How to Start a Body Piercing Shop

Part 1 - How to start a Body Piercing Shop business - Background

Body piercing, also known as body modification, has become a popular form of self-expression for individuals of all ages. A professional piercer offers a wide variety of piercing options, from a simple ear piercing to more complex areas, such as the eyebrow, tongue, and nostril.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Body Piercing business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a body piercing shop?

Many piercing shop owners have indicated they were able to open their shop with less than $2,000 in capital. As the business started to roll in, they reinvested their earnings, expanding the shop as time went on.  

When choosing your location, carefully research the areas you’re considering. Many shops make a bulk of their earning from walk-ins, so try to pick a space that has a good deal of foot traffic. If possible, set your space up with multiple rooms. You may want to add other piercers or artists as time goes on.  

The following are a few items you’ll need to invest in before opening your shop:

• Piercing equipment

• Body jewelry

• Sterilization & hygiene supplies – A new autoclave can set you back anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000. Shopping for used equipment can help cut down on those costs.

• Piercing aftercare products

• Medical supplies/first aid kit

• Furniture – Piercing chairs cost $250-$500 new, but can be found at a reduced price if purchased used.

• Displays and cabinets for inventory

What are the ongoing expenses for a body piercing shop?

In addition to the standard overhead expenses, your greatest ongoing expenses will be marketing and supplies.  Cleaning supplies, gloves, and jewelry will be used daily.  When first starting out, piercers report spending an estimated $1,000-$2,500 per year on supplies.  

Who is the target market?

A piercing shop’s largest customer demographic is 18-30 years old. For this reason, many owners choose to set their business up in an area where younger people frequent or live, such as near a university. Some shops cater to a much younger audience, targeting girls who are getting their ears pierced for the first time. To realize long-term success, however, you’ll want to cater to consumers of every age, as body modification has gained popularity amongst individuals young and old.  

How does a body piercing shop make money?

Piercing shops generate revenue from each piercing performed. There are generally several artists sharing studio space, often with varying specialties and talents. Each artist either pays rent to the owner or offers the owner a percentage commission of each customer they serve.

How much can you charge customers?

The fees for a piercing will vary from customer to customer, depending upon the jewelry they choose and the body location. Pricing starts at around $35 and can go upwards of $90.  

How much profit can a body piercing shop make?

Professional body piercers report earning an average of $26,000 – $37,000 annually. This is their profit, after paying a portion of their earnings to you each month. The more piercers you employ, the more clients you’re able to serve, driving your profits up exponentially. As your shop builds a reputation within the community, the potential is there to make well over $100,000 annually.  

How can you make your business more profitable?

Many piercing shops expand their goods and services to more than just piercing.  To make your business more profitable you could:

• Sell jewelry for piercings – many customers enjoy changing out their jewelry periodically

• Carry an inventory of aftercare products

• Sell local art

• Maintain a staff of tattoo artists

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a body piercing shop?

Before opening your business, you’ll want to determine how large of a role you’d like to take in running the shop. Some owners are only interested in handling the business aspect of the shop, while others wish to be fully immersed, piercing clients a majority of their day.

When a customer comes in for an appointment, the piercer meets with the client to discuss their needs. In this consultation, they’ll determine piercing placement and jewelry. Once the specifics have been ironed out, the piercer will gather the necessary tools and perform the piercing. After the piercing is complete, the piercer will spend some time educating the client on proper aftercare procedures. Depending upon the piercing placement, this whole process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.

In addition to piercing, you’ll also need to place inventory orders, sterilize needles and equipment, and handle any administrative tasks that need your attention. Downtime is spent marketing the business and networking within the community.

What skills and experiences will help you build a successful body piercing shop?

Whether your business plan includes you piercing clients, or remaining behind the scenes running the shop, your days will be spent working with people. Strong communication skills and the confidence to offer advice when necessary would serve you well in this industry. It also requires a certain amount of finesse and a calming nature to ease a customer’s worries as they sit in your chair for their first piercing.

In this industry, a high level of cleanliness at all times is paramount. Organizational skills and high standards of hygiene will be part of what defines the long-term success of your business

Regardless of your role within the organization, spending at least a year as an apprentice is highly recommended. This is a great way to pick up invaluable skills that will help in setting up a successful shop.  Once you’ve gained success, consider passing on this knowledge to other aspiring piercers. Additionally, there are a number of opportunities, such as Association of Professional Piercers that educate members on safety, the latest modification trends, and offer advice on how to expand your client base.   

As an entrepreneur, your responsibilities encompass more than piercing and require a certain level of business finesse. This industry is very tight-knit, so you’ll likely employ several friends and/or acquaintances. Strong leadership skills will help you keep business and personal separate, ultimately saving both your friendships and your business.  

What is the growth potential for a body piercing shop?

Body modification has become increasingly socially acceptable, allowing consumers to freely express themselves without fear of repercussion in the workplace. As a result, the growth potential for the body piercing business has expanded. While many owners choose to keep their business small and intimate but there are some who’ve found success opening multiple locations and targeting a specific audience.  

What are some insider tips for jump starting a body piercing shop?

Many piercing shops impose various age restrictions on different types of piercing; for instance, offering upper carilage ear piercings only to people 12 years or older. Know what your age rules will be and make sure they are clear to customers. 

How and when to build a team

It’s recommended that you maintain a staff of at least two piercers at all times. To ensure every customer feels comfortable, consider having both a male and female piercer on your team. A team member to handle the front-end services would also prove beneficial, but isn’t required. Since most states require consumers to be at least 18 years old, your staff should be of age as well.  

Each piercer/artist should have their own workspace and will either pay rent for use of the space or pay a portion of their commission to you as the owner. Following this business model is a great way to cut down on overhead expenses and integrate yourself further within the modification community.

Part 2 - Is a Body Piercing Shop business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Body Piercing Shop business in 90 days