How to Start a Tarot Reading Business

Some tarot readers work exclusively online, others have their own shop front. Some set up booths at festivals, fairs, and private parties, while more are beginning to do readings live using Skype or on the phone. You might work part-time or full-time as your reputation grows.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a tarot reading business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Tarot Reading Business
  2. Form your Tarot Reading Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Tarot Reading Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Tarot Reading Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Tarot Reading Business
  7. Get Tarot Reading Business Insurance
  8. Define your Tarot Reading Business Brand
  9. Create your Tarot Reading Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your tarot reading business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Tarot Reading Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a tarot reading business?

Here’s the good news! This is a business you can kickstart for very little capital. You will have years of experience under your belt. You will need a computer, phone, internet connection, a good deck of cards that speak to you, and a mobile tent/table set up for parties and fairs. You will also want a good web site. About $5,000 should get you going. If you end up expanding into hiring other readers, the costs related with a phone system will add a few thousand more to the setup.

What are the ongoing expenses for a tarot reading business?

Your largest costs will be marketing, some basic accounting and even travel. Your cards won’t put a huge dent in your budget. You will want to update your website on a regular basis to keep it current and relevant.

Who is the target market?

Your best client will be the person who needs guidance on a consistent basis, so that they schedule weekly or monthly readings. Tarot parties can provide excellent income for a few short hours, but are difficult to line up. You will find clients from all walks of life and income levels. You simply need to find those with an open mind, ready to accept the wisdom provided to them.

How does a tarot reading business make money?

Reading at a fair or walk-ins are often offered at a flat rate for a small spread. More in-depth readings requiring multiple spreads will charge by the hour. Your reputation and your clientele will determine just how much or how little you are able to charge. There is very little overhead, so the more readings you do, the more money you will make.

How much can you charge customers?

You can earn a very respectable living if working full-time. A quick 15-minute reading that you do for walk-ins at the fair can earn $20 each. For more in-depth readings ordered by regular clients, you can charge $60 to $80 per hour. If you have broken into the wealthy clientele, some celebrities pay up to $500 per hour for their personal tarot reader.

How much profit can a tarot reading business make?

Your startup tarot business can see an income of about $25,000 the first year. As your client base grows, so will your profits. Some readers report six figure incomes, but those are the exception to the norm.

How can you make your business more profitable?

As time goes by, you will be able to stop doing those $20 quickie readings at the fair, opting for the more profitable in-depth ones paid for by wealthier clients.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your tarot reading business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your tarot reading business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a tarot business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Tarot Reading Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Tarot Reading Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a tarot reading business

You will need to print flyers and business cards that you can leave with people and businesses. It’s your job to plaster your neighborhood with your name. Join Facebook groups and interact with other Tarot readers. Offer free readings on all social media platforms to make your business part of the online conversation. Ask for reviews and for referrals from all your clients.

How to keep customers coming back

Your first customers will come to you out of curiosity. In the early days you will want to welcome all comers who want a reading for emotional support or for sheer entertainment. When you give useful and accurate readings that help them in their daily lives, they will tell their friends, which will result in return business for you.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

If you have developed your experience and knowledge through years of reading cards for your friends and acquaintances, and spend lots of time studying tarot, it might be time to start charging for the readings that everybody is begging you to do.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a tarot reading business?

If you are working at this business full-time, you might be:

  • Completing readings for your scheduled clients
  • Working your social media contacts to promote your business
  • Marketing private tarot reading parties or line-up booths at psychic fairs
  • Balancing your books
  • Establishing and maintaining a website that accepts payment for remote readings
  • Taking phone calls and complete readings for these pop-up clients
  • Creating a Standard of Business that gives clients clearly defined expectations with regards to your readings

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful tarot reading business?

Unlike many other product and even service based businesses, a tarot reading business relies heavily upon the charisma of the reader. Putting aside the pleasant demeanor, you will need to:

  • Be fully fluent in the interpretation of the Tarot and be able to complete readings without consulting any kind of book
  • Have a compassionate and instinctive nature
  • Complete readings that allow the customer to walk away with new insight to a situation or confidence in themselves
  • Knowledge of organic marketing techniques–word-of-mouth will be a major means of promotion
  • Basic accounting skills
  • Be able to turn away a customer that only brings negative vibes to the table

What is the growth potential for a tarot reading business?

Many readers run their business as a sideline. If you are able to cultivate a client base of wealthy and avid customers, you might be able to operate your business on a full-time basis. Should you have a knack for befriending other readers, it may be possible to expand into a Dial-a-Tarot business with multiple readers fulfilling requested readings over the phone.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a tarot reading business?

You need customers before you can get choosy about them. Think about investing in a small storefront in a high-traffic area like at the beach, downtown shopping area, or even at the mall where you can service many people over a short period to start building your local reputation. You may have to offer free readings online in order to break into the niche community of readers who charge for readings.

How and when to build a team

Unless you become the Tarot Reader for the Stars, you may never need or want a team. If you create a 1-800 type of business that supports multiple readers, you will want to make sure that you all share similar energy and a common commitment to your customers’ satisfaction. Disagreements among readers are toxic to a clear atmosphere that supports good readings.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading