How to Start a Tarot Reading Business: A Comprehensive Guide!

In recent years, the mystical art of tarot card reading has experienced a remarkable revival. This guide on How to Start a Tarot Reading Business is designed for those captivated by tarot’s ability to provide guidance, and insight, and unveil hidden truths. 

If you are drawn to this spiritual practice and keen on nurturing compassion and deep connections, establishing a tarot reading business could be your calling. 

This journey, while creative and fulfilling, requires careful planning and dedication. This article aims to simplify the process, offering essential steps for launching and nurturing a successful tarot business, blending spiritual passion with practical entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways

• Research the market and determine if there is demand for tarot readings in your area
• Develop your tarot skills through practice, reading books, and getting feedback from experienced readers
• Create a business plan that outlines your services, target customers, pricing, and marketing strategy
• Build an online presence through a website or social media and offer both in-person and online readings
• Track expenses and revenues to ensure your business remains profitable over the long run

Understanding Tarot and Its Market

What is a Tarot?

Tarot is a divinatory tool consisting of 78 cards, each containing symbols, archetypes, and imagery relating to various aspects of human life, spirituality, and the subconscious. The deck is split into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. The 22 cards of the Major Arcana deal with significant life-changing events and themes. The 56 cards of the Minor Arcana focus on everyday experiences and are divided into four suits – Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles.

A tarot reading involves laying out a combination of cards in a specific spread and intuiting their individual and collective meanings based on their visual representation and placement. The interpreter helps provide guidance and perspectives to the seeker based on the messages from the cards.

Analyzing the Market of Tarot and Its Growth

The tarot market has been experiencing steady growth over the past two decades, driven in part by increasing societal openness toward metaphysical and esoteric topics. More individuals are seeking tarot not just for entertainment but for deeper answers related to self-discovery, spirituality, and life navigation.

The global tarot products market alone was valued upwards of $500 million in recent years according to research reports, leaving much opportunity for intuitive practitioners.

While established cities like New York continue driving a large segment of in-person readings, the pandemic has accelerated the rise of online appointments. With younger generations gaining interest in tarot on social media, its appeal and relevance seem poised to span mainstream audiences going forward.

Steps to Start Your Own Profitable Tarot Reading Business

Develop Your Tarot Skills

The foundation of any tarot business is having solid skills in reading and intuitively interpreting the cards. While natural abilities play a role, skill develops through dedicated regular practice.

Read for friends and family to gain experience. Another valuable way to sharpen your intuition is by keeping a journal of your readings and insights. Note how accurate your interpretations were and where you can improve.

Reading tarot books is also important for learning the traditional meanings of each card as well as different approaches. Some popular titles include:

• [Tarot Card Meanings] by Liz Dean and [The Essential Guide to Tarot] by Juliet Sharman–Burke and Liz Greene.

Taking an in-person or online tarot course can help accelerate your learning. Consider specializing in a particular tarot deck, like the Rider-Waite, to develop mastery.

Getting honest feedback from experienced readers can highlight strengths and areas for growth. Ask a mentor to occasionally observe your readings for constructive criticism. The combination of regular practice, reading, journaling, and mentoring will allow you to steadily hone your skills. A strong base of abilities is important before launching a business.

Research the Market Demand

It’s unwise to start any business without assessing whether sufficient demand exists for your offerings. For a tarot reading venture, research involves gaining insight into:

• The interests and beliefs of people in your local community. Are they generally open-minded toward metaphysical topics like tarot?
• Competition from other intuitive readers already offering services locally, both in-person and online. This will give you a sense of the market saturation.
• Popular events, shops, and venues where potential clients may congregate to learn about new services, like metaphysical fairs, bookstores, yoga studios, etc. These can become networking opportunities.
• Types of readings that seem most sought after based on competitor offerings. Consider things like standard 3-card spreads, love readings, career readings, and spiritual guidance sessions.
• Common pricing structures locally and what clients are willing to pay. Rates may vary significantly by region.

With research insights, you can determine if starting a tarot business makes sense given the demand potential where you live. If opportunities seem limited, consider a larger city nearby or solely offering online readings with a broader reach. Solid market research saves wasted effort in building a business with no clients.

