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Print Shop Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

print shop business plan

Print Shop Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their print shop companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a print shop business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a print shop business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your print shop business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start a print shop business or grow your existing print shop company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your print shop business to improve your chances of success. Your print shop business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Print Shop Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a print shop business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for print shop companies.

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How to write a business plan for a print shop business.

If you want to start a print shop business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your print shop business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of print shop business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a print shop business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of print shop businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

  • Give a brief overview of the print shop industry.
  • Discuss the type of print shop business you are operating.
  • Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
  • Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
  • Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of print shop business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of print shop businesses:

  • Digital printing : This type of printing is one of the most cost-effective and fast printing processes available today. Electronic files and digital images replace the need for paper, press set-up and ink, which helps reduce the carbon footprint on the earth.
  • Offset lithography printing: Used for magazines, circulars, brochures and books, this type of print shop specializes in larger volumes and includes traditional methods of binding.
  • Screen printing: Any material that is not flat is a candidate for screen printing: shirts, hats, fabric bags, etc. Screen printing forces ink through a screening process that is replicated onto fabric or other materials used.
  • 3D printing: This type of printing is performed through design, initiated by a computer program, followed by the print process in a 3D printer. The 3D printer is calibrated and outfitted with special plastics to fulfill the specifications of the 3D computer program.

In addition to explaining the type of print shop business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

  • When and why did you start the business?
  • What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of printing projects completed, the amount of revenue earned, or reaching X number of clients served, etc.
  • Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the print shop industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the print shop industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your print shop business plan:

  • How big is the print shop industry (in dollars)?
  • Is the market declining or increasing?
  • Who are the key competitors in the market?
  • Who are the key suppliers in the market?
  • What trends are affecting the industry?
  • What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
  • What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your print shop business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your print shop business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, charitable organizations, corporations, and innovators.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of print shop business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other print shop businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. Stores that house copy machines or overseas service companies may be examples of indirect competitors. You will want to mention any direct competition, as well.

For each direct competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

  • What types of customers do they serve?
  • What type of print shop business are they?
  • What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
  • What are they good at?
  • What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

  • Will you provide bundled services including printing and binding?
  • Will you offer large 3D printing projects that your competition doesn’t?
  • Will you provide better customer service?
  • Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a print shop business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of print shop company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide cover design, book layout and digital printing to create a niche service for authors?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your print shop company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your print shop business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a standalone office, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your print shop marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

  • Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
  • Reach out to websites
  • Distribute flyers
  • Engage in email marketing
  • Advertise on social media platforms
  • Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your print shop business, including answering calls, planning and providing printed items or 3D printed items, billing customers and assisting with maintenance of equipment, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth print project , or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your print shop business to a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your print shop business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing print shop businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a print shop business or successfully running a small co-op of screen printers.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you see 5 new customers per day, and/or offer discounted packaged pricing? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your print shop business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a print shop business:

  • Cost of equipment and office supplies
  • Payroll or salaries paid to staff
  • Business insurance
  • Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your office location lease or a list of corporations on a monthly printing contract.

Writing a business plan for your print shop business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the print shop industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful print shop business.

Print Shop Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my print shop business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your print shop business plan.

How Do You Start a Print Shop Business?

Starting a Print Shop business is easy with these 14 steps:

  • Choose the Name for Your Print Shop Business
  • Create Your Print Shop Business Plan
  • Choose the Legal Structure for Your Print Shop Business
  • Secure Startup Funding for Your Print Shop Business (If Needed)
  • Secure a Location for Your Business
  • Register Your Print Shop Business with the IRS
  • Open a Business Bank Account
  • Get a Business Credit Card
  • Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
  • Get Business Insurance for Your Print Shop Business
  • Buy or Lease the Right Print Shop Business Equipment
  • Develop Your Print Shop Business Marketing Materials
  • Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Print Shop Business
  • Open for Business

Where Can I Download a Free Business Plan Template PDF?

Click here to download the pdf version of our basic business plan template.

Our free business plan template pdf allows you to see the key sections to complete in your plan and the key questions that each must answer. The business plan pdf will definitely get you started in the right direction.

We do offer a premium version of our business plan template. Click here to learn more about it. The premium version includes numerous features allowing you to quickly and easily create a professional business plan. Its most touted feature is its financial projections template which allows you to simply enter your estimated sales and growth rates, and it automatically calculates your complete five-year financial projections including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Here’s the link to our Ultimate Business Plan Template.

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Print Shop business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.  

Click here to see how a Growthink business plan writer can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Screen Printing Business Plan

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Print Shop Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Print Shop Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Print Shop business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their print shops.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Print Shop business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Quick Process Print Shop is a startup printing company located in Cypress, Texas. The company is founded by Taylor Owen, a senior print manager who has been in business for over twenty years while working for a nationally-known chain of print shops. Taylor has garnered a high degree of respect and a large following of those who count on his printing abilities for every project they have. As a result, Taylor is confident he will be able to take his depth of experience and wide customer base with him as he opens his own print shop. The emphasis will be on commercial and individual clients seeking printing for any number of projects, including printing and binding of diverse materials.

Quick Process Print Shop will follow its name by offering unparalleled turnaround times for printing projects that competitors do not offer, in addition to offering numerous binding options, folder or book covers, paper stock assortments, and other customized ways to bring each customer’s vision to reality. The products and services will align to create the Quick Process Print Shop; the premier printing facility in Cypress, Texas.

Product Offering

The following are the services and products that Quick Process Print Shop will provide:

  • One to four-color printing using CMYK color process
  • Printing stock paper or custom, cut-to-size paper
  • One-hour turnaround time on select printing projects
  • Staple-bound or comb binding in wide variety of colors
  • Print and bind corporate folders, presentation binders, brochures
  • Custom designs, including holographic and 3D layout
  • Printing wedding, birthday, anniversary invitations
  • Printing personal/corporate letterhead, business cards

Customer Focus

The target audience for Quick Process Print Shop will be individuals and corporations, along with community, civic and government entities within the greater Cypress and Houston regions. The individuals with personal or business projects will be primary targets, as will administrative managers of corporations, and civic and government entities within the area. Also targeted will be non-profit organizations that will need printed materials on an on-going basis. Whether the client is an individual or corporate account, Quick Process Print Shop will dedicate the experienced full staff of the company to execute excellent results for each client.

Management Team

Quick Process Print Shop will be owned and operated by Taylor Owen. He recruited his former print coordinator, Derek Manahan, to be the Office Manager. His responsibilities will include overseeing employees and day-to-day operations of the print shop.

Taylor Owen is a graduate of the University of Texas, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Design. He has been working for a nationally-known chain print shop for over twenty years as the Print Manager, where he has developed his expertise and dedication to perfectly execute each printing project.

Derek Manahan has been the print coordinator, working under the direction of Taylor Owen, for the past ten years at the same chain print shop. Derek holds a commercial printing certification from Cypress Community College. Derek’s organizational and administrative skills have propelled the former print coordinator to new heights of efficiency and turnaround times for clients; as such, the high expectation is that he will do so again for the Quick Process Print Shop in his new role as Office Manager.

Success Factors

The Quick Process Print Shop will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

  • Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team at Quick Process Print Shop
  • Guaranteed fastest turnaround time on select print projects, making the company the fastest in the region to turn projects around.
  • Quick Process Print Shop offers the best binding pricing in town. Their pricing structure for over twenty types of available bindings is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

Financial Highlights

Quick Process Print Shop is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its print shop. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office and print equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the marketing campaigns and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Office space build-out: $20,000
  • Office and print equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
  • Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
  • Marketing costs: $10,000
  • Working capital: $10,000

The following graph outlines the financial projections for Quick Process Print Shop.

Quick Process Print Shop Pro Forma Projections

Company Overview

Who is quick process print shop.

Quick Process Print Shop is a newly established full-service print shop in Cypress, Texas. Quick Process Print Shop will be the most reliable, cost-effective, and efficient choice for customers in Cypress and the surrounding communities. Quick Process Print Shop will provide a comprehensive menu of printing and binding services for individuals, corporations, civic, and governmental entities in Cypress. Their full-service approach includes a comprehensive set of standard and customized printing and binding processes, designed to meet every customer’s needs.

  Quick Process Print Shop will be able to manage small to oversized printing projects, as well as projects that include binding or other special treatments, and will do so on select projects within a very fast turnaround process. The team of professionals are highly qualified and experienced in printing and management of day-to-day operations and print coordination. Quick Process Print Shop removes all headaches and issues of the printing and binding process and ensures all issues are taken care of expeditiously, while delivering the best customer service.

