What beauty-salon software cannot do
A hair salon sells fixed-length services at list price. A tattoo studio sells projects: a unique quote, several sessions, a deposit that commits the client, a drawing that evolves between the first message and the needle. None of these concepts exist in generic software. You work around them with notes, private messages and a notebook — until the day a client disputes a deposit, or an inspection asks for the ink batch of a session from eight months ago.
The project quote
Every project has its own quote, with the area, the size, the estimated number of sessions and the price. The client signs it electronically, which counts as a commitment. The PDF stays attached to the project.
The non-refundable deposit
The deposit is taken at signature, with clear conditions shown to the client. If they drop out, it is kept — that is the rule of the trade, and the software respects it instead of fighting it.
Flash
A flash is not a project: it is a ready-made drawing, at a fixed price, tattooed once. KIPIK treats it as such — gallery, direct booking, removal from the catalogue once tattooed — and Flash Minute pushes freed-up slots to nearby clients.
Ink traceability
Batch, manufacturer, opening date, needles: the record builds itself session after session, with no double entry, and exports for an inspection. The obligations in detail.
Guest spots and conventions
A tattoo artist moves around. Guest in another studio, booth at a convention: the calendar blocks itself on the dates, the location changes temporarily so that clients in that city can find you, and the booth contract is signed and paid from the app.
Comparison on verifiable criteria
The table compares what a tattoo studio needs with what a generic booking tool offers — those designed for hairdressing, beauty or wellness, and often offered to tattoo artists for lack of anything better. Every row is a feature, not an opinion.
| What a studio needs | Generic booking tool | KIPIK |
|---|---|---|
| Project quote, signed electronically | Fixed-length, fixed-price service | Yes |
| Non-refundable deposit taken at signature | Optional, refundable deposit | Yes |
| Flash and last-minute slots | No | Yes |
| Ink and needle traceability per session | No | Yes |
| E-invoicing compliant with the French 2026 reform | Depends on the vendor | Yes |
| Conventions: booth, contract, blocked calendar, temporary location | No | Yes |
| Guest spot in another studio | No | Yes |
| Client search by tattoo style | No | Yes |
| Free plan with no time limit | Rarely | Yes |
This table describes categories of tools, not a particular vendor. A named, line-by-line comparison will be published after verification on each vendor's own pages.
And the price
The Starter plan is free, with no time limit. What changes with Pro and Premium is the commission on payments taken through the platform — 7%, 2%, 1% — and the features included in each plan. The three plans in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Who can create a professional account?
Tattoo artists and piercers with a valid business identifier, professional liability insurance and a hygiene training certificate.
Can I use KIPIK without taking payments through the platform?
Yes. Calendar, quotes, invoices and traceability work whether the client pays through KIPIK or directly at the studio. The commission only applies to payments taken through the platform.
Does the software work outside France?
Professional registration is open in twenty-five countries, with the interface in seven languages. E-invoicing follows French regulations; other countries get the standard invoice.