Tattoo artists receive payment for each tattoo they complete, but if they don't own their own studio, the studio owners will typically take a commission from each tattoo. The specific commission arrangement varies depending on the contract, with a common split being an even 50/50 between the studio and the artist.

Custom tattoos are one-of-a-kind designs that are created specifically for the person who will wear them. To get a custom tattoo, you'll typically need to schedule a consultation with a tattoo artist. During this meeting, you'll discuss your design ideas, size preferences, and placement options.

There are around 20,000 tattoo shops in the U.S. — and last year, they did $1.5 billion dollars in business.