Quick Process Print Shop History

Quick Process Print Shop is owned by Taylor Owen, a former Print Manager for a nationally-known chain print shop. Taylor Owen is a graduate of the University of Texas, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Design. During his many years of printing, Taylor developed a high degree of expertise within his craft and used that dedication to perfectly execute each printing project. He gained the trust of his clients during twenty years of printing and binding projects; those relationships will now stabilize the revenue for the Quick Process Print Shop while the clientele grows and projects increase in size and number.

Since incorporation, Quick Process Print Shop has achieved the following milestones:

  • Registered Quick Process Print Shop as a C-corporation, to transact business in the state of Texas.
  • Has a lease contract in place for 10,000 square feet at the building Quick Process Print Shop will utilize.
  • Reached out to numerous corporate contacts to secure advance contracts for Quick Process Print Shop.
  • Began recruiting a staff of Quick Process Print Shop employees.

Quick Process Print Shop Services

The following will be the services Quick Process Print Shop will provide:

  • One to 4-color printing using CMYK color process
  • Print and bind corporate folders, presentation binders

Industry Analysis

The Print Shop industry is expected to grow over the next ten years to over $483 billion. The growth will be driven by an increased print market for packaging, which is expected to rise by 66 percent in the coming decade. The market for printing books will decrease in the coming ten years by 15 percent; however, the need for commercial, business, and personal printing will increase as expectations for professionally-prepared materials will rise in every market sector. Future parameters, including an uncertain economy or supply-chain shortages, could impact the printing industry; however, all industry markets will have the same issues in play should such uncertainties come about. Costs will likely be reduced as print collaborations and partnership work together to lower costs, while increasing efficiencies, particularly on large-volume projects.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Quick Process Print Shop will target individuals or entities required printing or printing and binding services in the Cypress, Texas region. They will target individuals, corporations, civic or governmental agencies, as well as non-profits, and other associations who need printing and/or binding services. .

Customer Segmentation

Quick Process Print Shop will primarily target the following customer profiles:

  • Individuals
  • Corporations (for-profit/non-profit)
  • Civic/community entities
  • Governmental agencies

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Quick Process Print Shop will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company follows:

TJ’s Speedy Print Shop

PJ’s Speedy Print Shop provides customer self-service printing using copy machines. A customer can select a copy machine when bringing in documents or a flash drive document to be printed. The copy machines print and collate the projects per the instructions of the customer using self-instruction on a self-serve copy machine. Standard materials, such as paper and staples are provided for a fee. While copies are printed at-will and offer a fast turnaround, no binding services are offered. Color copies, customized print processes, high-quality color separation and other quality services are not offered within this self-serve model.

The owner of TJ’s Speedy Print Shop, legally registered as a limited liability company, has been in business for over thirty years and the shop is well-established as a neighborhood copy and print shop. The motto is “Your Printing Your Way” and the focus is on speed and accessibility, as the print shop is open 24 hours per day. An employee is always on site to assist customers who walk in and a full-time repair person oversees the copy machines. The print shop owner, Tomas Johanson, has been talking to customers about retiring; the outcome of his retirement for the print shop is unknown.

RiverEdge Printing & Packing Services

RiverEdge Printing & Packing Services is located in Houston, Texas and is a legal entity formed to serve the grocery store market sector within the regional area. Originally a sole proprietorship, the company was reframed legally as a C-corporation five years ago, when the family-owned business leadership changed from the father to the son. The company prints commercial projects only, focused on printing grocery bags, grocery boxes, packaging materials and other ancillary products that serve one national chain customer with 583 grocery stores in the chain. Products are printed, collated, glued, bound and packed according to the client specifications and the long-term contract is renewed yearly. The labor union is represented in this company, which requires contract negotiation on a yearly basis.

Excelsior Printing Company, Inc.

Excelsior Printing Company, Inc. is a nationally-recognized book printing company known for the 4-color printed, paper-over-board books they produce for children. This specialty printing company faces competition from Asian print providers; however the company provides a fast turnaround on projects that are short and follow a company template for printing production. Based in Houston, Texas, the company is held by two shareholders who take pride in the quality of books produced and the expediency offered in a process they’ve titled, “Fast Track” shipping. Fast Track shipping guarantees printed books will be delivered to bookstores within 4 weeks of a print order placed with Excelsior Printing Company, Inc. This guarantee provides the fastest delivery schedules of any printer in the U.S.

Competitive Advantage

Quick Process Print Shop will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

  • Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of Quick Process Print Shop employees, who will work with each client to ensure orders are correctly entered into the system, printed and delivered according to specifications.
  • The comprehensive menu of services offered by Quick Process Print Shop outshines all other competitors in terms of the variety of printing and binding processes offered, quality maintained and turnaround delivery times guaranteed.
  • Quick Process Print Shop offers comparable pricing for printing and binding. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Quick Process Print Shop will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

  • Highly-qualified team of skilled employees that is able to provide comprehensive printing and binding services for each client, including customized sizes, materials, designs or other parameters needed for completion of the project.
  • Competitive prices with on-the-job service representatives to assist every step of the way.
  • Binding products and services to compile corporate reports, organization presentations, and other documents or materials.
  • Guaranteed fastest turnaround service for select projects.
  • Reasonable pricing for outstanding results.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Quick Process Print Shop is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Taylor Owen has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional service and expertise to his clients. They have communicated to Taylor that they kept renewing their contracts because they were happy with the service Taylor was providing. Once Taylor Owen advised them he was leaving to open his own print shop, they agreed to follow him to his new company and help spread the word of the Quick Process Print Shop.

Professional Associations and Networking

Quick Process Print Shop will become a member of commercial and residential professional associations within the region, due to the fact that each entity will need print services internally for a variety of projects that will need completion. In return, Quick Process Print Shop can offer reduced pricing for community efforts at fund-raising or other worthy causes by way of reciprocation and appreciation for the associations.

Print Advertising

As a printing company, Quick Process Print Shop, will advertise via printed pieces that describe the full range of services offered by Quick Process Print Shop. These printed pieces will be delivered to each resident in Cypress, Texas as a drop-in card inside The Cypress Daily, a city newspaper with a circulation of over 500,000 residents.

Website/SEO Marketing

Quick Process Print Shop will utilize their in-house employees who designed their print ads to also design their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all their services that Quick Process Print Shop is able to provide. The website will also list their contact information and list the multiple print and binding services and products available. A short-term social media marketing manager will also manage the website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “Fast Printing Cypress” or “print and bind near me”, Quick Process Print Shop will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Quick Process Print Shop will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive excellent value and quality when purchasing their services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Quick Process Print Shop. Operation Functions:

  • Taylor Owen will be the Owner and President of the company. He will act as the Senior Print Manager to oversee all major print projects, build client relationships and represent the company within the greater Cypress region. Jay has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
  • Derek Manahan – Office Manager who will manage the day-to-day operations of print projects and oversee the employee team.
  • Shelly Duhane – Staff Bookkeeper, who will manage the financial accounts and compile records for payroll and tax purposes.
  • Kelly Martin – Social Media Marketing Manager who will develop all initial marketing strategies for Quick Process Print Shop during the first three months of business.
  • Carl Snowdon – Maintenance Manager who will provide all equipment and premises maintenance at the property.

Milestones:

Quick Process Print Shop will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

  • 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease location space
  • 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the Quick Process Print Shop
  • 6/1/202X – Finalize long-term contracts for Quick Process Print Shop clients
  • 6/15/202X – Begin networking at regional association events
  • 6/22/202X – Begin moving into Quick Process Print Shop location
  • 7/1/202X – Quick Process Print Shop opens its building for business

Quick Process Print Shop will be owned and operated by Taylor Owen. He recruited his former printing coordinator, Derek Manahan, to be his Office Manager to help manage the office and day-to-day operations.

Taylor Owen graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Design. He has been employed by a local printing company for over twenty years as a Print Manager. Jay has successfully secured the assurances of former clients that they will bring their business needs to the Quick Process Print Shop upon opening and he is in the process of obtaining new long-term contracts with corporate clients.

Derek Manahan has been the print coordinator, working under the direction of Taylor Owen, for the past ten years at the same chain print shop. Derek holds a commercial printing certification from Cypress Community College. Derek’s organizational and administrative skills have propelled the former print coordinator to new heights of efficiency and turnaround times for clients; as such, the high expectation is that he will do so again for the Quick Process Print Shop in his new role of Office Manager.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Quick Process Print Shop are the fees they will charge to the clients for their services and products .

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff and equip the Quick Process Print Shop location. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, office supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Quick Process Print Shop is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its property management business. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the location space and purchasing printing equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

  • Number of Projects, Services and Products Sold Per Month: 600
  • Average Fees per Month: $55,000
  • Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, print shop business plan faqs, what is a print shop business plan.

