How to Start a Print Shop

Starting a print shop has never been more affordable. The cost of professional-quality printers has dropped significantly as technology has become more advanced. It's possible to start a print shop with very little up-front capital. This is both good and bad, because, while the expense is minimal compared to start-up costs for many other businesses, you should be prepared for a lot of competition in the print shop market.

Things You'll Need

• Money for equipment, license fees and advertising

Instructions

1. Find a location. If you want to start an actual shop, you will need a storefront. You won't need a lot of space for a print shop, but you will need enough space for all of your equipment and a counter. You will also want to ensure that your space has enough electrical outlets for all of your printing equipment. Some people avoid the expense of a lease by starting a home-based business. If you have your print shop at home, you will need enough space to accommodate all of your equipment.

2. Take care of all the paperwork. You will need a business license whether you are running your business from a store or from your home. You will register the name of your business and ensure that another business isn't already using the name in your local area. Some states may also require a retail license for a print shop. You will complete all of your paperwork through the business license department of your local government.

3. Come up with a business plan. There are a lot of printing companies on the market, and some of them, like Kinko's, are more well-known than others. In order to stand out in the crowd, you will need to have something that you do better than any other company. You can charge substantially less money, but there are a lot of online companies that are doing just that. Try to choose a specialty, such as photography printing or posters, and focus on that.

4. Buy the right equipment. You can buy a high-quality consumer-grade printer now at a very low cost in comparison to what it used to cost, but so can every other consumer. If you want people to pay you for print work, you must have professional-quality equipment and know how to use it well. You can get professional equipment by contacting a sales rep from a major printer company, such as Canon or Ricoh. Find the contact information for a local sales rep on the company's website or by calling the corporate office.

5. Advertise. Once your print shop is up and running, you must let customers know about it. One of the most inexpensive forms of advertising for a print shop is to mail a business card and company brochure to local businesses. If you are less expensive than other local printers or have a service that other printers don't offer, most companies will at least give you a try.

Resources

• U.S. Small Business Administration