Payments
How to take tattoo deposits that actually hold the chair
A tattoo deposit only works when the amount is computed from shop rules, the client sees the policy before paying, and payment confirmation flips the same appointment staff run on the floor. Venmo screenshots and “send $50 to this handle” do not survive busy Saturdays. Inkdesk collects flat or percent deposits through Stripe Connect and keeps paid, applied, forfeited, and refunded states on the booking.
Flat vs percent of quote
Use flat deposits when the price band is predictable—flash days, small additions, short sessions. Use percent of quote when the piece is custom and the artist has priced it. Many shops set a shop default and override per artist for guest residencies or high-demand books.
If the quote is not ready, do not invent a fake percent base. Keep the booking in review until the quote exists, then request the deposit. Inkdesk’s complex track is built for that sequence—see /features/online-booking and /features/deposits.
Card minimums and fee pass-through
Tiny card charges create processor friction. Floor deposits around a practical $20+ minimum unless you knowingly take a different channel. If you pass processing fees to the client, say so in the same breath as the deposit amount—surprise fees create chargebacks.
Reschedule and cancel windows (commonly ~48 hours, configurable) should appear before the PaymentIntent. The deposit is a contract, not a tip jar.
Why the money path matters
Stripe Connect keeps deposit funds on the shop’s connected account while Inkdesk orchestrates the booking. Amounts should come from the server at intent creation so clients cannot invent totals. Webhooks (or hardened confirm paths) mark deposits paid and move appointments to confirmed.
Staff Google-login to the cabinet should see deposit status beside the appointment. If payment lives in a different inbox than the calendar, you will double-book or argue at the door.
After payment: apply, forfeit, refund
Paid deposits later apply to the session, forfeit on policy breach, or refund when you choose goodwill or policy requires it. Explicit states beat oral history. When a forfeit frees a chair, offer it to the waitlist instead of leaving a dead gap—/features/waitlist.
Artist payout tracking (commission, booth, hybrid) is separate from collecting the client deposit. Do not confuse “deposit landed in Connect” with “artist split is done.”
Client-facing copy that works
State: amount (or percent), what it holds, the cancel/reschedule window, and whether fees are passed through. Repeat on Instagram highlights and the Book page. Link the book flow from bio—stop negotiating deposit math in DMs. More on that in /blog/move-bookings-off-instagram-dms.
Inkdesk shops run this stack at $50/shop/month plus normal Stripe processing fees on charges.
FAQ
Is a deposit legally required?
Policy and local rules vary; this post is operational, not legal advice. Use clear consent and booking language your counsel is comfortable with.
Can deposits be percent-based?
Yes—after a real quote. Flat works for predictable flash.
Where do deposits go in Inkdesk?
To the shop’s Stripe Connect account; Inkdesk tracks booking state.
Inkdesk is $50 per shop per month — one shop subscription, not a pile of add-ons. Start a free trial or open the live demo with sample data. No credit card required to look around.