A print shop business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your print shop business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Print Shop business plan using our Print Shop Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Print Shop Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of print shop businesses , some examples include: Digital printing, Offset lithography printing, Screen printing, , and 3D printing.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Print Shop Business Plan?

Print Shop businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Print Shop Business?

Starting a print shop business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Print Shop Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed print shop business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your print shop business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your print shop business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Print Shop Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your print shop business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your print shop business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Print Shop Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your print shop business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your print shop business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

How to write a business plan for a printing shop?

printing shop business plan

Putting together a business plan for a printing shop can be daunting - especially if you're creating a business for the first time - but with this comprehensive guide, you'll have the necessary tools to do it confidently.

We will explore why writing one is so important in both starting up and growing an existing printing shop, as well as what should go into making an effective plan - from its structure to content - and what tools can be used to streamline the process and avoid errors.

Without further ado, let us begin!

In this guide:

Why write a business plan for a printing shop?

  • What information is needed to create a business plan for a printing shop?
  • How do I build a financial forecast for a printing shop?

The written part of a printing shop business plan

  • What tool should I use to write my printing shop business plan?

Having a clear understanding of why you want to write a business plan for your printing shop will make it simpler for you to grasp the rationale behind its structure and content. So before delving into the plan's actual details, let's take a moment to remind ourselves of the primary reasons why you'd want to create a printing shop business plan.

To have a clear roadmap to grow the business

Running a small business is tough! Economic cycles bring growth and recessions, while the business landscape is ever-changing with new technologies, regulations, competitors, and consumer behaviours emerging constantly.

In such a dynamic context, operating a business without a clear roadmap is akin to driving blindfolded: it's risky, to say the least. That's why crafting a business plan for your printing shop is vital to establish a successful and sustainable venture.

To create an effective business plan, you'll need to assess your current position (if you're already in business) and define where you want the business to be in the next three to five years.

Once you have a clear destination for your printing shop, you'll have to:

  • Identify the necessary resources (human, equipment, and capital) needed to reach your goals,
  • Determine the pace at which the business needs to progress to meet its objectives as scheduled,
  • Recognize and address the potential risks you may encounter along the way.

Engaging in this process regularly proves advantageous for both startups and established companies. It empowers you to make informed decisions about resource allocation, ensuring the long-term success of your business.

To get visibility on future cash flows

If your small printing shop runs out of cash: it's game over. That's why we often say "cash is king", and it's crucial to have a clear view of your printing shop's future cash flows.

So, how can you achieve this? It's simple - you need to have an up-to-date financial forecast.

The good news is that your printing shop business plan already includes a financial forecast (which we'll discuss further in this guide). Your task is to ensure it stays current.

To accomplish this, it's essential to regularly compare your actual financial performance with what was planned in your financial forecast. Based on your business's current trajectory, you can make adjustments to the forecast.

By diligently monitoring your printing shop's financial health, you'll be able to spot potential financial issues, like unexpected cash shortfalls, early on and take corrective actions. Moreover, this practice will enable you to recognize and capitalize on growth opportunities, such as excess cash flow enabling you to expand to new locations.

To secure financing

A detailed business plan becomes a crucial tool when seeking financing from banks or investors for your printing shop.

Investing and lending to small businesses are very risky activities given how fragile they are. Therefore, financiers have to take extra precautions before putting their capital at risk.

At a minimum, financiers will want to ensure that you have a clear roadmap and a solid understanding of your future cash flows (like we just explained above). But they will also want to ensure that your business plan fits the risk/reward profile they seek.

This will off-course vary from bank to bank and investor to investor, but as a rule of thumb. Banks will want to see a conservative financial management style (low risk), and they will use the information in your business plan to assess your borrowing capacity — the level of debt they think your business can comfortably handle — and your ability to repay the loan. This evaluation will determine whether they'll provide credit to your printing shop and the terms of the agreement.

Whereas investors will carefully analyze your business plan to gauge the potential return on their investment. Their focus lies on evidence indicating your printing shop's potential for high growth, profitability, and consistent cash flow generation over time.

Now that you recognize the importance of creating a business plan for your printing shop, let's explore what information is required to create a compelling plan.

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Information needed to create a business plan for a printing shop

Drafting a printing shop business plan requires research so that you can project sales, investments and cost accurately in your financial forecast, and convince the reader that there is a viable commercial opportunity to be seized.

Below, we'll focus on three critical pieces of information you should gather before starting to write your plan.

Carrying out market research for a printing shop

As you consider writing your business plan for a printing shop, conducting market research becomes a vital step to ensure accurate and realistic financial projections.

Market research provides valuable insights into your target customer base, competitors, pricing strategies, and other key factors that can significantly impact the commercial success of your business.

Through this research, you may uncover trends that could influence your printing shop.

You might find that customers may be increasingly interested in non-traditional printing options, such as vinyl prints, canvas wraps, and other specialty products. Additionally, customers could be looking for more eco-friendly printing options, such as recycled paper or water-based inks.

Such market trends play a significant role in forecasting revenue, as they offer valuable data about potential customers' spending habits and preferences.

By incorporating these findings into your financial projections, you can present investors with more accurate information, helping them make informed decisions about investing in your printing shop.

Developing the marketing plan for a printing shop

Before delving into your printing shop business plan, it's imperative to budget for sales and marketing expenses.

To achieve this, a comprehensive sales and marketing plan is essential. This plan should provide an accurate projection of the necessary actions to acquire and retain customers.

Additionally, it will outline the required workforce to carry out these initiatives and the corresponding budget for promotions, advertising, and other marketing endeavours.

By budgeting accordingly, you can ensure that the right resources are allocated to these vital activities, aligning them with the sales and growth objectives outlined in your business plan.

The staffing and equipment needs of a printing shop

As you embark on starting or expanding your printing shop, having a clear plan for recruitment and capital expenditures (investment in equipment and real estate) is essential for ensuring your business's success.

Both the recruitment and investment plans must align with the timing and level of growth projected in your forecast, and they require appropriate funding.

The staffing costs for a printing shop might include wages for a manager, customer service representatives, and production workers, as well as payroll taxes and benefits. The equipment costs might include the purchase of printing presses, paper cutters, computers, and software, as well as ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the machinery.

To create a realistic financial forecast, you also need to consider other operating expenses associated with the day-to-day running of your business, such as insurance and bookkeeping.

With all the necessary information at hand, you are ready to begin crafting your business plan and developing your financial forecast.

What goes into your printing shop's financial forecast?

The financial forecast of your printing shop's business plan will enable you to assess the growth, profitability, funding requirements, and cash generation potential of your business in the coming years.

The four key outputs of a financial forecast for a printing shop are:

  • The profit and loss (P&L) statement ,
  • The projected balance sheet ,
  • The cash flow forecast ,
  • And the sources and uses table .

Let's look at each of these in a bit more detail.

The projected P&L statement

The projected P&L statement for a printing shop shows how much revenue and profit your business is expected to make in the future.

example of projected profit and loss statement in a printing shop business plan

A healthy printing shop's P&L statement should show:

  • Sales growing at (minimum) or above (better) inflation
  • Stable (minimum) or expanding (better) profit margins
  • A healthy level of net profitability

This will of course depend on the stage of your business: numbers for a startup will look different than for an established printing shop.

The projected balance sheet of your printing shop

The balance sheet for a printing shop is a financial document that provides a snapshot of your business’s financial health at a given point in time.

It shows three main components: assets, liabilities and equity:

  • Assets: are resources owned by the business, such as cash, equipment, and accounts receivable (money owed by clients).
  • Liabilities: are debts owed to creditors and other entities, such as accounts payable (money owed to suppliers) and loans.
  • Equity: includes the sums invested by the shareholders or business owners and the cumulative profits and losses of the business to date (called retained earnings). It is a proxy for the value of the owner's stake in the business.

example of projected balance sheet in a printing shop business plan

Examining the balance sheet is important for lenders, investors, or other stakeholders who are interested in assessing your printing shop's liquidity and solvency:

  • Liquidity: assesses whether or not your business has sufficient cash and short-term assets to honour its liabilities due over the next 12 months. It is a short-term focus.
  • Solvency: assesses whether or not your business has the capacity to repay its debt over the medium-term.

Looking at the balance sheet can also provide insights into your printing shop's investment and financing policies.

In particular, stakeholders can compare the value of equity to the value of the outstanding financial debt to assess how the business is funded and what level of financial risk has been taken by the owners (financial debt is riskier because it has to be repaid, while equity doesn't need to be repaid).

