Saul's Studio — Dashboard
Studio dashboard
Home base
Revenue
$0
0 sessions
Tips
$0
client love
Avg / session
$0
before tips
Tax to set aside
$0
28% of revenue
Log a session — saves to client database automatically
Client name
Contact
Session date
Style
Placement
Size
Pricing type
Hours
Rate / Price ($)
Session total ($)
Deposit paid ($)
Deposit date
Tip ($)
Balance due ($)
Notes
Recent sessions
Revenue this month
Revenue
Goal
Sales by style
Active days this month
Clients
Client database
Every session logged on home base appears here automatically. Click a client to expand details, view follow-up templates, and track aftercare.
Clients
Aftercare templates
Copy, paste a client name, and send. Three touchpoints after every session.
Same day — within 1 hour
Aftercare instructions
Walk them through care while wrapping. Send the text below within 1 hour of leaving.
Day 3
Healing check-in
Short and personal. Most artists never do this. Clients remember it forever.
Week 2
Healed photo + rebook
Ask for a healed photo. Natural moment to mention touch-up, future piece, or referral.
Same-day aftercare text
Hey [Name], it was great working with you today. Here is a quick rundown on caring for your new piece.

First 3 days: Keep the wrap on for 2 to 4 hours, then gently wash with unscented soap and warm water. Pat dry, apply a thin layer of unscented lotion (Lubriderm or Aveeno) 2 to 3 times a day.

Days 4 through 14: It will start to peel and possibly itch. Do not pick or scratch. Keep it moisturized and out of direct sun.

Avoid: Pools, hot tubs, soaking, and direct sun for at least 2 weeks.

