How to Start a Photocopy Service

Since the invention of the first photocopier by Xerox in the 1960s, the technology has been the basis of a steady, booming business. Even with home scanning and printing technologies, the cost effectiveness of large scale photocopying creates a demand for photocopy services. Follow these steps to start your own photocopy service.

Instructions

1. Write a business plan and executive summary. To start a photocopy service, you will need some amount of capital. Even if you're "borrowing" from yourself, you should have a clear budget for the first two years of operation mapped out. This way, you will have a good yardstick to see if you're on target and know if you need to make course corrections later on.

2. Shop around for machines. While other investments like office space can wait, you can't be a photocopy service without a photocopy machine. Since the machine is one of the most important aspects about the business, make a careful and informed decision about the machine. Think about buying versus leasing, and new versus used. Also consider alternative approaches such as outsourcing your business to a larger, industrial copy service to keep your initial costs low.

3. Brand yourself. Perhaps the one thing that's at least as important as the photocopy machine is the image you project about your business and how effectively it uses that machine. Develop your brand values specifically and then hire a designer to create a logo and slogan to match those values.

4. Find the right niche. Every business needs a niche, so find yours. Perhaps the niche is your local neighborhood which currently lacks a photocopy service; maybe the niche is a photocopy service that delivers or works 24/7. Whatever it might be, finding the right niche is critical to successfully starting a photocopy service.

5. Market aggressively. For businesses that don't offer much differentiation between firms, the key to getting an edge is to market yourself aggressively and consistently. Keep your eyes open for holes in the competition's marketing scheme and business model and take advantage of those holes quickly. Marketing is about telling your potential customers how well you will serve them, so do this well and do it often and you will increase your chances of success.