Starting a Tarot Reading Business

BY NICOLE LAU

Introduction: From Passion to Profession

You've been reading tarot for a while now. Friends ask for readings. Strangers at parties want you to pull cards. People offer to pay you. You're starting to wonder: could this be more than a hobby? Could this be a business?

The answer is yes—but transitioning from casual reader to professional practitioner requires more than just tarot skills. You need business acumen, legal knowledge, marketing savvy, and the ability to maintain sacred practice while running a sustainable enterprise. This is the challenge and the opportunity of professional tarot reading.

Starting a tarot reading business isn't just about making money from your gift (though that's valid and important). It's about creating a sustainable practice that serves your clients, honors your integrity, and allows you to do this sacred work full-time or as meaningful side income. It's about professionalizing your practice without losing its soul.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know to start a tarot reading business—from initial planning to legal setup, pricing strategy, finding clients, and building a practice that's both spiritually fulfilling and financially viable.

Before You Start: Essential Questions

Are You Ready?

Skill Level: You should be able to confidently read for strangers, handle difficult cards, and maintain boundaries. If you're still learning basics, build more experience first.

Emotional Readiness: Professional reading means dealing with people's pain, trauma, and vulnerability regularly. Can you hold space without absorbing their energy?

Time Commitment: Even part-time, a business requires consistent time for readings, marketing, admin, and self-care. Do you have this capacity?

Financial Reality: Most tarot businesses start slow. Can you sustain yourself during the building phase?

What's Your Why?

Service: To help people find clarity and empowerment
Income: To earn money doing what you love
Freedom: To be your own boss and set your schedule
Mission: To bring tarot to more people

Your "why" will guide every business decision. Get clear on it before you start.

What's Your Vision?

Full-time or Side Business? This determines your strategy and timeline.
In-Person, Online, or Both? Each has different requirements and markets.
Niche or General? Will you specialize (relationships, career, spiritual guidance) or read on everything?
Solo or Collaborative? Will you work alone or with other readers/practitioners?

Step 1: Business Planning

Define Your Services

Reading Types:
- Single card pulls ($10-20)
- Three-card readings ($25-50)
- Full readings (30-60 min, $75-150)
- Extended sessions (90+ min, $150-300)
- Specialized readings (year ahead, relationship deep dive, etc.)

Delivery Methods:
- In-person (home, shop, events)
- Video call (Zoom, Skype)
- Phone
- Email/written readings
- Pre-recorded video readings

Additional Offerings:
- Tarot classes or workshops
- Mentorship for aspiring readers
- Digital products (guides, spreads)
- Subscription services (monthly readings)

Create a Business Plan

Even a simple one-page plan helps:

Mission: What you do and why
Target Market: Who you serve
Services: What you offer
Pricing: What you charge
Marketing: How you'll find clients
Financial Goals: Income targets (monthly, yearly)
Timeline: 6-month and 1-year milestones

Calculate Startup Costs

Minimal Startup ($100-500):
- Professional tarot deck(s): $20-100
- Business cards: $20-50
- Simple website: $0-200 (Wix, Squarespace)
- Reading cloth/tools: $30-100
- Initial marketing: $50-100

Moderate Startup ($500-2000):
- Everything above plus:
- Professional website: $200-500
- Branding (logo, graphics): $100-500
- Better equipment (lighting, camera for online): $200-400
- Legal setup: $100-300
- Marketing budget: $200-500

Step 2: Legal and Administrative Setup

Business Structure

Sole Proprietorship: Simplest, you and the business are one entity. Easy to start but no liability protection.
LLC (Limited Liability Company): Separates personal and business assets. More protection, slightly more complex.
Corporation: Usually unnecessary for solo tarot readers unless scaling significantly.

Recommendation: Most tarot readers start as sole proprietors and form an LLC once established.

Business Name and Registration

Choose Your Name:
- Your own name (Nicole Lau Tarot)
- Descriptive (Intuitive Tarot Readings)
- Evocative (Moonlight Tarot, Sacred Cards)

Check Availability:
- Domain name (.com if possible)
- Social media handles
- Business name registration in your state/country

Register: File DBA (Doing Business As) or LLC paperwork with your state.

Licenses and Permits

Business License: Most cities/counties require a general business license ($50-200/year).
Home Occupation Permit: If reading from home, you may need this.
Sales Tax Permit: If your state taxes services, you'll need to collect and remit sales tax.

Note: Requirements vary by location. Check with your local Small Business Administration or city clerk.

Insurance

General Liability Insurance: Protects if someone is injured at your location or claims your reading caused harm ($300-600/year).
Professional Liability Insurance: Covers claims of professional negligence ($200-500/year).

Recommendation: At minimum, get general liability. Professional liability is wise if reading full-time.

Financial Setup

Business Bank Account: Separate business and personal finances. Makes taxes and bookkeeping easier.
Accounting System: Use QuickBooks, Wave (free), or simple spreadsheets to track income and expenses.
Payment Processing: Set up ways to accept payment (PayPal, Venmo, Square, Stripe).
Tax Preparation: Set aside 25-30% of income for taxes. Consider hiring an accountant.

