Getting started with InkWell

Whether you're building your first studio page or finding your way through a client enquiry, start with what you need to do next. These guides help you show your work, talk with clients and organise the session you agree. You can create an account without a card and prepare your private page before business verification.

Choose your next step

Set up your studio

Make a page that feels like your studio. Build and preview it privately, then complete the checks to go live when you're ready.

Handle an enquiry

Start with the client's idea, ask questions and agree the work together. Keep the quote and booked session beside the conversation.

Book a phone client or walk-in

Start from a free calendar time. Keep messages, optional payment requests and confirmed receipts with the saved appointment.

Resolve a cancellation or no-show

Review the agreed policy, client notification and payment decision. Leave a manager review task when you do not have payment permissions.

Set booking hours

Shape your working week and leave room for time off and breaks.

Plan the studio day

See who is working, check their appointments and handle a day off. Track shared stations when your studio needs space planning.

Review studio activity

Compare enquiries, upcoming sessions, planned space and recorded booking receipts, with a clear explanation of what each figure means.

Check payments and billing

Explain what is due, request payment where enabled and check the result. Your InkWell subscription has its own billing guide.

Set up the essentials

You can start small. A page that explains your work and makes it easy to enquire is a useful first goal; you can keep refining it as you go.

Create your account. Use Continue with Google, or email and password and confirm your email. Choose the account you want to use for your studio.
Make the page yours. Add your name, bio, city or postcode and contact email. Prepare your artist profile, review portfolio images before making them public and add a few services with clear prices and durations.
Prepare for enquiries. Set working hours and time off in Booking hours, then review the questions in Settings → Booking setup.
Preview, then go live. Review your private page first. When you're ready, choose your paid workspace plan, save your legal seller in Settings → Business verification and complete Stripe checks and any InkWell seller review. Resolve the publishing checks before sharing your public link.

Account creation needs no card. Compare plans and fees before subscribing, then follow Set up your studio.

Turn an enquiry into an appointment

The client doesn't need a finished design to start a conversation. Read what they've sent, then ask for the detail that will help you decide how to approach the piece.

Open Requests to review the brief, uploaded images, reference links and optional placement guide. The Images section includes the screenshots or photos the client attached. Assign an enquiry owner and tattoo artist. Save a quote in Payments, then choose Draft reply with saved quote and review it before sending.

Use Message client in the booking header to open the conversation and send the saved quote. Clients receive a private link to read and reply without an account; replies appear with the enquiry in Studio. Unread replies enter Needs attention. Agree the price, artist and time, then open Session to plan, hold where available or book the appointment. A preferred date or saved plan does not reserve a slot.

Client conversations explains messages, access links and email replies.

For the working day, use Studio schedule for attendance and Stations for shared space. A solo artist can operate without setting up stations.

Use the first booking checklist or the detailed enquiries and appointments guide.

Understand payments and billing

When online payments are enabled for your studio, owners and admins can request deposits, full payments and remaining balances through Stripe. If collection is switched off, keep your existing arrangements. Connecting Stripe alone does not turn on collection.

Saving a quote does not take money, send an email or book a session. Your InkWell subscription invoices are separate from tattoo-client payments. See Client payments and Subscriptions.

For retail setup, products and orders, see Merchandise. For a domain you own, follow Custom domains. Every active subscription also includes Analytics and reporting and configurable reminders, follow-ups and routing.

Get help

If you get stuck, check common issues or tell Support what you were trying to do. You don't need to know which part of InkWell caused the problem. If you cannot sign in, using the short form on this website.