Compare booth rent and commission models side-by-side for your specific studio setup. Enter your weekly revenue, rent cost, commission percentage, and consumables to find which model maximises your take-home pay.
"The booth rent vs commission decision is usually made emotionally — artists want independence, or studios want predictable income. This calculator strips the emotion out and shows the actual numbers at your revenue level. The answer changes significantly based on how much you're making."
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</iframe>In a booth rent arrangement, the artist pays a fixed weekly or monthly fee to use the studio space and keeps 100% of their client revenue. The studio provides the space, utilities, and reception; the artist provides all their own equipment and supplies. In a commission arrangement (also called a percentage split), the artist pays nothing upfront but gives the studio a percentage of every piece — typically 30–50%. The studio may provide supplies and equipment. The financial winner depends entirely on the artist's revenue volume: at low revenue, commission avoids the risk of the fixed rent overhead; at high revenue, booth rent almost always wins because the artist keeps more of every pound earned.
The break-even point between booth rent and commission is calculated as: weekly rent ÷ commission percentage = the weekly revenue at which both models pay out equally. For example, if booth rent is £200/week and the commission alternative is 40%, the break-even is £200 ÷ 0.40 = £500/week. Below £500 weekly revenue, commission is more profitable; above £500, booth rent earns more. Most full-time artists in UK cities regularly exceed common break-even thresholds, making booth rent the better long-term financial model — assuming they have consistent client demand.
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