Tattoo Studio Accounting: A Case Study In Moving From Sole Trader To Studio Owner

By Simply Accounts on Oct 23, 2026, 10:00:01 AM

Going it alone is a big step for any creative professional. Leaving a chair in someone else's studio to run your own means taking on payroll, tax filings and company admin, on top of the work you love. Having the right financial support in place from day one makes that leap far less daunting.

Simply Accounts has supported tattoo artist Polly Dawson since long before she opened her own studio. We started as her self-assessment accountant and are now the outsourced finance team behind Love Me Not Tattoo.

The Background: From Self-Employed Artist To Studio Founder

Love Me Not Tattoo is an independent tattoo studio just outside Liverpool city centre, founded by artist Polly Dawson. Alongside Polly, several other tattoo artists rent chairs in the studio, which has grown into a successful creative space.

Before launching the studio, Polly spent around six years as a self-employed artist at another established studio. Throughout that time, we handled her personal self-assessment tax returns.

The Challenge: Taking On The Responsibilities Of A Business Owner

When Polly decided to open her own studio, she came to us early in the process. She wanted reassurance that the right support would be in place as she moved from working within another business to running one of her own. That meant taking on obligations she had never had to manage as a sole trader, including:

• Incorporating the business correctly
• Paying herself through director's payroll
• Preparing statutory accounts and Corporation Tax returns
• Dealing with HMRC correspondence
• Knowing which business expenses are allowable

Polly wanted to spend her time on her art, her clients and growing the studio, not on admin. She needed a trusted team that already understood her financial history and could take responsibility for the accounting side of the business.

The Solution: A Fully Managed Accountancy Service

We guided Polly step by step through the move into business ownership. We started with the incorporation of her company and set up simple, practical financial processes. Today, we provide Love Me Not Tattoo with a fully managed service covering:

• Quarterly Bookkeeping: Keeping income and expenditure organised and up to date.
• Director's Payroll: Running efficient, compliant payroll tailored to the business.
• Annual Accounts And Corporation Tax: Preparing statutory accounts and filing Corporation Tax returns ahead of deadlines.
• HMRC Support: Handling all communications, queries and filings with HMRC.
• Expense Advice: Clear guidance on allowable costs, so Polly knows what the business can claim.
• Ongoing Advice: Unlimited support and guidance whenever questions come up.

No two businesses run the same way, so we shaped the service around the realities of a busy creative studio. Whenever Polly needs advice or up-to-date figures, she can get in touch and we work quickly to give her the information she needs.

Our support has also extended to Polly's personal milestones. After the birth of her baby, we helped her apply for Statutory Maternity Pay, so she could step away from the studio knowing exactly where she stood financially.

Securing A Mortgage As A New Company Director

Shortly after the studio opened, Polly and her partner needed to secure a mortgage following their move to Liverpool. Lenders usually ask company directors for more evidence of income than employees, and a newly incorporated business has little trading history to show, which can make approval harder.

We introduced Polly and her partner to a trusted mortgage adviser and helped make the handover as straightforward as possible. Because we already held Polly's previous tax returns and understood her financial history, the adviser could access the information needed to progress the application efficiently.

This joined-up approach helped Polly secure the mortgage within the required timescale, during an already busy period of establishing the new studio.

The Impact: Freedom To Focus On The Studio

With the financial and administrative side of the business taken care of, Polly can concentrate on her work, her clients and the continued growth of Love Me Not Tattoo. The results include:

• A smooth transition from self-employed artist to limited company director
• Bookkeeping, payroll, accounts and tax managed in full, with no admin left on Polly's desk
• A mortgage secured on time, supported by records we already held
• Financial clarity throughout maternity leave
• A growing studio that has expanded to accommodate other independent artists

From supporting Polly as a self-employed tattoo artist to helping her become the owner of a growing studio, we are proud to have been her trusted partner at every stage. She can now plan ahead with confidence.

Your Next Steps With Simply Accounts

Thinking about opening your own studio, or moving from sole trader to limited company? Whether you're a tattoo artist, hairdresser or any other self-employed creative, Simply Accounts can help you build the right financial foundations from day one.

Get in touch today to talk through where you are and where you want to be. We'll handle the numbers so you can focus on what you do best, and if you need something tailored, we'll make it work for you.