Any questions at all, reach out. I am here for you through the whole process. Thank you for trusting me with your work.
Day 3 check-in text
Hey [Name], just checking in. How is the tattoo feeling? Any questions about how it is healing? Let me know if you need anything.
Week 2 healed photo + rebook
Hey [Name], it has been about two weeks — your piece should be fully healed by now. Would love to see a photo if you have one. If anything needs a touch-up just let me know, we will get you taken care of. And if you have ideas for your next piece, I am always down to talk. Thanks again for coming through.
Clients
Client standards
The 5-stage client journey.
The 5-stage journey
  • 1. Inquiry — respond within 24 hours, always.
  • 2. Consultation — collect reference images, placement, size, style, budget. Log in database.
  • 3. Deposit and booking — no appointment is real without a deposit. State the policy every time.
  • 4. Session day — confirm 48 hours before. Run your session prep checklist.
  • 5. Aftercare and follow-up — same day, day 3, week 2.
Deposit policy
A non-refundable deposit is required to hold your appointment. The deposit goes toward the total cost of your session. If you need to reschedule, please give me at least 72 hours notice. Deposits can be applied once to a reschedule. No-shows forfeit the deposit.
When things go sideways
Client ghosts: One polite reminder 48 hours before. No response — deposit is forfeit.
Client asks to lower price: "My rate is $250/hr. I am happy to adjust the scope to fit your budget." Never lower your rate.
Unhappy with healed result: Evaluate honestly. Offer a touch-up if within reason at your discretion.
Operations
Session prep
Run through this before every client arrives. Zero trips to the closet once they sit down.
Pre-session checklist
  • Machine + power supply tested and ready
  • Needles — correct cartridge, extras beside station
  • Ink — all colors poured into caps, black topped off
  • Stencil printed, transfer paper cut, stencil solution on cart
  • Gloves — correct size, at least 4 pairs at station
  • Green soap in spray bottle, paper towels stacked
  • Razor ready if shaving placement area
  • Saniderm / wrap pre-cut and within reach
  • Barrier film on machine, cord, and bottles
  • Client chair / table covered with fresh barrier
  • Sharps container accessible and not full
  • Distilled water in rinse cups on tray
  • Reference image visible at eye level
  • Phone on do not disturb
Operations
Style prep kits
Style-specific setup for each of your five disciplines.
Needles
  • Curved mag 7 or 9Primary blending
  • Curved mag 13 or 15Color washes
  • Round liner 3 or 5Soft detail lines
Ink
  • Full color set poured
  • Distilled water for dilution
  • Pre-mixed dilutions: light, mid, full
  • White ink for highlights
Machine
  • Pen or rotary preferred
  • 6 to 8V — avoid over-saturation
  • Light hand, slow passes
Extras
  • Rinse cups with distilled water
  • Color reference visible
  • Extra paper towels
Tip: Pre-pour diluted versions of key colors before the client arrives.
Needles
  • Round shader 5 or 7Core shading
  • Curved mag 7 and 9Gradient blending
  • Round liner 1 or 3Fine detail
Ink
  • Quality black ink
  • 4 pre-mixed grey wash cupsLight / medium / dark / near-black
  • White for highlights
Machine
  • Rotary or coil
  • 7 to 9V for shading
  • Test needle depth on glove
Extras
  • 5000K ring light — non-negotiable
  • High-res reference at eye level
  • Labeled wash cups light to dark
Tip: Pre-mix and label 4 grey wash cups. Consistency is the difference between smooth and muddy realism.
Needles
  • Round liner 3, 5, 7Varied line weights
  • Flat shader 7 or 9Crosshatch texture
Ink
  • Black ink — primary workhorse
  • Grey wash 1 to 2 dilutions
  • White for scratchy highlights
Machine
  • Pen machine preferred
  • 8 to 10V for confident lines
Extras
  • Original sketch on hand
  • Backup stencil printed
  • Fine tip marker for freehand
Tip: Sketch style rewards confidence. Trust the line — second-guessing mid-stroke kills the energy.
Needles
  • Curved mag 9, 13, 15Bold fills
  • Round liner 5 and 7Gestural lines
Ink
  • Full color range available
  • Black for anchor shapes
  • Extra empty caps for mixes
Machine
  • Rotary pen — versatile
  • 7 to 9V baseline
Extras
  • Mood board or color palette ref
  • Skin marker for freehand comp
Tip: Decide your color story before the client sits down.
Needles
  • Round liner 1Primary stipple tool
  • Round liner 3Tonal variation
  • Bugpin 1RLUltra-fine (optional)
Ink
  • High-quality black ink only
  • 1 to 2 grey wash dilutions
  • White for highlight clusters
Machine
  • Rotary pen strongly preferred
  • 5 to 7V — control over force
  • Test dot on glove before starting
Extras
  • Bright focused light — essential
  • Optivisor for fine areas
  • Breaks planned in
Tip: Schedule stipple sessions earlier in the day. A shaky dot is permanent.
Operations
Inventory
Update as you use supplies. Saves automatically.
Supply levels
Black ink (oz)
Stocked
Color ink sets
Stocked
Cartridge needles (packs)
Order soon
Transfer paper (sheets)
Stocked
Gloves (boxes)
Order soon
Green soap (oz)
Stocked
Saniderm / wrap
Order now
Ink caps (bags)
Stocked
Disposable razors
Stocked
Barrier film (roll)
Order soon
Operations
Cart setup order
Check off as you order — saves automatically.
Must have — order this weekend
Rolling cart — IKEA Råskog (~$30) or Seville Classics (~$60–90)
IKEA or Amazon
$30 to $90
Clear plastic bins / organizer trays (set of 6–12)
Amazon or Dollar Tree
$10 to $20
Green soap 32oz + 2 spray bottles
$15 to $25
Stencil Stuff
Amazon or tattoo supply
$15 to $20
Barrier film roll
$10 to $15
Sharps container 1-quart
$5 to $8
Gloves — 2 boxes your size (nitrile)
$20 to $30
Ink caps 500 count
$8 to $12
Saniderm roll
$20 to $30
Daylight LED ring light — 5000K
$25 to $60
Exam table paper roll
$15 to $25
Skin marker / surgical pen pack
$8 to $12
Should have
Mayo stand / instrument tray
$25 to $50
Flex-arm clamp lamp LED
$15 to $25
Handheld mirror for stencil approval
$5 to $10
OptiVISOR magnifier headset
$20 to $40
Business
Goals and targets
Set your targets here. Progress bars appear on home base every time you log a session.
Revenue targets
Monthly goal ($)
Weekly goal ($)
Sessions per month
Savings goals
Tax reserve target ($)
Tax saved so far ($)
Emergency fund target ($)
Equipment / purchase goal
What are you saving for?
Cost ($)
Saved so far ($)
CEO hour
Weekly check-in
5 minutes. Fill it out, copy it, paste it into Claude.
The numbers
Sessions
completed
Revenue ($)
before expenses
Inquiries
new this week
No shows
lost sessions
Supplies ($)
spent
Tax aside
28% auto
What went well?
What felt off?
What do I need help with this week?
One thing to improve next week
How does the business feel?
1 = rough week  ·  5 = firing on all cylinders
CEO hour
Check-in history
Your saved weekly check-ins. A running record of your growth.
No check-ins saved yet.
Business
Finances
Three numbers that matter: what came in, what went out, what's left.
Monthly snapshot
Sessions completed
Avg hours per session
Monthly expenses ($)
Supplies spent ($)
Monthly profit
Enter numbers above
Tax to set aside
—
Tax basics
As a solo studio owner you are self-employed — you pay self-employment tax (~15.3%) plus federal and state income tax. The 28% rule covers most income levels safely.

Deductible expenses: all supplies, studio rent, equipment, software, education, partial phone, and mileage to supply stores. Keep every receipt.
Business
Lingo decoder
Plain-English definitions. No MBA required.
Money terms
Revenue
All money that came in before expenses.
Profit
Revenue minus expenses. Your real pay.
Break-even
Monthly expenses ÷ $250 = minimum billable hours needed.
Cash flow
The timing of money in and out. You can be profitable but broke if clients pay slow.
Tax deduction
A business expense that lowers your taxable income. Supplies = deductions.
Quarterly taxes
Self-employed pay estimated taxes 4x per year. Due: April, June, Sept, Jan.
YTD
Year to date. Everything earned from January 1st to right now.
Operations terms
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure. Your session prep checklist is an SOP.
KPI
Key Performance Indicator. Bookings per month, no-show rate, avg session value.
Capacity
How many hours or clients you can realistically serve.
Pipeline
All potential clients interested but not yet booked. Keeping it warm = consistent income.
Brand terms
Value proposition
Why choose you over anyone else. Private studio, multiple specialty styles, premium experience.
Client retention
Getting clients to come back. Repeat clients cost nothing to acquire and refer friends.
Positioning
How people think of you vs. other artists. "Private studio, custom fine art — not a walk-in shop."