Determine Your Niche and Offerings

The next step to starting a tarot reading business is identifying your niche, including:

• Do you want to focus on love readings?
• Career and life path advice?
• Or business and entrepreneurship forecasts?

Narrowing your specialty allows you to market yourself clearly to your ideal audience.

Consider what makes you unique as a tarot reader, such as:

• Do you connect with a specific deck that you use exclusively for readings?
• Do you incorporate astrology or numerology into sessions?

Finding your niche and defining your individual approach is key.

Along with different types of readings, consider services you can offer like:

• Classes on learning tarot
• Creating custom card decks
• Spiritual development coaching
• Retreats and events

Figuring out your niche will shape everything from your brand image to your marketing strategy. Along with different types of readings, consider offering additional products like tarot decks, books, candles, jewelry, and more that align with your brand.

Diversifying services expands what you can provide to clients under your brand. But keep offerings aligned so your business doesn’t lack focus.

Developing a Business Plan

A thoughtful business pro planning will guide your launch and long-term success. Take time to craft a Professional, coherent document that addresses:

• An executive summary concisely outlining your vision and services.
• Client Profiles: Who your ideal clients are in terms of demographics, beliefs, needs addressed, etc. This shapes targeting.
• Services Offered Initially: Standard and theme-based readings, virtual vs in-person. Consider offerings beyond standard 3-card spreads.
• Pricing Structure You’ll Use: Hourly rates, packages, tiers. Research competitors and client buying patterns to set fair yet profitable rates.
• Initial and Long-Term Goals: Metrics for success that are specific, measurable targets over months and years.
• Competition Analysis: Who you will be up against locally and how you differentiate? What makes your services unique?
• Marketing Strategy: How you will attract ideal clients through your website, social profiles, events, and collaborations.
• Operational Details: Permits, licenses needed, insurance, software, or tech. Online booking would expand your reach.
• Financial Plan: Projections for startup costs, monthly expenses, revenues, and profit timelines. This improves funding access.
• Risks and challenges: Anticipated issues and contingency plans. Flexibility helps pivot if needed.

Take time to craft an insightful, thorough business plan. This roadmap guides you to gain clients, earn profits, and ultimately achieve your long-term visions through an organized strategic approach.

Designing Your Brand

With introductory knowledge and tools, it’s time for the fun stuff—brainstorming your brand! Consider:

• An appealing business name clearly stating your niche (e.g. “Past Paths Tarot“)
• Catchy slogans, logos, and color schemes evoking your personal style
• Professional social media profiles and website showcasing your approach
• Budget-friendly yet eye-catching printed business cards

Investing early in brand-building makes your services more recognizable and credibility-boosting for clients.

Create an Online Presence

An attractive, easy-to-navigate website is crucial for establishing credibility and visibility in today’s digital world. While in-person readings are ideal and intimate, many potential clients will first discover you online.

Your website should have:

• Presented introduction about your background and tarot approach. Integrate quality headshot photos.
• The section explains your various reading types and pricing packages. Consider virtual reading options.
• Testimonials and reviews to build social proof if available. Ask happy past clients for reviews and share anonymously.
• Simple contact or booking form to schedule readings seamlessly through built-in calendar integration like Calendly.
• Blog/article section to share insightful tarot interpretations and guidance on self-care, relationships, or life transitions. This educates visitors about your skills.
• Social media links to profiles where visitors can learn more about you through regular sharing and updates. These allow networking.
• Opt-in forms to collect email addresses, building your subscriber list for marketing valuable future content or promotions.

Beyond the initial investment of website design, focus on keeping it updated with engaging posts to drive steady organic traffic from search engines over time. As your business grows, consider upgrading your site and online presence continuously.

