This Artist Partner Agreement is between you ("Artist") and InkDeposit SA (Pty) Ltd, operating as INK.D. It supplements our general Terms of Service with terms specific to operating as a tattoo artist on the platform. By completing artist onboarding, you accept this agreement.
1. Relationship
You are an independent contractor, not an employee, agent, or partner of InkDeposit SA (Pty) Ltd. INK.D provides a booking and deposit-collection platform connecting you with clients — we do not direct how you perform tattoo work, and we are not party to the tattoo service itself.
2. Commission Tiers
INK.D charges a commission on each deposit collected through the platform, deducted before payout. Your rate is determined by your completed-booking count and decreases as you complete more bookings:
| Tier | Commission | You Keep | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost | 0% | 100% | Invitation-only, permanent status |
| Diamond | 4% | 96% | 100+ completed bookings |
| Platinum | 6% | 94% | 50+ completed bookings |
| Gold | 9% | 91% | 25+ completed bookings |
| Silver | 12.5% | 87.5% | 10+ completed bookings |
| Bronze | 15% | 85% | Starting tier — every new artist |
Tier progression is calculated automatically based on your completed booking history and reflected in your dashboard. Commission rates and tier thresholds are defined in a single authoritative source and may be updated with notice as described in Section 9.
3. Verification Requirements
To appear in public search and accept bookings, you must complete identity verification:
- —Upload a valid government-issued ID document
- —Upload a minimum of 3 portfolio images of your own work
- —Provide accurate studio name and location information
- —Your submission is reviewed before your profile becomes publicly bookable
4. Deposits & Payouts
- —Deposit collection: You set your own deposit amount per session in Settings. INK.D collects it via PayFast on your behalf at time of booking.
- —Commission deduction: Your tier's commission rate is deducted from each deposit before payout — you see the exact breakdown (deposit, commission, payout) on every booking.
- —Payout timing: Payouts are processed on the schedule described in your dashboard payout settings. See the Payment Terms page for PayFast-specific processing detail.
- —Final session price: The deposit secures the booking slot. Any remaining balance for the full tattoo price is a matter between you and your client, settled directly at the session, unless you use the platform's final-payment collection feature.
5. Your Booking Policies
You control the following settings for your own profile — INK.D applies whatever you configure:
- —Session duration and buffer time between sessions
- —Working days and hours
- —Booking cutoff (how far in advance clients must book)
- —Cancellation policy window (how many hours' notice is required before a full refund is available to the client)
- —Whether bookings are auto-confirmed or require your manual confirmation
You are responsible for keeping these settings accurate and up to date. INK.D is not liable for client dissatisfaction arising from your own configured policies.
6. Conduct Standards
As an artist on INK.D, you agree to:
- —Honour confirmed bookings, or cancel with reasonable notice consistent with your stated policy
- —Represent your work and pricing honestly in your public profile
- —Communicate with clients professionally through the contact details shared at booking confirmation
- —Comply with all applicable South African health, safety, and licensing requirements for tattoo practitioners in your province/municipality — INK.D does not verify professional licensing on your behalf
- —Not use client contact information shared through the platform for unrelated marketing without their separate consent
7. Cancellations, No-Shows & Disputes
Refund eligibility for a client cancelling within your stated cancellation window is governed by your Cancellation Policy settings and our platform-wide Refund Policy. If a client disputes a charge directly with PayFast or their bank (a chargeback) rather than through the platform, see the Dispute Resolution section of our Payment Terms.
8. Suspension & Termination
We may suspend or terminate your ability to accept bookings if:
- —You repeatedly cancel confirmed bookings without reasonable cause
- —You receive a pattern of verified client complaints regarding conduct or misrepresentation
- —You violate the verification or conduct standards in Sections 3 and 6
- —Your account is used fraudulently or in violation of our general Terms of Service
9. Changes to Commission Rates
We will provide at least 30 days' notice by email before any change to commission tier rates or thresholds takes effect for existing artists. Continued use of the platform after that notice period constitutes acceptance of the new rates.
10. Termination by You
You may stop accepting new bookings at any time by pausing your availability in Settings, or close your account entirely via Data Deletion. You remain responsible for honouring any bookings already confirmed at the time you stop accepting new ones.