How do you price your work?

[Jillsta]

Just wondering how you figure out what to charge a client for your work. I've been looking at how much lining is involved a the amount of detail and shading, then I try to estimate how much time it will take me.

I know some tattooists go by size, like, the size of your palm is $100. The size of your hand is at least $200. I'm just curious to know how you all figure this out. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I usually look at the piece and figure out how long it will take me , then I figure in 100 dollars per hour . so a hour and a half , I tell them 150 bucks . But the shop minimum where I am at is 40 dollars . Other shops around town charge 150 for the first hour , then 100 each additional hour . I personally dont tell people that I go by the hour , I just look at the piece and give em a price , and if it takes a bit longer ,or sooner than oh, well . I think that if u tell them u charge by the hour and it ends up taking u longer than u tell them u expected , people will get the wrong idea . And it only takes one guy to tell his friends somthing bad about u , and then they tell thier friends and then a bad rep is started ...