Attract Clients Through Marketing

With an outline in your business plan and online presence established, it’s time to promote your new tarot reading services to potential customers systematically. Here are effective marketing strategies:

• Submit event listings for psychic and intuitive fairs in your area with affordable table rental fees. The face-to-face interaction and readings help greatly in gaining initial clientele.
• Reach out to local shops that may be open to posting your service flyers, like metaphysical stores, spas, yoga studios, and cafes – anywhere your ideal clients visit regularly. Offer to trade services for exposure.
• Partner with complementary practitioners to cross-promoting each other’s work through newsletters and emails. For example collaboration with a life coach or reiki healer.
• Create marketing content like blog posts, social media graphics, and videos focused on your specialty reading types and narrating the journey of clients you’ve helped. Share through all relevant profiles and groups.
• Consider advertisement options on sites that cater to your target demographic’s interests like meetup sites for spiritual or self-help communities. Determine budgets for testing different ad platforms.
• Send a regular email newsletter sharing insights to your subscriber list. Include exclusive offers to incentivize them to book.
• Ask for reviews on Google and social profiles from clients you’ve helped. Positive reviews build new client trust.

With consistent promotion across various marketing avenues tailored to your ideal audience. Qualified clients will steadily begin contacting you for appointments and readings. Tracking engagement metrics helps refine your efforts over time for optimal results.

Track Your Business Performance

Operating a tarot business successfully, in the long run, requires keeping tabs on key metrics to assess your progress:

• Number of Readings Booked: Track this monthly to see booking trends and the impacts of different marketing efforts.
• Revenue Generated: Note income from all readings, products, and consultations separately each month.
• Operating Costs: Track business expenses like software/website costs, supplies, table rentals, and advertisement spending to calculate profits accurately.
• Customer Feedback: Regularly survey clients for reviews, suggestions for improvement, and new services of interest. Address issues promptly when identified.
• Marketing ROI: Analyze the performance of different channels in terms of inquiries, leads, and actual bookings generated to optimize advertising budgets.
• Client Demographics: Note common profiles of customers to refine targeting and offerings. For example, geographical location, age group, and spiritual beliefs need to be addressed.

Documenting, analyzing, and acting on key metrics is crucial for optimizing operations. Serving customers effectively, and ensuring your tarot business remains financially viable long-term. Tracking performance gives insights to scale or diversify based on realities.

Additional Growth Opportunities

Once your initial tarot reading business is established and profitable, explore these ideas for taking it to the next level over time:

• Expand Product Offerings: Introduce items like aromatherapy candles, crystals, oracle cards, and journals that complement tarot readings. Use drop shipping for ease.
• Specialized Courses and Workshops: Offer niche tarot courses, workshops, or retreats to showcase your expertise.
• Self-Publish eBooks: Create eBooks on tarot basics or deck reviews. Make them available on your website and major book platforms.
• Develop a Business App: Collaborate with a web developer for an app offering themed readings and appointment bookings.
• Author a Blog: Start a tarot or spiritual blog with insightful articles to establish online thought leadership.
• Upsell Premium Services: Offer private mentorships or intensive workshops for deeper guidance.
• Create Tarot Games: Develop tarot-themed board or card games for unique retail opportunities.
• Corporate Team-Building Services: Provide intuitive team-building sessions for businesses.
• Design a Tarot Deck: Self-publish a tarot deck based on your unique expertise, catering to loyal clients.
• Partner with Podcasts: Collaborate with spiritual or self-help podcasts for promotions and guest appearances.
• Global Expansion: Consider offering multi-lingual services and internationally accessible online platforms.

While it’s vital to stay focused on running your core tarot reading operation effectively first, exploring related products and services allows ongoing sustainable growth. Look for ways your unique offerings can solve new problems and serve expanded audiences through creativity over time. With hard work and dedication, many opportunities arise from small beginnings.

Conclusion

What began as an intuitive calling can blossom into a thriving business that touches many. With perseverance and care, your tarot business uplifts exponentially through difficulties faced together with humanity. While commitments require sacrifices at the start, sharing gifts fulfilling lifelong purpose outweighs all else.

Staying aligned inwardly provides strength outwardly weathering challenges ahead sustainably, and positively for all souls touched through your reverent work. May this guide support lighting your way to enriching lives through this most sacred work. Wishing you clarity and courage in embarking on this transformative path!