Best Tattoo Consent Form Software: Ditch the Paper Binders Already

I have a confession: for the first four years of running my shop, our consent forms lived in binders. Filing cabinet full of binders, organized by month. When we needed to find someone’s form from two years ago, it was a 20-minute archaeological expedition through dusty folders.

Then a client’s lawyer called asking for a copy of a consent form from 18 months prior. I spent 45 minutes digging. Found it — bent, coffee-stained, with a signature I could barely make out. That was the moment I went digital.

Digital consent forms are faster for clients, easier for you, legally stronger than paper (timestamps, IP addresses, tamper-proof storage), and cost almost nothing. If you’re still doing paper, this is the easiest upgrade you’ll make this year.

What Your Consent Form Needs to Cover

Before picking software, make sure your form actually covers you legally. Every tattoo consent form should include:

Client Identification:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth (age verification — 18+ or guardian consent)
• Government ID type and number (you should be checking ID anyway)
• Address and phone number

Medical Disclosure:

• Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, keloid scarring)
• Allergies (latex, adhesives, metals, specific inks)
• Medications (blood thinners, Accutane, immunosuppressants)
• Pregnancy (contraindicated for tattooing)
• Diabetes, hemophilia, or other bleeding disorders
• History of fainting or seizures
• Recent sun exposure on the tattoo area
• Under the influence of drugs or alcohol (should result in refusal)

Risk Acknowledgment:

• Infection risk
• Allergic reaction risk
• Scarring possibility
• Color fading over time
• That tattooing involves needles and pain (seriously, this needs to be stated)

Aftercare Agreement:

• Client acknowledges receiving aftercare instructions
• Client accepts responsibility for proper aftercare
• Understanding that poor aftercare can affect results

Photo Release:

• Permission to photograph the tattoo
• Permission to use photos for portfolio/social media
• Make this optional or a separate checkbox — some clients don’t want their tattoo on your Instagram

Tattoo Details:

• Description of the tattoo
• Placement on body
• Artist name
• Date of session

Liability Waiver:

• Release of liability for known risks
• Agreement that the client has not been coerced
• Acknowledgment that tattoos are permanent

Signature and Date:

• Electronic signature
• Timestamp
• Witness (if required by your state)

Important: Have a local attorney review your consent form. Requirements vary by state and municipality. A $200-500 attorney review now prevents a $50,000 lawsuit later.

The Best Digital Consent Form Options

1. Built Into Your Shop Management Software (Best Option)

If you use tattoo-specific booking software, consent forms are probably already included:

Porter ($79-249/mo):

• Fully customizable digital consent forms
• Sent automatically as part of the booking process
• Client fills out on their phone before arriving
• Stored permanently in the client’s profile
• Photo ID capture
• Medical history integrated with client CRM
• Multiple form templates (standard consent, minor consent with guardian, photo release)

TattooPro.io ($29-89/mo):

• Digital consent forms on all plans
• Sent with booking confirmation
• Electronic signature capture
• Cloud storage with client profiles
• Customizable fields

Tattoo Studio Pro ($49-149/mo):

• Digital consent and waiver forms
• Pre-appointment completion
• Stored with client records

Why this is the best approach: Everything is connected. The consent form is linked to the specific appointment, the client profile, and the session record. No separate system to manage, no syncing issues, no hunting through two different platforms.

2. WaiverForever — Best Dedicated Waiver App

Price: Free (unlimited waivers) | Pro $19.99/mo | Premium $39.99/mo Best for: Shops not using tattoo-specific software

WaiverForever is a standalone digital waiver app used by lots of service businesses:

Free plan includes:

• Unlimited waiver completions
• Custom form builder
• Electronic signatures
• Cloud storage
• Mobile-friendly for client completion
• Basic reporting

Paid plans add:

• Photo capture (client can take a selfie for ID verification)
• Custom branding (your logo, colors)
• Auto-tagging and organization
• API integrations
• Multiple locations

For tattoo shops: The free plan is genuinely functional. Build your consent form once, have clients fill it out on an iPad at the front desk or on their phone via a QR code. Forms are stored in the cloud indefinitely.

