6 Lies Artists Tell to Keep You Out of Permanent Jewelry

You’re sitting in the chair, getting your first permanent bracelet welded on. It’s quick, it’s pretty, and you’re lowkey obsessed with how simple the whole setup looks.

So you ask the artist, half curious and half inspired, “How did you get into this business?”

And just like that, the energy shifts.

The answers get vague and the conversation cools. Suddenly, it’s “super expensive,” “hard to get bookings,” and “everyone’s doing it now.”

It catches you off guard. You were just making conversation, but now it feels like maybe you crossed a line.

This kind of interaction happens a lot, especially in industries where the business side looks straightforward and the profits are high. It’s not that artists are being mean. It’s that some feel protective. Maybe even a little scared that someone else might figure it out too.

While it’s just one example, I’m not making up this scenario. I see it play out all the time in Facebook groups full of permanent jewelry artists. There are entire threads where people openly coach each other on how to discourage curious customers from getting into the business because it feels like a threat to their bottom line.

But that’s exactly why you need to take this kind of advice with a grain of salt. Because when someone sees you as competition, you’re probably not getting the full truth.

6 Myths Stopping You from Starting Permanent Jewelry

Let’s talk about the things permanent jewelry artists are saying to customers who ask about the business, and why their words might not be the whole story.

1. “It Costs $10,000+ to Get Started”

This one comes up all the time.

You ask how much it costs to break into permanent jewelry, and someone drops a number so big it makes your stomach flip: “Oh, it costs at least $10,000 to get started.”

But that’s only part of the truth. Some artists do invest $10K or more into their business. They might splurge on high-end booth setups, stockpile a full rainbow of solid gold chains, or buy premium equipment. That’s their choice, and it works for them. What they don’t always mention is when they spent that money.

Most business owners don’t drop ten grand before they’ve earned a dime. They invest gradually as they grow. That little detail makes a huge difference. Take it out, and suddenly the startup costs sound terrifying, like this business is only for people with huge savings or credit cards on standby.

But it’s simply not true.

You can absolutely start small and smart. In fact, you can get everything you need to host private parties for as little as $2,099 with the Zapp Plus® 2 starter kit, and that includes a high-quality pulse-arc welder, gold-filled and sterling silver chain and jump rings, all the necessary tools to service your customers, free basic video training, and ongoing support. This program even offers payment plans so you can start earning before you’ve paid off the equipment.

You don’t need a fancy booth, branded tablecloth, or pop-up tent right away. A clean fold-out table and a couple of chairs from around the house will work just fine. Focus on practicing your welds, sharing your availability, and booking your first few events. Once the money starts coming in (and trust me, it can come in fast), then you can upgrade your setup and inventory.

Even then, you’re still not looking at a required $10,000 investment.

So if someone throws out that number with no context, just remember they’re either trying to impress you or discourage you. Either way, it’s not the full story.

2. “It’s Way Too Saturated Now”

Ah, the classic saturation scare.

You ask about starting your own permanent jewelry business and suddenly you’re told, “It’s already too saturated.” As if you’ve shown up to the party five years too late and all the good spots are taken.

But let’s think logically for a second. Do you ever notice how no one says that about coffee shops, nail salons, or hairdressers? There can be five salons in the same town and they all stay booked. Why? Because people don’t just buy a service, they buy into a vibe, relationship, or a brand.

Permanent jewelry isn’t “too saturated.” It’s just growing and becoming more visible. So more people are learning about it, getting excited, and yes, starting their own businesses. That doesn’t mean the opportunity is gone. It just means it’s time to get intentional about how you show up.

The artists who worry the most about saturation are often the ones who aren’t marketing consistently, building an audience, or setting themselves apart. If you’re willing to learn even just a little about branding, local events, or creating content that connects, you already have an edge.

There is plenty of business to go around. Permanent jewelry isn’t a one-time service. People come back for gifts, for stacking pieces, for different metals, for events. You’re not chasing a one-and-done sale, you’re building relationships. And there’s always room for someone who brings something special to the table.

Next time someone says the market is too crowded, just keep in mind that it only feels that way to people who haven’t figured out how to stand out.

Related: Should You Add Permanent Jewelry to Your Existing Business?

3. “It’s So Hard to Get Booked”

This one gets tossed around a lot, especially in the early days of someone’s business. “It’s just really hard to get bookings right now,” they’ll say, usually with a tone that suggests the market is dry, the demand has dried up, or people just aren’t interested anymore.

But the truth is, getting booked isn’t always about demand. It’s often about visibility.

A lot of new artists don’t make it past the first hump, not because they aren’t talented, but because they’re stuck in a catch-22. They don’t have great marketing photos to post, so no one knows what they’re offering… but they can’t get photos until they’ve done a few appointments. It’s frustrating, and it’s very real.

But there are ways around it. You can offer a discount to friends and family in exchange for a few simple photos. Host a practice party and take pictures of the process. Ask your sister or your best friend to pose with their new bracelet in natural light. You don’t need a full photo shoot, just real, clear visuals that help people picture themselves getting the experience.

And this is also one of the reasons I love Sunstone Engineering‘s starter kits so much. When you sign up, you receive high-quality jewelry that you can start welding right away and use to take your own branded photos. You don’t have to wait until you book your first party to start showing your audience what you offer. You can begin teasing the experience, showing off the sparkle, and planting the seed in people’s minds long before you ever touch your welder.

So yes, it can be hard to get booked, especially if no one knows what you’re offering. But with the right tools and a little creativity, you can build that momentum fast.