The projected cash flow statement

A cash flow forecast for a printing shop shows how much cash the business is projected to generate or consume.

example of cash flow forecast in a printing shop business plan

The cash flow statement is divided into 3 main areas:

  • The operating cash flow shows how much cash is generated or consumed by the operations (running the business)
  • The investing cash flow shows how much cash is being invested in capital expenditure (equipment, real estate, etc.)
  • The financing cash flow shows how much cash is raised or distributed to investors and lenders

Looking at the cash flow forecast helps you to ensure that your business has enough cash to keep running, and can help you anticipate potential cash shortfalls.

It is also a best practice to include a monthly cash flow statement in the appendices of your printing shop business plan so that the readers can view the impact of seasonality on your business cash position and generation.

The initial financing plan

The initial financing plan, also known as a sources and uses table, is a valuable resource to have in your business plan when starting your printing shop as it reveals the origins of the money needed to establish the business (sources) and how it will be allocated (uses).

printing shop business plan: sources & uses example

Having this table helps show what costs are involved in setting up your printing shop, how risks are shared between founders, investors and lenders, and what the starting cash position will be. This cash position needs to be sufficient to sustain operations until the business reaches a break-even point.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what goes into the financial forecast of your printing shop business plan, let's shift our focus to the written part of the plan.

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The written part of a printing shop business plan plays a key role: it lays out the plan of action you intend to execute to seize the commercial opportunity you've identified on the market and provides the context needed for the reader to decide if they believe your plan to be achievable and your financial forecast to be realistic.

The written part of a printing shop business plan is composed of 7 main sections:

  • The executive summary
  • The presentation of the company
  • The products and services
  • The market analysis
  • The strategy
  • The operations
  • The financial plan

Let's go through the content of each section in more detail!

1. The executive summary

The executive summary, the first section of your printing shop's business plan, serves as an inviting snapshot of your entire plan, leaving readers eager to know more about your business.

To compose an effective executive summary, start with a concise introduction of your business, covering its name, concept, location, history, and unique aspects. Share insights about the services or products you intend to offer and your target customer base.

Subsequently, provide an overview of your printing shop's addressable market, highlighting current trends and potential growth opportunities.

Then, present a summary of critical financial figures, such as projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

You should then include a summary of your key financial figures such as projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

Lastly, address any funding needs in the "ask" section of your executive summary.

2. The presentation of the company

In your printing shop business plan, the second section should focus on the structure and ownership, location, and management team of your company.

In the structure and ownership part, you'll provide an overview of the business's legal structure, details about the owners, and their respective investments and ownership shares. This clarity is crucial, especially if you're seeking financing, as it helps the reader understand which legal entity will receive the funds and who controls the business.

Moving on to the location part, you'll offer an overview of the company's premises and their surroundings. Explain why this particular location is of interest, highlighting factors like catchment area, accessibility, and nearby amenities.

When describing the location of your printing shop, you may emphasize the potential benefits of the area. You could highlight the area's access to a large customer base, its business-friendly environment, and its potential for growth. You might mention that the area has transportation links which could facilitate the delivery of goods, and is well-positioned to reach other markets. Additionally, you could point out the proximity to amenities such as restaurants, entertainment, and other services. Overall, you may present the area as an attractive destination for businesses that could realize a good return on their investment.

Finally, you should introduce your management team. Describe each member's role, background, and experience.

Don't forget to emphasize any past successes achieved by the management team and how long they've been working together. Demonstrating their track record and teamwork will help potential lenders or investors gain confidence in their leadership and ability to execute the business plan.

3. The products and services section

The products and services section of your business plan should include a detailed description of what your company offers, who are the target customers, and what distribution channels are part of your go-to-market. 

For example, your printing shop might offer services such as full-colour printing, large format printing, and custom design to its customers. Full-colour printing is an ideal choice for businesses that need to create promotional materials, such as brochures, flyers, and posters. Large format printing is perfect for producing banners, signs, and posters, and custom design can help customers create unique visuals with the help of a professional designer. All of these services are designed to help customers create marketing materials that will help attract more customers to their business.

4. The market analysis

When presenting your market analysis in your printing shop business plan, you should detail the customers' demographics and segmentation, target market, competition, barriers to entry, and any regulations that may apply.

The goal of this section is to help the reader understand how big and attractive your market is, and demonstrate that you have a solid understanding of the industry.

You should start with the demographics and segmentation subsection, which gives an overview of the addressable market for your printing shop, the main trends in the marketplace, and introduces the different customer segments and their preferences in terms of purchasing habits and budgets.

The target market section should follow and zoom on the customer segments your printing shop is targeting, and explain how your products and services meet the specific needs of these customers.

For example, your target market might include small businesses. This segment would include those who need high-quality printing services in order to create materials for their business operations, such as brochures, business cards, and flyers. Additionally, they may need more specialized printing services such as large-format printing or specialty papers.

Then comes the competition subsection, where you should introduce your main competitors and explain what differentiates you from them.

Finally, you should finish your market analysis by giving an overview of the main regulations applicable to your printing shop.

5. The strategy section

When you write the strategy section of your printing shop business plan, remember to cover key elements such as your competitive edge, pricing strategy, sales & marketing plan, milestones, and risks and mitigants.

In the competitive edge subsection, elaborate on what makes your company stand out from competitors. This becomes especially important if you're a startup, aiming to carve a place for yourself amidst established players in the marketplace.

The pricing strategy subsection should demonstrate how you plan to maintain profitability while offering competitive prices to attract customers.

Outline your sales & marketing plan, detailing how you'll reach out to new customers and retain existing ones through loyalty programs or special offers.

For the milestones subsection, outline your company's achievements to date and your main objectives for the future, complete with specific dates to set clear expectations for progress.

Lastly, the risks and mitigants subsection should address the main risks that could affect your plan's execution. Explain the measures you've put in place to minimize these risks, assuring potential investors or lenders.

Your printing shop may face the risk of a decrease in demand for print products, as more businesses switch to digital formats. This could mean that your shop has to adjust its services to accommodate new technologies, or risk losing customers. Additionally, your shop might face the risk of a disruption in its supply chain, either due to a natural disaster or an unexpected increase in demand. This could lead to delays in the delivery of materials, resulting in a disruption of your operations.

6. The operations section

The operations of your printing shop must be presented in detail in your business plan.

The first thing you should cover in this section is your staffing team, the main roles, and the overall recruitment plan to support the growth expected in your business plan. You should also outline the qualifications and experience necessary to fulfil each role, and how you intend to recruit (using job boards, referrals, or headhunters).

You should then state the operating hours of your printing shop - so that the reader can check the adequacy of your staffing levels - and any plans for varying opening times during peak season. Additionally, the plan should include details on how you will handle customer queries outside of normal operating hours.

The next part of this section should focus on the key assets and IP required to operate your business. If you depend on any licenses or trademarks, physical structures (equipment or property) or lease agreements, these should all go in there.

You may have key assets such as a large printing press and a variety of inks and papers. These items could be considered intellectual property of the printing shop, as they are integral to the operations of the business. Additionally, the shop might have a portfolio of designs that it has produced over time, as well as customer databases and contacts, which could be considered intellectual property as well.

Finally, you should include a list of suppliers that you plan to work with and a breakdown of their services and main commercial terms (price, payment terms, contract duration, etc.). Investors are always keen to know if there is a particular reason why you have chosen to work with a specific supplier (higher-quality products or past relationships for example).

7. The presentation of the financial plan

The financial plan section is where we will present the financial forecast we talked about earlier in this guide.

Now that you have a clear idea of what goes in your printing shop business plan, let's look at the solutions you can use to draft yours.

What tool should I use to write my printing shop's business plan?

In this section, we will be reviewing the two main solutions for creating a printing shop business plan:

  • Using specialized online business plan software,
  • Outsourcing the plan to the business plan writer.

Using an online business plan software for your printing shop's business plan

The modern and most efficient way to write a printing shop business plan is to use business plan software .

There are several advantages to using specialized software:

  • You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
  • You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
  • You can access a library of dozens of complete business plan samples and templates for inspiration
  • You get a professional business plan, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
  • You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast
  • You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
  • You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows
  • You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck

If you're interested in using this type of solution, you can try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up here .

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Screenshot from The Business Plan Shop's Financial Forecasting Software

Hiring a business plan writer to write your printing shop's business plan

Outsourcing your printing shop business plan to a business plan writer can also be a viable option.

Business plan writers are experienced in writing business plans and adept at creating financial forecasts without errors. Furthermore, hiring a consultant can save you time and allow you to focus on the day-to-day operations of your business.

However, hiring business plan writers is expensive as you are paying for the software used by the consultant, plus their time, and their profit margin of course.

From experience, you need to budget at least £1.5k ($2.0k) excluding tax for a complete business plan, more if you need to make changes after the initial version (which happens frequently after the initial meetings with lenders or investors).