3. Jotform — Best for Custom Forms

Price: Free (5 forms, 100 submissions/mo) | Bronze $39/mo | Silver $49/mo Best for: Shops that need highly customized forms

Jotform is a general form builder with signing capabilities:

• Drag-and-drop form builder (most flexible of any option)
• Electronic signature widget
• Conditional logic (show different questions based on answers)
• PDF generation (auto-generate a signed PDF for your records)
• Integration with Google Drive, Dropbox for storage

The flexibility advantage: If your consent form needs to be complex — different forms for different procedures, conditional medical history questions, multi-language support — Jotform gives you the most customization.

The limitation: 100 submissions per month on the free plan. If you do 25+ sessions/week, you’ll hit that quickly and need a paid plan.

4. Waiver Electronic — Simplest Option

Price: From $15/mo Best for: Shops wanting the simplest setup

Waiver Electronic does one thing: digital waivers. Upload your existing PDF waiver, clients sign on an iPad or phone, it’s stored in the cloud. That’s it.

No form builder, no customization — you design your form elsewhere and upload it. But if you already have a paper form that works and just want to digitize the signing process, this is the fastest path.

5. iPad + Apple Notes (Free but Risky)

I’ve seen shops do this: type up a consent form in Notes, have clients sign with their finger on the iPad, screenshot it, save to a folder.

Does it work? Technically, yes. An electronic signature on a displayed document is legally valid.

Is it good enough? No. There’s no timestamp verification, no tamper-proof storage, no backup, no searchability. If you need to find a specific consent form two years later, good luck scrolling through hundreds of screenshots.

Don’t do this. WaiverForever is free and 100x better.

Setting Up the Digital Consent Workflow

Here’s how it should work, regardless of which tool you use:

For Appointment Clients:

1. Client books online through your booking system
2. Consent form is sent automatically via email (or included in the booking confirmation)
3. Client fills it out on their phone before arriving — medical history, risk acknowledgment, signature
4. When they arrive, the form is already completed. Verify their ID, confirm the details, and start tattooing.
5. Form is stored automatically in the cloud, linked to their profile

No clipboard, no pen, no paper, no filing. Client walks in ready to go.

For Walk-In Clients:

1. Client walks in wanting a tattoo
2. Hand them an iPad with the consent form open (or a QR code to fill out on their phone)
3. They complete it in 3-5 minutes while browsing flash or waiting
4. Verify ID, confirm details, proceed
5. Form is stored automatically

For Minors (Where Allowed):

Some states allow tattooing minors with parental consent. If yours does:

1. Create a separate minor consent form that includes parent/guardian information
2. Require parent/guardian present with valid ID
3. Both minor and guardian sign the form
4. Document the guardian’s ID (photo capture or ID number)

The Paper vs. Digital Argument

Some old-school artists resist going digital: “Paper has always worked for me.”

Here’s why digital is better from a legal and practical standpoint:

There is zero advantage to paper consent forms in 2026. None.

Privacy and Data Security

Digital consent forms contain sensitive personal and medical information. Take security seriously:

• Use reputable software with encrypted storage (all the tools listed above use encryption)
• Don’t store consent forms in random cloud folders (Google Drive with no access controls is not secure enough for medical data)
• Limit access to consent form data — not every person at your shop needs to see medical histories
• Have a data retention policy — store indefinitely or per your state’s requirements
• Be transparent with clients about how their data is stored and who can access it

My Recommendation

If you use Porter, TattooPro, or Tattoo Studio Pro: Use the built-in consent forms. Already included in your subscription, already integrated with your client profiles and booking system.

If you don’t use tattoo-specific software: WaiverForever free plan. It handles unlimited consent forms, stores them in the cloud, and costs nothing. Set it up in 30 minutes.

If you need complex custom forms: Jotform’s free plan, upgrading to paid when you hit the submission limit.

This is a same-day project. Pick a tool, build your form (or upload your existing one), and go digital today. Your filing cabinet will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are digital consent forms legally valid for tattoo studios?

Yes, digital consent forms with electronic signatures are legally valid in all 50 US states under the ESIGN Act and UETA. Most tattoo consent form software meets these requirements automatically.

What should a tattoo consent form include?

A comprehensive form should include client identification, age verification, acknowledgment of risks, aftercare responsibilities, medical history disclosure, photo release, and tattoo details. Always consult a local attorney to ensure compliance with state and local requirements.

How long should tattoo consent forms be stored?

Best practice is to store tattoo consent forms indefinitely, or at minimum 7-10 years. Digital storage makes indefinite retention practical and cost-free.