Best POS Systems for Tattoo Studios: You Don’t Need a $2,000 Register

One of my first equipment purchases when I opened my shop was a $1,200 Clover terminal because the payment processing salesperson convinced me I needed a “professional POS system.” He showed me all these features — inventory management, employee scheduling, detailed reporting.

You know what I actually used it for? Swiping credit cards and printing receipts.

A $49 Square Reader would have done the same thing. I learned an expensive lesson: tattoo shops have simple POS needs. Don’t overspend on hardware you won’t use.

What a Tattoo Shop Actually Needs From a POS

Let’s be honest about the requirements:

1. Accept card payments — tap, swipe, chip insert
2. Tip prompts — suggested tip percentages on screen
3. Digital receipts — email or text, not paper rolls
4. Daily sales tracking — how much each artist brought in
5. Deposit collection — for appointments booked in person

That’s basically it. You don’t need barcoding, you don’t need receipt printers, you don’t need a kitchen display system. You need to take payments and track tips.

The Options

1. Square — Best for 90% of Tattoo Shops

Hardware:

• Square Reader (contactless + chip): $49
• Square Terminal (standalone screen): $299
• Square Register (full countertop system): $799

Fees: 2.6% + $0.10 per in-person transaction | No monthly fee on basic plan

I’m going to keep this short because if you’ve read any of our other guides, you know the recommendation: get Square.

What makes it perfect for tattoo shops:

• $0 monthly fee — you only pay per transaction
• Tip presets (18%, 20%, 25%, custom) that boost tip amounts
• Track sales by “team member” so you can see each artist’s daily/weekly revenue
• Digital receipts via text or email
• Free POS app on any iPhone, iPad, or Android device
• Same-day deposits with Square Checking
• Integrates with Square Appointments for booking
• Tax reporting at year-end

Hardware recommendation:

• Solo artist / private studio: Square Reader ($49) with your phone. That’s literally all you need.
• Shop with reception desk: Square Terminal ($299). Has its own screen so clients can see the amount and select a tip without touching your phone. Looks more professional.
• Busy multi-artist shop: Square Register ($799) if you want a dedicated countertop setup with customer-facing display. Honestly overkill for most shops.

2. SumUp — Budget European Alternative

Hardware: SumUp Air Reader: $39 Fees: 2.75% per transaction | No monthly fee

SumUp is like Square’s simpler, cheaper cousin. Lower hardware cost, slightly higher per-transaction fee.

When it makes sense: You want the absolute cheapest hardware and process under $5,000/month in cards (at which point the 0.15% higher fee costs you less than $7.50/month more than Square).

When Square is better: Once you’re processing more than $5,000/month, Square’s lower rate saves money. Plus Square’s ecosystem (Appointments, Banking, Payroll) is much more developed.

3. Clover — Best Traditional Terminal

Hardware: Clover Go: $49 | Clover Flex: $599 | Clover Mini: $799 | Clover Station: $1,799 Fees: 2.3-2.6% + $0.10 per transaction Monthly fee: $14.95-$84.95

Clover makes traditional payment terminals — the kind you see at retail stores and restaurants. They’re solid hardware with reliable software.

When Clover makes sense for tattoo shops:

• You want a dedicated, permanent countertop terminal (not a phone/iPad)
• You prefer a traditional payment terminal experience
• You’re processing enough volume to negotiate rates below Square’s flat rate

When it doesn’t:

• The monthly fees ($14.95+ just for software) add up
• The hardware is expensive
• The ecosystem isn’t as integrated as Square’s
• Most tattoo shops don’t need the enterprise features

4. Your Tattoo Shop Software’s Built-In POS

Porter: Includes payment processing through the platform. Process payments right in Porter after completing a session. Tips, commission splits, and reporting all tracked automatically.

TattooPro.io: Processes payments via Stripe integration. Not a traditional POS, but handles payment collection within the booking flow.

Consideration: If you’re already using Porter or another management platform, check if their payment processing works as your POS. Having everything in one system is simpler than juggling separate POS and management tools. The trade-off is that dedicated POS hardware (Square Terminal) is usually a smoother payment experience than processing through software on a phone/tablet.

The Tip Question

Tips are a significant portion of tattoo artist income — 15-25% of session revenue on average. Your POS directly impacts tip amounts.

Digital tip prompts increase tips. Study after study shows that screen-based tip suggestions increase tip percentages versus cash. When a client sees “18% / 20% / 25% / Custom” on screen after a $500 session, they’re more likely to tip $100 (20%) than if they were pulling cash from their wallet.

Tip tracking matters for taxes. All tips are taxable income. A POS that tracks tips automatically (Square does this) makes tax time simpler and keeps you compliant.

Tip preset strategy: Most shops set presets at 18%, 20%, and 25%. Some aggressive shops go 20%, 25%, 30%. The middle option gets selected most often, so put your preferred tip percentage there.

Cash Tips vs. Card Tips

Your POS handles card tips automatically. Cash tips are still common in tattooing. Make sure you track both for accurate accounting.

Setting Up Per-Artist Tracking

If you run a multi-artist shop, you need to know what each artist brings in. Here’s how to set this up in Square:

1. Go to Team > Team Members and add each artist
2. Assign transactions to team members at checkout (or have artists log in with their own PINs)
3. View per-artist reports in Dashboard > Reports > Sales by Team Member

This gives you daily, weekly, and monthly revenue per artist — essential for calculating commissions.

Porter and TattooPro.io handle this automatically since appointments are already assigned to specific artists. Revenue attribution happens without manual tracking.

Commission Tracking Through Your POS

For shops on commission splits, your POS data feeds your commission calculations:

Manual method: Export weekly sales by artist from Square → calculate commission in a spreadsheet → pay artists weekly or biweekly.

Automated method: Use Porter or TattooPro’s built-in commission tracking, which calculates splits automatically based on each artist’s revenue.

Either way, your POS is the source of truth for how much each artist billed. Keep your POS data clean and accurate.

My Recommendation

Don’t overthink this. A $49 Square Reader handles everything most tattoo shops need. Buy it, set it up in 10 minutes, and move on to the things that actually grow your business — like tattooing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do tattoo shops need a POS system?

While not strictly required, a POS system significantly improves payment processing, tip tracking, and financial reporting. Even a basic Square Reader ($49) with the free Square POS app transforms how you handle payments compared to cash-only or manual card processing.

What is the best POS for a small tattoo shop?

Square is the best POS for small tattoo shops. The Square Reader ($49) with the free Square POS app handles card payments, tracks tips, and provides basic reporting with no monthly fees. For a more complete setup, the Square Terminal ($299) adds a built-in screen and receipt printer.