You also need to be careful when seeking investment. Investors want their money to be used to grow the business, not spent on consulting fees. Therefore, the amount you spend on business plan writing services (and other consulting services such as legal services) needs to be negligible relative to the amount raised.

The other drawback is that you usually don't own the business plan itself: you just get the output, while the actual document is saved in the consultant's business plan software - which makes it difficult to maintain the document up to date without hiring the consultant on a retainer.

For these reasons, outsourcing the printing shop business plan to a business plan writer should be considered carefully, weighing both the advantages and disadvantages of hiring outside help.

Ultimately, it may be the right decision for some businesses, while others may find it beneficial to write their business plan using online software.

Why not create your printing shop's business plan using Word or Excel?

Using Microsoft Excel and Word (or their Google, Apple, or open-source equivalents) to write a printing shop business plan is not advisable. Allow me to explain the reasons.

Firstly, creating an accurate and error-free financial forecast on Excel or any spreadsheet demands technical expertise in accounting principles and financial modelling. Without a degree in finance and accounting and significant financial modelling experience, it's unlikely that the reader will fully trust your numbers.

Secondly, relying on spreadsheets is inefficient. While it may have been the go-to option in the past, technology has evolved, and software now performs such tasks much faster and more accurately.

The second reason is that it is inefficient. Building forecasts on spreadsheets was the only option in the early 2000s, nowadays technology has advanced and software can do it much faster and much more accurately.

And with the rise of AI, software is also becoming smarter at helping us detect mistakes in our forecasts and helping us analyse the numbers to make better decisions.

Moreover, software offers ease in comparing actuals versus forecasts and maintaining up-to-date forecasts for clear visibility on future cash flows, as we discussed earlier in this guide. Such tasks are cumbersome when using spreadsheets.

Now, let's address the written part of your printing shop business plan. While it may be less prone to errors, using software can significantly boost productivity. Word processors lack instructions and examples for each section of your business plan. They also won't automatically update your numbers when changes occur in your forecast, and they lack automated formatting capabilities.

In summary, while some entrepreneurs may consider Word or Excel for their business plan, it's far from the best or most efficient solution when compared to specialized software.

  • A business plan has 2 complementary parts: a financial forecast showcasing the expected growth, profits and cash flows of the business; and a written part which provides the context needed to judge if the forecast is realistic and relevant.
  • Having an up-to-date business plan is the only way to keep visibility on your printing shop's future cash flows.
  • Using business plan software is the modern way of writing and maintaining business plans.

We hope that this practical guide gave you insights on how to write the business plan for your printing shop. Do not hesitate to get in touch with our team if you still have questions.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

  • In-depth business plan structure
  • Key steps to write a business plan?
  • Free business plan template

Know someone who owns or wants to start a printing shop? Share this article with them!

Guillaume Le Brouster

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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How to Start a Print Shop

Printing shops offer a variety of print and copy services to the public. This includes online printing, direct mail, and business printing. Most printing stores offer additional services to the public, depending upon the specific needs within the community.

You may also be interested in additional low cost business ideas .

Learn how to start your own Print Shop and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

Print Shop Image

Start a print shop by following these 10 steps:

  • Plan your Print Shop
  • Form your Print Shop into a Legal Entity
  • Register your Print Shop for Taxes
  • Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  • Set up Accounting for your Print Shop
  • Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Print Shop
  • Get Print Shop Insurance
  • Define your Print Shop Brand
  • Create your Print Shop Website
  • Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your print shop. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

  • What are the startup and ongoing costs?
  • Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Print Shop Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state's business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your print shop?

Business name generator, what are the costs involved in opening a print shop.

Before identifying your budgetary needs, you must first determine the exact services you intend to offer. Industry leaders report spending between $146,000 and $400,000. Your initial investment will include the following:

  • Location - Many novice printers start out working out of their homes. To realize significant success, however, a storefront location is recommended. To offer a full menu of services, you will need enough space to house all your printing equipment and enough workspace to spread out and work on multiple projects at once. Start-up costs for your brick and mortar will include first and last month’s rent and a security deposit, which could range from $4,000 to $12,000, depending upon location.
  • Electrical upgrades - Prior to opening your doors and testing out equipment, make sure you have an electrician out to inspect your shop’s electrical needs.
  • If you want to do digital printing, you need to start out with $300k-$400k and will need to get the electric upgraded in your new shop
  • Equipment - The equipment you invest in will be defined by the specifics of the services you offer. This could include: embossing machine, offset printing press, plate maker, color copier, standard copier, laminator, and finishing equipment. Each item ranges from $1,500 to $12,000 in cost, but can be purchased used for a fraction of the cost. To save on start-up costs, many entrepreneurs choose to lease the equipment, paying for their equipment over time.
  • Computers - You will need at least one computer to handle your design and administrative needs. Many print shops also invest in at least one floor computer, which can be used by clients for a by-the-minute fee.
  • Software - Design software such as Adobe, should also be purchased. Many software companies now offer software licensing for a monthly fee. It is also recommended that you invest in business management and accounting software, to insure proper management of your organization.
  • Franchise fees - Entrepreneurs realizing significant profits report having invested in a franchise such as The UPS Store or PostNet . While start-up costs are higher, the expertise and support of industry leaders has proven invaluable.
  • Marketing materials

What are the ongoing expenses for a print shop?

In addition to the standard overhead costs that come with running a business, there are a number of items you will need to budget for each month:

  • Design software - Software vendors offer monthly contracts, ranging anywhere from $30 to $150/month, depending upon the product and your specific needs.
  • Equipment leasing fees - Varies depending upon a variety of factors
  • Maintenance and replacement of equipment
  • Payroll costs

Break-even monthly sales average between $10,000 and $15,000 a month, with approximately half of that going to materials. This number varies, depending upon your area.

Who is the target market?

The most successful print shops target a number of different audiences including: small businesses, large businesses, and individuals. While each group will require a slightly different marketing strategy, this diversity sets your business up for greater success.

How does a print shop make money?

Print shops generate revenue from each account they attend to. The more services your store offers, the better you’re able to thrive and serve the needs of your community.

Fee specifics will vary from project to project, depending upon the specific needs of the client, the intricacies of the project, and how much printing the client needs. As indicated, working with reputable vendors will help insure quality products at a fair price. Business owners who pass that savings on to their clients will gain a loyal following.

How much profit can a print shop make?

New print shop owners are urged to plan for one to three years of little to no profit. This offers ample time to develop relationships with clients and vendors, and establish a name for yourself within the community. Business owners in larger cities realize quicker profits than those from smaller communities.

How can you make your business more profitable?

While quality work will help your profits grow year-by-year, there are a number of additional services you can provide to accelerate growth:

  • Expand your target audience to include online customers
  • Offering premier services, such as delivery, will make your business more memorable
  • Sell office supplies and products
  • Offer additional services such as notary, passport/ID photos, and shredding
  • Many print shops have also found success offering packaging services and partnering with the postal service and other shipping companies. PO boxes have also proven to increase annual profits.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC) , and corporation .

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your print shop is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services . You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

  • Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
  • Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a print shop business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

Certificate of Occupancy

A print shop business is generally run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location :
  • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
  • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a print shop business business.
  • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location :
  • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
  • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your print shop business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Print Shop needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Print Shop.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a print shop

To insure potential clients understand the services your enterprise offers, have a simple, yet informative website built. Position yourself as a thought leader in the industry by regularly publishing a blog. This content marketing strategy educates your clients and helps search engines like Google target your business. As your experience and projects expand, make sure to update your online portfolio. Prospective clients who are surfing the web are more likely to partner with an organization whose work is available for viewing.

Additionally, it is recommended that your shop regularly offer business promotions to attract and retain customers. Partnering with reputable vendors and negotiating the best prices is also critical. This insures each client receives the fairest price, without sacrificing quality. Allow your work to speak for itself by printing your own quality marketing materials. Consider your target audience(s) and design promotional material to fit each niches’ needs.

Online directories such as Printguide also offer unique, cost-effective ways to reach prospective clients. It is also recommended that you join local business associations and attend networking events. National Print & Sign Owners Association and Printing Industries of America   are a great resources for both novice and experienced print shop owners. Convention booths will set you back approximately $3,000, but the connections you make will be well worth it. Entrepreneurs who have included car wraps in their marketing strategy have realized a significant return on their investment. One $2,500 car wrap stands to bring in an average of $15,000 in profits annually.

How to keep customers coming back

Delivering consistent, quality service will be your primary retention tool. This, combined with your strong interpersonal skills, is what will set you apart from the competition. Building long-standing relationships with vendors, community business leaders, and customers will insure a positive reputation. We live in an information-rich business landscape, meaning there is no room for error or poor customer service.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

TRUiC's Startup Podcast

Welcome to the Startup Savant podcast , where we interview real startup founders at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, from launch to scale.