4. “You Don’t Need Training—Just Watch Some Videos”

This one usually comes from someone who did invest in training but later felt like they could have figured it out on their own.

In hindsight, they’ll say, “You can just watch some YouTube videos,” or “It’s really not that hard to learn.” And maybe that’s true once you already know what you’re doing. But the problem is, when you’re brand new, you don’t even know what questions to ask. You don’t know what videos to search for, what tools you’ll need, or what red flags to watch out for.

It’s easy to say “you can learn on your own” once you’ve already been taught the process. But in the beginning you’re just guessing, and that’s where a lot of people stall out or get overwhelmed.

That’s one of the biggest reasons I recommend training programs like Sunstone Certified: The Complete Permanent Jewelry Training Program. You’re not just learning how to weld a chain. You’re learning how to price, market, run your events, stay compliant, and actually turn this into a business. You also get high-quality jewelry to start practicing with, along with mentorship and answers to questions you didn’t even know to ask yet.

Yes, there are free resources out there, and some people will say training isn’t necessary. But what they really mean is they didn’t see the value after the fact, once they were already equipped to go digging for answers.

If you’re serious about starting strong and skipping months of trial and error, then solid training is one of the best investments you can make.

5. “You need to Pay for a List of Reputable Suppliers”

This one stings a little, because you’ll probably hear it more than once.

You compliment someone’s beautiful chains or cute charms and casually ask, “Where do you get your supplies?” Suddenly the mood shifts. The answers get vague or dismissive. You might even get a blunt, “I don’t share that info.”

It can feel personal, but it’s not. It’s just another form of protection. Many artists spend a lot of time (and money) sourcing their supplies, and some are afraid that if others find the same vendors, it’ll somehow take away their edge.

But what they often won’t tell you is that there are a handful of reputable suppliers out there, many with public websites, wholesale programs, and training partnerships. You don’t need to rely on gatekept info to find high-quality materials. Vendors like Sunstone Engineering, Pepetools, and others are widely known in the industry and trusted by pros.

Great businesses are built by offering an experience people love, showing up with consistency, and creating a brand people remember. You can use the exact same suppliers as someone else and still build a completely different, and successful, business.

So if you’ve felt shut down or brushed off when asking about supplies, don’t take it personally. Just take it as a sign that it’s time to do your own research, connect with trusted vendors, and focus on building something that’s truly yours.

6. “You Don’t Need a Welder to Do Permanent Jewelry”

I saved this one for last because, honestly… it’s laughable. And yet, people are seriously out here saying it with a straight face.

The moment you hear someone say, “You don’t actually need a welder to do permanent jewelry,” just know you’re not talking to an independent artist. You’re talking to someone trying to recruit you into their MLM. If they can’t stop you from starting your own business the right way, they’ll at least try to add you to the bottom of their pyramid and make money off you that way.

You absolutely need a welder to offer authentic permanent jewelry services. That’s literally what makes it permanent. If there’s no weld, then all you’re doing is selling dainty chain bracelets with a clasp or a clipped closure, and that’s a completely different product.

If you want to do this professionally and offer a service people are willing to pay top dollar for, you need the right equipment. The Zapp Plus® 2 by Sunstone is the entry-level machine I recommend again and again. It’s compact, affordable, and built specifically for permanent jewelry.

So when someone says, “Oh, you don’t need a welder,” what they really mean is, “I can’t show you how to build a real business… but I can show you how to make me money.”

Run. Don’t walk.

Related: Best Permanent Jewelry Welders Reviewed

A Quick Note on Gatekeeping vs. Honesty

To be clear, permanent jewelry artists don’t owe you their business secrets. If someone chooses not to share where they source their chains or how they structure their pricing, that’s completely valid. Most business owners hold some things close to protect their bottom line, and they should.

What I’m calling out here isn’t the silence, it’s the misinformation. It’s when someone goes beyond keeping details private and starts intentionally discouraging others by stretching the truth or sharing flat-out lies.

And to be fair, some artists may not even realize they’re doing it. These myths, like needing $10,000 to start or believing the industry is too saturated, have been repeated so often they’ve started to sound like facts. But that doesn’t make them true.

So before you let any of those claims stop you, make sure you’re doing your own research. Find trusted sources, ask the right people, and stay grounded in the truth that you get to decide what’s possible for you, not someone who’s afraid you might succeed.

Related: Everything I Brought to My First Permanent Jewelry Pop-Up

Don’t Stop Asking—Just Know What You’re Hearing

Let’s go back to that moment, you sitting in the chair, watching your first bracelet being welded on. You were curious, inspired, and maybe even a little lit up by the idea that you could do this too. But the second you asked about the business, the air shifted. The answers got shorter, and you walked away wondering if maybe it really is too expensive, too crowded, or just too complicated.

But now? I hope you know better.

You’ve heard the reasons and the real motives behind them. And hopefully, you’ve realized that just because someone says something with confidence doesn’t mean it’s the whole truth.

That said, I want to be truthful with you, too. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that the permanent jewelry business is for everyone. It still takes hard work, consistency, and a real commitment to learning a new skill. You’ll need to invest some money, carve out time to practice, and show up even when it feels a little scary at first. But if you’re willing to do those things, then yes, this could be an incredible opportunity for you.

So don’t stop asking questions. Just be intentional about who you’re asking. Seek out real training, do your own research, and trust your instincts. Talk to the people who are building others up, not just trying to protect their own slice of the pie.

Permanent jewelry can be profitable and freeing. And yes, it can be life-changing. But only if you learn from the people who truly want to see you win, not the ones quietly hoping you’ll walk away.

Related: 6 Best All-Inclusive Permanent Jewelry Kits