level

1. You create your studio profile.
2. You add your services and styles.
3. You set your availability.
4. You publish your public page.
5. Clients submit booking requests with their idea and preferences.
6. You review and send a quote with a deposit amount.
7. Clients pay the deposit securely online.
8. The appointment is confirmed and added to your schedule.

Payments are processed securely. Payouts are handled through Stripe.

The system is designed to give you full control of your bookings.

Before you go live

Before accepting your first booking:

• Follow the onboarding checklist in your dashboard step by step.
• Connect your Stripe account.
• Confirm your trading details and VAT status.
• Add your services and pricing.
• Set your weekly availability.

What to expect once live

InkWell does not replace how you work. It supports it.

You should expect:

• Booking requests arriving through your dashboard instead of DMs.
• Deposits collected automatically when clients confirm.
• A clear view of your upcoming appointments.
• More time for tattooing, less time on admin.

You remain in control of your services, pricing, and schedule.

Responsibilities and compliance

InkWell provides the booking and payment infrastructure. You remain responsible for:

• Acting as merchant of record for your services.
• Health and safety compliance, including hygiene and sterilisation.
• Holding a valid tattoo licence.
• VAT compliance (where applicable).
• Fulfilling confirmed appointments.
• Managing your availability.

Client payments are processed by Stripe to your connected account. InkWell does not hold your funds and does not replace tax or legal advice.

Next steps

If you are new to InkWell, start with the first three guides below. If Stripe is already connected, move straight to setting up your services.