Is this Business Right For You?

Industry leaders indicate that, due to the services offered, the individual with a background in printing is most suitable for this business venture. If you have the background, necessary capital, and are ready to work hard to insure a stable financial future for you and your family, now is the time to consider becoming your own boss.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a print shop?

Since your print shop will likely offer a wide variety of services, each day will be fast-paced and very different from the last. Modern day print shops typically offer the following:

  • Professional small business printing - digital printing, offset printing, binding, laminating, and other document finishing services.
  • Online printing - client uploads and submits documents for printing and finishing.
  • Personal and professional copying - both self and full service
  • Package and mail services

In addition to managing your client’s printing needs, you will also want to dedicate a portion of your time to your own business’ demands. Marketing is a critical component to every business owner’s day, as is administrative duties such as accounting and corresponding with representatives from various accounts.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful print shop?

Whether you plan to take an active or inactive role in the day-to-day operations of the business, it is important that you fully understand the particulars before formulating a business plan. It is recommended that you work in the industry for at least a year or two. This will give you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the equipment, processes, terminology, and pricing. Those taking an active role should not only be an astute businessman, they must also possess design and printing skills. Strong leadership skills, including attention to detail, delegation, and communication, will also prove critical to your enterprise’s long-term success.

What is the growth potential for a print shop?

Collectively, the printing industry is poised to grow at an astounding 30% over the next few years. Entrepreneurs who have led the market, however, urge novice business owners to strive to provide a full menu of services. While this business strategy requires employing a more educated and talented workforce, the long-term benefits far outweigh the increase in payroll costs.

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For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a print shop?

The printing industry is very competitive. Therefore, it is critical that you stand out for your exemplary service and dedication to your clients. If someone calls the shop at 5pm, hoping you are able to print a complex report by 10 am tomorrow, be realistic when considering the job. If you are able to complete the work, without sacrificing quality, do so. Such a service is what sets you apart from the competition and gets your shop recognized within the business community. Enterprises are willing to pay a significant rush-job fee, as long as the job is completed accurately and on time. To insure you work efficiently and remain competitive, stay aware of industry trends and adjust accordingly.

How and when to build a team

Many business owners start out working every aspect of the business themselves. To avoid burnout, consider starting out with at least one team member, even if it is just to handle administrative tasks. As the business grows, more staff members will be necessary. Since customer service is your primary marketing and retention tool, make sure you hire individuals with prior experience. While a well-rounded employee will cost $22 to $26 per hour, they will save your budget in the long-run. Industry experts cite reprints from employee mistakes as one of their largest business costs.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

  • National Print &Sign Owners Association

Real World Examples

  • Greko Printing and Imaging
  • The Print Shop LA

Further Reading

  • What Do I Need to Open a Print Shop Business

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

We earn commissions if you shop through the links below.  Read more

Printing Business

Back to All Business Ideas

How to Start a Printing Business

Written by: Howard Tillerman

Howard Tillerman is the Chief Marketing Officer for Step By Step Business and an award-winning marketing professional.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on August 11, 2021 Updated on November 30, 2023

How to Start a Printing Business

Investment range

$8,100 - $32,200

Revenue potential

$100,000 - $200,000 p.a.

Time to build

Profit potential

$50,000 - $100,000 p.a.

Industry trend

The global printing industry is worth more than $800 billion and presents a wealth of opportunities amid the shift to digital and 3D printing. You could grab a slice of this vast and growing market, but you may have to work hard and acquire the relevant entrepreneurial knowledge first.

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place, as this in-depth guide lays out every step you’ll take to develop and launch your own successful printing business.

Let’s dive right in!

Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.

Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services .

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

The first step is market analysis, to understand what’s happening in the industry and the prospects of building a successful business.

Pros and cons

Before you open a print shop, it’s best to weigh the pros and cons to help you determine if the risk is worth it.

  • Highly profitable
  • High customer retention rate
  • Easy to start; work from home if needed
  • Broad and exciting market
  • Little experience required
  • Cutthroat competition
  • High overhead costs

Printing industry trends

The printing industry is seeing a rebirth. For starters, research firm Mordor Intelligence expects the global printing market to see steady annual growth of nearly 2.5% for the next five years.(( https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/commercial-printing-market )) 

That’s nothing compared to the explosive forecast for 3D printing, which is becoming more common in many sectors, including healthcare and manufacturing.

Industry size and growth

  • Industry size and past growth – The US printing industry has seen a gradual decline in recent years and is valued at about $79 billion as of 2022, according to market analyst IBISWorld.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/printing-united-states/ ))  
  • Growth forecast – The US digital print market is headed toward impressive annual growth of almost 7% through 2026(( https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/05/10/2226163/0/en/The-digital-printing-market-size-is-expected-to-grow-from-USD-24-8-billion-in-2021-to-USD-34-3-billion-by-2026-at-a-CAGR-of-6-7.html )) while the 3D printing market is seen to grow from $14 billion in 2021 to $51 billion in 2028 — a more than 350% expansion in just seven years.(( https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/3d-printing-industry-analysis ))
  • Number of businesses – There are nearly 45,000 printing businesses in the US.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/printing-united-states/ ))
  • Number of people employed – The industry employs more than 350,000 people.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/employment/printing-united-states/ ))

printing industry size and growth

Trends and challenges

Trends shaping the printing industry include:

  • Growing preference for 3D and digital printing
  • Emergence of erasable printing technology, security printing, and cloud printing

Challenges in the printing industry include:

  • Declining demand due to adoption of digital technology
  • High level of competition

printing industry Trends and Challenges

What kind of people work in printing?

  • Gender – Around 66% of all printers are male, while 34% are female.(( https://www.zippia.com/printer-jobs/demographics/#gender-statistics ))
  • Average level of education – 36% of printers have a high school diploma and 28% hold a bachelor’s degree.(( https://www.zippia.com/printer-jobs/education/ ))
  • Average age – The average age of an employed printer is 48 years old.(( https://www.zippia.com/printer-jobs/demographics/#age-statistics ))

printing industry demographics

How much does it cost to start a printing business?

The cost of starting a printing business depends on location, initial equipment, and upfront supplies.

You should expect to spend at least $40,000 for a barebones operation and up to $400,000 on the higher end. However, most in the printing business spend about $200,000 for a well-rounded print shop.

Signing on with a franchise such as the UPS Store boosts income. But if you’re not getting a franchise, your startup investment as an independent printing business will cover the following:

How much can you earn from a printing business?

Depending on industry segment and size of operation, a printing business tends to generate $100,000 to $200,000 in annual revenue, at a 50% profit margin. After costs, such as design software subscriptions, equipment maintenance, supplies, salaries, rent, and insurance, you’ll have a pre-tax profit of $50,000 to $100,000 per year.

Of course, if you add another printer, move to a larger space, or open a second and third location, you can make significantly more.

printing business earnings forecast

What barriers to entry are there?

The biggest barrier to entry in the printing industry is the high level of competition. Printing is a relatively popular market, attracting a lot of entrepreneurs. Your ability to offer competitive pricing and custom print options can help you gain a share of the market.

The high cost of equipment is another barrier. Printing equipment is expensive, and unless you have adequate capital, you’ll have a problem running a well-rounded service or outperforming your competitors.

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Step 2: hone your idea.

The second step to starting a printing business is to get more clarity about what you need to do to achieve success. Here’s what you need to do during this phase:

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

Your competition will be other businesses offering the same services in your area. You will also be competing against larger companies with a nationwide presence, such as American Printing.

One of the easiest ways to establish a strong presence quickly in the printing industry is to leverage franchising. Partnering with printing franchises such as The UPS Store can provide your business a steady stream of business cards, brochures, and other marketing materials to boost income.

These materials are an integral part of fostering relationships during seminars, trade shows, and other promotional events.

What? Determine your products or services

Running a print shop typically involves providing one or more printing services, including screen, offset, 3D printed products , or digital printing. You could also offer a combination of services, such as screen and digital. Most printing businesses offer various specialized services such as T-shirt printing, signage, brochures, magazines, business cards, catalogs, and more.

Knowing which commercial printing service to start will help you determine your target customers, competition, and how to stand out.