Step 3: Setting Up Your Practice

Create Your Reading Space

In-Person Space:
- Quiet, private area
- Comfortable seating for two
- Good lighting
- Reading surface (table with cloth)
- Ambiance (candles, crystals, incense - optional)
- Professional but welcoming atmosphere

Online Reading Setup:
- Reliable internet connection
- Good webcam and microphone
- Proper lighting (ring light recommended)
- Clean, professional background
- Quiet space without interruptions

Develop Your Systems

Booking System: How clients schedule (Calendly, Acuity, manual)
Payment System: When and how you collect payment (upfront recommended)
Intake Process: How you gather client questions and information
Reading Protocol: Your consistent structure for sessions
Follow-up Process: How you close sessions and handle post-reading questions

Create Professional Materials

Website: Even a simple one-page site with services, pricing, booking, and about you
Business Cards: For in-person networking and events
Intake Form: Questions you ask before readings
Terms of Service: What clients agree to when booking
Disclaimer: Legal protection ("for entertainment purposes," etc.)

Step 4: Pricing Your Services

Research Your Market

Look at what other readers in your area/niche charge:
- Local metaphysical shops
- Online tarot readers
- Readers with similar experience levels

Consider Your Factors

Experience Level: Beginners charge less; experienced readers charge more
Location: Urban areas support higher prices than rural
Specialization: Niche expertise commands premium pricing
Delivery Method: In-person often charges more than email
Session Length: Longer sessions = higher prices

Pricing Guidelines

Beginner (0-2 years):
- 15-min reading: $20-40
- 30-min reading: $40-75
- 60-min reading: $75-125

Intermediate (2-5 years):
- 15-min: $30-60
- 30-min: $60-100
- 60-min: $100-175

Experienced (5+ years):
- 15-min: $50-100
- 30-min: $100-150
- 60-min: $150-300+

Don't Underprice

Common mistake: charging too little to "be accessible." This:
- Devalues your skill and time
- Attracts clients who don't value the work
- Makes the business unsustainable
- Hurts the industry by setting low expectations

Better: Charge fair rates and offer occasional free/sliding scale for those truly in need.

Step 5: Finding Your First Clients

Start with Your Network

Friends and Family: Offer discounted readings to build testimonials
Social Media: Announce your services to your existing followers
Word of Mouth: Ask satisfied clients to refer others

Local Marketing

Metaphysical Shops: Leave business cards, ask about reading at their location
Wellness Centers: Yoga studios, healing centers often welcome tarot readers
Markets and Fairs: Psychic fairs, farmers markets, craft fairs
Networking: Join local business groups, spiritual communities
Events: Offer readings at parties, gatherings, corporate events

Online Marketing

Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook - share content and offerings
Website/SEO: Optimize for local searches ("tarot reader in [city]")
Online Directories: List on tarot directories, Yelp, Google Business
Content Marketing: Blog posts, videos, free content that showcases expertise

Step 6: Building Sustainable Practice

Set Boundaries

Work Hours: Define when you're available for readings
Client Limits: Don't overbook - quality over quantity
Energy Protection: Develop clearing practices between clients
Personal Time: Schedule rest and non-work activities

Maintain Quality

Continue Learning: Take courses, read books, get readings from others
Seek Feedback: Ask clients for testimonials and constructive feedback
Supervise Yourself: Journal about challenging readings, seek mentorship
Stay Ethical: Never compromise integrity for money

Track Your Progress

Financial Metrics: Monthly income, expenses, profit
Client Metrics: New clients, repeat clients, referrals
Time Metrics: Hours worked, readings completed
Satisfaction Metrics: Client feedback, your own fulfillment

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting Before You're Ready: Build solid skills before going professional
No Business Plan: Flying blind leads to burnout and failure
Underpricing: Charge what you're worth from the start
No Boundaries: Overworking leads to burnout
Ignoring Legalities: Proper setup protects you
All Marketing, No Skill: Marketing gets clients; skill keeps them
Isolation: Connect with other readers for support and growth

Your First 90 Days

Days 1-30: Setup
- Complete legal/administrative setup
- Create website and materials
- Set up booking and payment systems
- Announce your services to network

Days 31-60: Launch
- Offer introductory pricing to build client base
- Focus on getting testimonials
- Begin consistent marketing efforts
- Refine your systems based on feedback

Days 61-90: Establish
- Raise prices to sustainable levels
- Expand marketing channels
- Build repeat client relationships
- Evaluate and adjust business plan

Conclusion: Sacred Commerce

Starting a tarot reading business is an act of sacred commerce—bringing spiritual service into material exchange. It's honoring your gifts enough to charge for them. It's trusting that you can serve and sustain yourself simultaneously. It's professionalizing your practice without losing its soul.

The journey from hobbyist to professional isn't just about business skills (though those matter). It's about claiming your authority as a reader, setting boundaries that protect your energy, and creating a sustainable practice that allows you to do this sacred work long-term.

You don't need to be perfect to start. You don't need all the answers or a huge following. You need solid skills, clear intentions, basic business knowledge, and the courage to begin. The rest you'll learn by doing.

Your gifts deserve to be shared. Your time and energy deserve to be compensated. Your practice deserves to be sustainable. Starting a tarot reading business isn't selling out—it's stepping into your power as a professional practitioner of an ancient art.

The cards are ready. Your clients are waiting. Your business is calling. Begin.