Setting Your Hourly Rate and Multipliers

Configure your base pricing and size multipliers to ensure accurate pricing for every tattoo project.

Overview

Apprentice's pricing system uses your base hourly rate combined with size multipliers to calculate accurate pricing for different tattoo sizes. This approach ensures consistency while allowing you to charge appropriately for small flash designs vs. large custom pieces. Your hourly rate and multipliers are never shown to clients—they only see the final price estimate.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Access Your Pricing Settings

1. Log in to your Apprentice artist dashboard
2. Navigate to Settings → Pricing
3. Click on the Standard Pricing tab
4. You'll see your current base rate and multipliers

Step 2: Set Your Base Hourly Rate

1. In the Base Hourly Rate field, enter your standard rate per hour
2. This is the foundation for all pricing calculations
3. Consider your experience level, location, and market rates
4. Click Preview Calculations to see how this affects pricing

Guidelines for setting your base rate:

• Apprentice Artists: $80-$120/hour
• Mid-Level Artists: $120-$175/hour
• Experienced Artists: $175-$250/hour
• Master Artists: $250+/hour

Remember: This rate is for internal calculations only. Clients never see your hourly rate.

Step 3: Configure Size Multipliers

Size multipliers adjust your base hourly rate for different tattoo sizes:

Small Tattoos (1-3 inches)

• Default Multiplier: 1.0x (no adjustment)
• Typical Time: 1-2 hours
• Example: $120/hour × 1.5 hours × 1.0 = $180

Medium Tattoos (3-6 inches)

• Default Multiplier: 1.5x
• Typical Time: 2-4 hours
• Adjustment: Accounts for more detail and planning time
• Example: $120/hour × 3 hours × 1.5 = $540

Large Tattoos (6-12 inches)

• Default Multiplier: 2.5x
• Typical Time: 4-8 hours
• Adjustment: Multiple sessions often required
• Example: $120/hour × 6 hours × 2.5 = $1,800

Extra Large Tattoos (12-24 inches)

• Default Multiplier: 4.0x
• Typical Time: 8-16 hours
• Adjustment: Significant custom design work
• Example: $120/hour × 10 hours × 4.0 = $4,800

Sleeve Tattoos (Full arm/leg coverage)

• Default Multiplier: 6.0x
• Typical Time: 20-40+ hours across multiple sessions
• Adjustment: Major project commitment
• Example: $120/hour × 25 hours × 6.0 = $18,000

Step 4: Adjust Multipliers Based on Your Style

Consider adjusting multipliers based on your specialization:

• Fine Line/Minimalist: Lower multipliers (delicate work, less time per piece)
• Realism/Portrait: Higher multipliers (intensive detail work)
• Traditional/Blackwork: Standard multipliers (efficient style)
• Watercolor/Abstract: Adjust based on complexity

Use the sliders to fine-tune each multiplier between 0.5x and 10.0x.

Step 5: Set Your Minimum Price

1. Enter a Minimum Price (e.g., $75)
2. This ensures small tattoos don't fall below your shop minimum
3. Even if calculations result in a lower price, clients are charged this minimum
4. Most shops set minimums between $50-$100

Step 6: Configure Reputation Multiplier (Optional)

If you're a high-demand artist:

1. Set a Reputation Multiplier between 1.0x and 3.0x
2. This adds an additional markup based on your demand
3. Example: 1.2x reputation multiplier = 20% price increase across all work
4. Use carefully: This is for established artists with waitlists

Step 7: Set Rounding Preferences

1. Choose Round to Nearest: $1, $5, $10, or $25
2. Example: $487 becomes $490 (rounding to nearest $5)
3. Rounded prices look cleaner and more professional

Step 8: Preview Your Pricing

1. Click Preview Pricing Scenarios
2. See estimated prices for different sizes:

• Small flash design: $X
• Medium forearm piece: $X
• Large back piece: $X
• Full sleeve: $X

3. Adjust multipliers if prices seem too high or low
4. Click Save Pricing Settings

Step 9: Enable Auto-Calculate (Recommended)

1. Toggle on Auto-Calculate Prices
2. When enabled, Apprentice automatically calculates prices for new bookings
3. You can still manually override prices for specific projects
4. Saves time and ensures consistency

Tips

• Start conservative: You can always adjust multipliers up based on client response
• Test your pricing: Use the preview tool to see if prices match your intended rates
• Regional considerations: Adjust rates based on your city/market (NYC vs. small town)
• Specialization premium: Realism and portrait artists typically charge 20-40% more
• Never show hourly rate: Clients only see final project prices, not your calculation methods
• Update annually: Review and adjust your rates yearly as your skills and demand grow
• Track time accurately: Log actual session times to verify your multipliers are accurate

Common Issues

• Issue: Prices seem too high compared to competitors → Solution: Lower your base hourly rate or size multipliers. Research local market rates for your experience level.

• Issue: Prices are too low for large pieces → Solution: Increase your large/XL/sleeve multipliers. Remember, these projects take significant time and design work.

• Issue: Clients are surprised by pricing → Solution: Enable "Show Estimated Pricing" on your booking page so clients see ranges before requesting. Provide detailed quotes that break down size and time.

• Issue: Minimum price isn't being applied → Solution: Verify your minimum price is saved in settings. Check that you clicked "Save Pricing Settings" after changes.

• Issue: I want to charge less for flash designs → Solution: Use the Flash Sales feature to set special pricing for specific flash designs without changing your base rates.

• Issue: Pricing calculations are confusing → Solution: The formula is: (Base Hourly Rate × Estimated Hours × Size Multiplier × Reputation Multiplier), rounded to your preference. Use the preview tool to see calculations.

Updated on: 16/01/2026