  • Digital printing involves creating designs on a computer and then printing it on various materials, including paper, canvas, fabric, and more. The leading digital printing technologies include inkjet and laser. Inkjet is commonly used for signages, short print runs, and posters. Laser printers are used for direct mails and brochures.
  • Traditional offset printing, also known as lithography, is ideal for high-volume commercial jobs. Ever seen a video of newspapers running through big rollers? That’s offset printing.
  • Screen or silk printing involves pressing ink through a stenciled mesh screen to create a printed design. It is popular for T-shirts, mugs, and billboards.
  • The newest and fastest growing market segment is 3-D printing, which involves the construction of a three-dimensional object from a computer design. This is not your grandfather’s printing method.

business plan about printing shop

With a niche strategy, you can leverage your expertise in a particular area to stand out from your competition.

Think of it as a way to help you focus on printing services that your competitors aren’t offering in your area.

Decide whether you want to provide digital, screen, or offset printing services, or a combination of these services. That way, you won’t have a problem identifying your ideal customers.

While most print shops run from Monday through to Friday, operating hours depend on your current orders, which means you might work on weekends and late hours if you have a deadline to meet.

How much should you charge for printing?

Your pricing structure can make or break your printing business. Here are a few pricing strategies you can use:

Cost + markup pricing

This model involves determining the price by forecasting the cost of printing for a specific project then adding the desired profit markup on top.

Gain market share pricing

This strategy involves setting low prices to gain market share against competitors. The model works well if you’re offering multiple printing services.

For instance, you may lower prices for 3D printing to attract new customers knowing that you’ll later sell these clients more profitable services such as long-run offset printing. Research industry rates to help you determine the best pricing model for your business.

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

You’ve chosen your niche. The next thing you want to do is pinpoint your target customers. Targeting specific groups of potential clients can help reduce your marketing costs and maximize profits.

For instance, if you run a 3D printing business, your target customers would be display companies, ad agencies, marketing firms, and manufacturers. If you’re operating a screen printing business, your customers would include college students and T-shirt design firms.

When you know the printing customers to target, you can easily reach them, not to mention that you’ll be in a better position to provide quality services.

Where will your business be based?

While you can run your printing service from home, you’re better off with a storefront location. Ideally, you’ll want an area that’s visible and accessible.

Even if you don’t plan to attract many walk-in customers, a visible location can help spread the word about your business to local customers. You’ll also need a site that offers quick access to clients picking up their orders and people delivering supplies.

Also, as you evaluate a potential location for your print shop, consider zoning regulations to ensure that your chosen site allows for the legal operation of your business. Lastly, make sure that the cost of renting and running your selected location is within your budget.

You can find commercial space to rent in your area on Craigslist , Crexi , and Commercial Cafe . When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

  • Central location accessible via public transport
  • Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
  • Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
  • Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

printing business idea rating

Step 3: Brainstorm a Printing Company Name

Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

  • Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
  • Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
  • The name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
  • Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
  • Including keywords, such as “printers” or “digital printing”, boosts SEO
  • Choose a name that allows for expansion: “Inkwell Printing Solutions” over “T-Shirt Printing Hub” or “Business Card Printing Solutions”
  • Avoid location-based names that might hinder future expansion
  • Use online tools like the Step by Step business name generator . Just type in a few keywords and hit “generate” and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

Powered by GoDaddy.com

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity. 

Step 4: Create a Printing Business Plan

Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:

  • Executive Summary: A concise overview of the business plan, summarizing key points and objectives.
  • Business Overview: A detailed description of the printing business, including its mission, vision, and core values.
  • Product and Services: Clearly outline the printing services offered, such as digital printing, offset printing, and additional services like graphic design.
  • Market Analysis: Research and analysis of the printing industry, including target market demographics, trends, and potential opportunities.
  • Competitive Analysis: Assessment of competitors in the printing market, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and strategies to gain a competitive edge.
  • Sales and Marketing: Strategies for promoting and selling printing services, including pricing, advertising, and sales channels.
  • Management Team: Introduction to key members of the management team, highlighting their skills and roles in the business.
  • Operations Plan: Details on the day-to-day operations of the printing business, covering production processes, equipment, and workflow.
  • Financial Plan: A comprehensive financial forecast, including startup costs, revenue projections, and a break-even analysis.
  • Appendix: Supplementary materials, such as resumes, additional market research, or legal documents, supporting the information presented in the business plan.

what to include in a business plan

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you are planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to printing. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your printing business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

  • Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
  • General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
  • Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
  • C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
  • S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just needs to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

types of business structures

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2023

business plan about printing shop

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

business plan about printing shop

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

  • Bank loans : This is the most common method, but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
  • SBA-guaranteed loans : The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
  • Government grants : A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
  • Venture capital : Offer potential investors an ownership stake in exchange for funds, keeping in mind that you would be sacrificing some control over your business.
  • Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
  • Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
  • Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a printing business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept.

types of business funding

Step 8: Apply for Printing Business Licenses and Permits

Starting a printing business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your printing business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

  • General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
  • Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
  • Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
  • Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
  • Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
  • Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
  • Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
  • Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of any of the above insurance types.

types of business insurance

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.  

You can use design software such as The Print Shop , Canva , and Printavo , to create professional print layouts, adding flair to your projects.

  • Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero . 
  • If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial. 

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

Launching a printing business can be a lucrative venture, and success hinges on strategic marketing. Here are some practical tips beyond website development and networking to ensure your printing business thrives.

  • Local Partnerships: Forge partnerships with local businesses, such as event planners, schools, and restaurants, to offer exclusive printing services, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.
  • Sample Kits: Develop eye-catching sample kits showcasing your printing capabilities and distribute them to potential clients, leaving a lasting impression and tangible evidence of your quality.
  • Social Media Engagement: Leverage social media platforms by regularly sharing visually appealing content, highlighting your printing projects, and engaging with your audience through contests or polls to build a strong online presence.
  • Referral Programs: Implement a referral program where existing clients receive discounts or perks for referring new business, turning satisfied customers into advocates for your printing services.
  • Specialized Packages: Create specialized printing packages for occasions like weddings, corporate events, or product launches, demonstrating your ability to tailor services to specific needs.
  • Community Events Sponsorship: Sponsor local events or community gatherings to increase brand visibility, and consider providing on-site printing services to showcase your capabilities directly to potential customers.
  • Interactive Workshops: Host workshops or seminars on printing techniques, design trends, or DIY printing projects, positioning your business as an authority in the field and attracting a diverse audience.
  • Customer Loyalty Programs: Develop loyalty programs offering discounts or exclusive deals for repeat customers, fostering long-term relationships and incentivizing clients to choose your printing services consistently.
  • Targeted Direct Mail Campaigns: Design and execute targeted direct mail campaigns to specific industries or demographics, showcasing how your printing services can meet their unique needs.
  • Testimonials and Case Studies: Collect and showcase client testimonials and case studies that emphasize successful collaborations, building trust and credibility with potential customers.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your printing meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your printing business could be:

  • Fastest printing service in town!
  • If you can design it, we can print it
  • No job is too small, or too big

unique selling proposition

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a print shop, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in printing for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in printing. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. Online businesses might also consider affiliate marketing as a way to build relationships with potential partners and boost business.

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from home, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a printing business would include:

  • Designers and Printers
  • General Manager
  • Marketing Lead

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Printing Business – Start Making Money!

In the near future, 3D printing and digital printing will likely come to dominate the market. Other trends to look out for include erasable printing technology, security printing, and cloud printing. A smart entrepreneur would get in now while the market is still taking shape.

You’re now ready to start printing and making money! Thought you might want to bookmark this page, just in case.

  • Printing Business FAQs

Yes, you can. However, you’ll need to partner with the right people and stores. Also, you must have a well-thought-out marketing plan and, of course, sell high-demand products. One of the critical determinants of how much money you can make with a print-on-demand business is the quality of your designs – so create high-quality designs to attract customers.

The amount of revenue you can generate with a t-shirt business depends on several factors, such as your customer base and location. You can make about $573 with an average order of 72 custom t-shirts which takes one hour to print. Wages and materials cost about $169, leaving you with a profit of $304.

Yes, it is. Even so, revenue may vary depending on your target market and location. Industry insiders say the prospects look good since 3D printing is still at its infant stage. The trick is to invest in the right equipment to produce work that customers can buy at a premium price.

Printing companies can acquire clients through networking, referrals, online presence, direct marketing, local partnerships, and participating in industry events.

Digital prints can be profitable due to cost efficiency, quick turnaround times, and the ability to offer customized prints, but profitability may vary.

To make a printing business successful, focus on high-quality products/services, excellent customer service, strong branding and marketing, staying updated with industry trends, building relationships, expanding service offerings, efficient operations, and continuous improvement.

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  • Decide if the Business Is Right for You
  • Hone Your Idea
  • Brainstorm a Printing Company Name
  • Create a Printing Business Plan
  • Register Your Business
  • Register for Taxes
  • Fund your Business
  • Apply for Printing Business Licenses and Permits
  • Open a Business Bank Account
  • Get Business Insurance
  • Prepare to Launch
  • Build Your Team
  • Run a Printing Business - Start Making Money!

