Best card machine for Tattoo and piercing studios
Independent tattoo studios, piercing artists, micropigmentation. Higher-value transactions, deposit-on-booking, treatment over multiple sessions.
Our pick
Square Terminal
Acquirer: Square
Booking-system integration with industry-specific apps (Tattoodo, Inkbook) plus card-on-file for multi-session work. Square handles the workflow well.
Card machines compared for Tattoo and piercing studios
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance, from our full terminal reviews.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Square Terminal Our pick | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 to £199 | No contract |
| #2 | Dojo Go | 1.4% to 1.9% blended | £0 with rolling monthly fee | 12 months minimum |
Why this trade matters
- Cashflow shape
- Steady weekly with weekend peaks. Convention / guest-spot weeks lump.
- Average transaction
- £60 to £400+
- Contactless share
- ~45%
Watch outs
- Local-authority licensing affects some acquirer underwriting.
- Card-on-file for multi-session work needs explicit consent capture.
- Higher-value contactless requires confirmation flow.
Alternatives
- Dojo Go (multi-artist studios)
- Tap to Pay on iPhone (mobile / guest-spot artists)
Compare picks
How Square Terminal stacks up
Related on our sister sites
Need finance for your Tattoo and piercing studios business?
Card flow is the security on which most Tattoo and piercing studios businesses borrow. See our sister site BestBusinessLoans by sector for editorial reviews of UK lenders that fund Tattoo and piercing studios.
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, founder and PSC of Best Business Loans Ltd
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind MerchantHQ. His career runs through insurance, mortgages, commercial finance and fintech lending, including payments and merchant services. He writes the MerchantHQ library.
Last reviewed: 26 April 2026