A payment link can be enough to collect a tattoo booking deposit remotely. Compare the balance paid in the studio separately: an invoice, an online checkout and a card terminal may have different rates even with the same provider.
Scope: businesses established in France, taking payments in euros. This is a desk comparison of official pricing checked on 18 September 2026, not a claim of hands-on studio testing. The examples are calculations, not observed business results. Provider links are direct, non-affiliate links. UK and US businesses need their local pricing schedules.
What does an online tattoo deposit cost?
| Provider | Payment channel | Fee per payment | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Payment Links, one-off payment | 1.5% + €0.25 | Standard EEA cards; other card categories have different rates. |
| SumUp | Payment link | 2.5% | The in-person terminal rate does not apply to online payments. |
| Square | Online checkout | From 1.4% + €0.25 | EU/EEA cards; Square Invoices is a different channel, listed at 2.5%. |
Foreign cards, paid plans, disputes and additional services can change the total. Follow the official pricing links and identify the exact product enabled in your account before comparing offers.
Worked example: a €50 or €100 booking deposit
Calculation: amount × percentage + any fixed fee. Assumptions: a standard EEA card, euros, the offers above and no add-ons. Net means the payment less this processing fee only; it is not profit.
| Deposit | Stripe | SumUp online | Square online |
|---|---|---|---|
| €50 | €1 fee; €49 net | €1.25 fee; €48.75 net | €0.95 fee; €49.05 net |
| €100 | €1.75 fee; €98.25 net | €2.50 fee; €97.50 net | €1.65 fee; €98.35 net |
| 40 deposits of €100 | €70 in fees | €100 in fees | €66 in fees |
The final scenario leaves only €4 between Stripe and Square. Another monthly subscription, an extra reconciliation task or a few minutes of admin per booking can matter more. Compare the workflow as well as the percentage.
Taking the remaining balance in the studio
SumUp lists 1.75% for in-person payments on its pay-as-you-go offer with non-SumUp cards. Square lists 1.65% for EU/EEA cards, with a surcharge for certain foreign cards. Compare hardware and optional subscriptions separately. Sources: SumUp France and Square France.
For example, 40 sessions priced at €300, each with a €100 online deposit and €200 paid in person, create two payment totals: €4,000 online and €8,000 in person. Apply the appropriate rate to each. Do not count the deposit again when calculating the remaining balance.
Choose around your booking process
- You book through messages: compare payment links and the ability to identify each payment with a booking reference.
- You already use a point-of-sale system: check whether it can take deposits too. A slightly lower fee may not justify another tool.
- You use a booking app: confirm the exact integration, subscription tier and refund behaviour. Support for a provider does not guarantee every feature.
- You host visiting clients: recalculate using their card category. French merchant pricing is not a US or UK pricing estimate.
A bank transfer can also work if you can match it reliably to the booking; check your bank's fees. PayPal and Wise are outside this comparison because adding them without an equivalent product and pricing scope would make the ranking less useful.
French booking terms: acompte versus arrhes
The English word “deposit” hides a distinction in French law. An acompte commits both parties; arrhes generally permit withdrawal under the applicable rules. Specify the type of advance, amount, balance and rescheduling terms in writing. Do not copy a universal “non-refundable” clause. Read the DGCCRF explanation before drafting your terms.
Whether to ask for €50, €100 or a percentage depends on the service and your terms. There is no universal 30% booking rule in this comparison. Communicate the full price before requesting payment.
Check the entire booking-to-payment workflow
- Create a project reference and confirm the agreed price or quote.
- Provide booking terms before sending the payment link.
- Request the agreed advance with a description you can match to the appointment.
- Verify successful payment in your merchant account rather than relying on a client screenshot.
- Record the advance, outstanding balance and appointment date.
- Deduct the advance from the final bill and reconcile bank payouts with processing fees.
Before switching, also check cancellations, whether fees are retained after refunds, your account's payout schedule and accounting exports. These checks are more useful than a universal “best provider” badge.
For the wider operating process, read our tattoo studio management guide for France. For scheduling, use the studio software comparison and confirm integrations directly with the vendor.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a tattoo booking deposit be?
There is no universal percentage for every project. Set the amount around the service and communicate the total price, type of advance and booking terms before payment.
Is the net receipt the turnover I should record?
The examples subtract only the processing fee. Keep the invoiced amount, payment, fee and bank payout separate, then apply the accounting rules for your business.
Should I switch providers to save a few cents?
Include subscriptions, hardware, refunds and reconciliation time. In our example of 40 deposits of 100 euros, Stripe and Square online differ by 4 euros before other costs.