Questions, answered.

Everything we get asked about pricing, payments, calendars, taxes and how Studio Haven actually works.

• 1. Is Studio Haven really free for artists?+

  Yes. Studio Haven is free forever for tattoo artists — no monthly fee, no setup fee, and no platform cut from your deposit. The platform earns a small service fee paid by the client at checkout, so we only get paid when you do.
• 2. Who pays the service fee?+

  The client pays it on top of your deposit at checkout. It never comes out of the artist's payout. Stripe routes the deposit directly to your connected account; the small platform service fee goes to Studio Haven.
• 3. Which countries does Stripe Connect work in?+

  Studio Haven supports Stripe Connect across Canada (CAD), the United States (USD), the United Kingdom (GBP), and the European Union (EUR). Payouts are paid directly to your connected account in your local currency.
• 4. Does Studio Haven sync with Google Calendar?+

  Yes — two-way sync. Confirmed bookings show up automatically on your Google Calendar, and busy blocks are pulled back so clients can never double-book a time you're not actually free.
• 5. How does GST / HST / VAT / Sales Tax work?+

  Each store can configure its own tax rates and GST/VAT registration number. The finance ledger automatically tracks deposits, total session value, fees, and tax owed — so when filing time hits, you have a clean export ready.
• 6. Can I track multi-session sleeves and projects?+

  Yes. Studio Haven treats sleeves and large pieces as projects with linked sessions. Session 1 takes the deposit; sessions 2+ skip the deposit, link back to the parent project, and roll up to a single project value in finance.
• 7. What about flash sheets with multiple pieces?+

  Flash sheets are first-class. Each piece has its own quantity and booking state. Clients pick the specific piece they want; the rest stay available. When all pieces are booked, the sheet is automatically marked sold-out.
• 8. Is client medical info encrypted?+

  Yes. Sensitive intake-form answers (medical history, identification, anything the artist marks confidential) are encrypted at rest using AES-256-CBC. Only the artist's authenticated session can decrypt them.
• 9. Do clients need an account to book?+

  No. Clients can book anonymously with just an email address. They get a portal link by email to manage their booking, message you, upload references, and complete intake forms.
• 10. Can the booking flow be a deposit-first checkout, an inquiry, or require approval?+

  All three. Each store picks one of three workflows: Direct (autopilot — flash, slot, deposit, confirmed), Approval Required (paid → tentative until artist accepts), or Inquiry First (contact → quote → deposit → confirmed).
• 11. What happens to the artist's data if Studio Haven shuts down?+

  Every artist owns their data. CSV exports are available from the finance and CRM views at any time, and artist accounts can request a full data dump on request.
• 12. Is there a mobile app?+

  Studio Haven is a fully responsive web app — no install required, works on iOS, Android, and desktop. Native apps may follow once the web platform is stable.
• 13. How do I get access?+

  Request access from the homepage. We onboard artists in batches and reach out by email with setup instructions. There is no waitlist purchase or fee at any point.