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BusinessPlanTemplate.com - The World's Leading Business Plan Template Directory

Print Shop Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

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Print Shop Business Plan Template

If you want to start a print shop or expand your current printing business, you need a business plan.

The following Print Shop business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning printing company business plan. In addition to this template, a solid plan will also include market research to help you better understand the printing industry, your competitive advantage and your specific target market. It will also help you prepare your marketing strategy and financial statements.

You can download our Ultimate Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Example Business Plan For Print Shops

Below are links to each of the key sections of a sample business plan for successful print shop businesses.

I. Executive Summary – The Executive Summary provides an overview of your business opportunity and summarizes the business plan.

II. Company Overview – The company overview includes information about your business concept, print shop services and legal structure.

III. Industry Analysis – The industry analysis includes market research that supports your business and provides insights into market trends and print shop industry data on all print shop services including digital printing, lithography printing, screen printing and

IV. Customer Analysis – The market analysis provides an overview of your target markets and customer segments.

You can download our business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

V. Competitive Analysis – The competitive analysis should identify your direct and indirect competitors and their printing services. It should also highlight your competitive edge and unique value proposition.

VI. Marketing Plan – The marketing plan includes your marketing strategy, sales strategy, pricing strategy and search engine optimization plan.

VII. Operations Plan – The Operations Plan includes information on your company’s day to day operations and processes.

VIII. Management Team – The management team section includes a profile of the business owner and business management, their experience and company responsibilities.

IX. Financial Plan – The financial plan includes financial projections, a cash flow statement, profit and loss statement and balance sheet.

Comments are closed.

Print Shop Business Plan Home I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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DecoNetwork

How To Start A Print Shop Business: Create A Business Plan

  • Posted in Business Tips / Digital Printing / Screen Printing
  • Business Tips
  • Digital Printing
  • Screen Printing
  • Post author: Colin Hubbard
  • Post published: Jan 13, 2022
  • Reading time: 7 mins read

Have you been thinking about starting your own print shop? 

The calendar has turned to the year 2022 and what better time to finally act on your dream of owning and operating a print shop than right now. 

Owning your own business isn’t easy. There are a lot of steps involved and the capital needed to get you started. Whether you’re ready to pull the trigger, or if you’re still on the fence, we’re here to help. 

We here at DecoNetwork want to give you a guide on how to start your own print shop and what you will need to do in order to get the ball rolling. 

In this first article, we will give you information on how to form a business plan. This will include costs of operation, what type of shop you want to run, and more. 

Creating a Business Plan

The first thing you need to decide on is what kind of business you want to run. Print shops come in all shapes and sizes. If you’ve clicked on this article and have made it this far, you probably already have an idea of what you want your business to look like. 

Finding a niche, or two is always a good idea when starting a business. If there are already several people in your area doing what you have in mind, your success might be hindered. Make sure that what you plan to do fills a need in your local market. At the end of the day, you will need customers to make your business successful. 

Do research on your local market and make sure that your business model is achievable. Whichever model you go with will impact every move you make from here on out. 

The location in which you intend to operate will dramatically affect your startup costs and month-to-month expenses. The beauty of this business is that you don’t have to work out of a brick-and-mortar location. You can own and operate a business right out of your own home and work your way up from there. 

If you want to operate your business out of a storefront, your cost of operation will increase rather quickly. Depending on your area, you will be spending thousands of dollars a month on rent. But if you want to have a large operation with the potential of making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, that will be a necessary investment. 

The size of your location will directly affect how much and what type of equipment you will need to purchase. 

From a screen printing standpoint, your startup cost varies depending upon the size of your operation. But it is reasonable to assume that you can start screen printing for less than $10,000. The list of things needed to get started will include a manual press, flash dryer, exposure unit, screens, ink, emulsion and a handful of other miscellaneous items. 

If you plan on going big from day one and you have the required square footage at your disposal, an automatic screen printing machine will run you upwards of $100,000 depending on the number of colors it can handle. A high-quality 8-color automatic press is in the neighborhood of $75,000. 

There are payment plans for these machines, however, that will allow you to not spend as much money up front if you’re looking to purchase a piece of equipment that’s on the higher end. 

And while that might sound like a lot of money to be shelling out for one piece of equipment, the speed at which the machine can print shirts will allow your business to produce more shirts per day, ultimately leading to more revenue per day. 

DTG Pricing

If you’re looking to get into DTG printing, you will likely be spending anywhere from $5,000-$15,000 for one machine. You will also need to purchase a heat press and a pretreat machine. But just like the screen printing equipment, DTG machines can be financed, too. This will allow you to make a monthly payment rather than one lump sum. 

If you go the finance route, finding out what your daily break-even point would be one of your next moves. If your monthly equipment costs are $500 and you profit around $10 per shirt, your break-even point per month would be 50 shirts. Anything over the 50 shirt-per-month mark would be your profit. 

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to how much money you will need in order to get your operation underway. It all depends on what type of printing you’re looking to do, what size operation you’re going to have and whether or not you will want to finance those things. 

Miscellaneous Purchases

There are other miscellaneous things you will need to purchase to get your business up and running. A computer, software programs like Adobe, and a print shop management software like DecoNetwork to help with production workflow, and eCommerce and help set you up with a website. You’ll also need some type of insurance and payroll if you have employees working for you. 

One of the last major things you will need to do when creating your business plan is to come up with a name for your business. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or super catchy, but it needs to be something customers can easily remember and recognize. Creating a good logo to pair with your business name can go a long way in helping your business. 

To summarize everything, formulate a business plan. Figure out where you are going to operate your business. Decide on what equipment you need to purchase. Budget for the remaining miscellaneous items you will need such as software programs and come up with a business name. 

In the next article, we will talk about forming a legal identity, registering for taxes, opening business bank accounts, obtaining permits and more.

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How to Start a Printing Business

Last Updated: January 31, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Helena Ronis . Helena Ronis is Co-founder and CEO of AllFactors, a unified web analytics software to drive company's marketing and business growth. She has worked in product and marketing in the tech industry for over 8 years, and studied Digital Marketing & Analytics at the MIT Sloan School of Management Executive Program. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 22 testimonials and 85% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 505,787 times.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most printing business enterprises employ fewer than 10 people. As more printing business owners utilize digital printing equipment, fewer skilled technicians will be needed to operate this machinery. Modern digital printing equipment is smaller and more affordable than ever before and practically anyone with capital can purchase and operate digital printing equipment, even from a home office.

Finding a Printing Niche

Step 1 Find a niche within the printing industry.

  • One of the best examples of this strategy can be seen by the success of franchise sign printing businesses, which target budget-minded business owners who only need occasional signs and banners, which can be spotty (inconsistent demand) or loaded with competition. They do not attempt to offer anything but quick-turnaround signs and leave brochures and envelope printing to traditional offset printing businesses. [3] X Research source

Step 2 Familiarize yourself with the business standards.

  • Product match, excellent quality – very precise color, hue, and tone for high end products.
  • Color match, excellent quality – usually precise Process Matching System (PMS Colors) by screen values (tones created by dot sizes) of the 4 process colors (cyan, magenta, process yellow, and black).
  • Or just pleasing color , of medium quality – which is not so precisely matched. Caution : that means pleasing to the customer , not to you.
  • Commercial quality printing is probably a cut above desktop publishing, done in your-office (above typical office printer, copier, or duplicator quality). It requires sharp line art and text – fineness of line work does not vary from page to page, screen color or halftone detail is consistent.
  • Any choice of printing process (or brand of paper) shown on a quote to your customer is for them to choose. No, you can not substitute a more profitable method or material. Unless they agree in writing to a change, they can demand that it be redone at your expense -- if you did not follow written specifications precisely.

Determining What Equipment You’ll Need

Step 1 Research the competition and their equipment.

  • At the very least, you’ll need a desktop computer, some design software, and a high-quality digital printer that is able to handle jobs up to 11in x 17in. [4] X Research source

Step 3 Research and obtain any necessary approval or documentation.

  • You should familiarize yourself with Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requirements, including their and other agencies such as Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) “postings” (required posters about safety and employment opportunity, etc.).
  • If you only use independent, outside printing contractors to do occasional printing that you cannot do personally, then you could be a "printing broker" (non-affiliated, wholesaler) and not have employees.
  • Quarterly estimates of income, record keeping, reporting of actual proceeds, and paying your personal proprietorship or corporate (limited liability corporation [LLC]) taxes and social security for yourself is your responsibility to learn and complete each year.

Step 4 Secure funding.

  • After you become established and have enough credit and show volume and potential, you might be able to lease equipment, which can bring flexibility, but leases may have penalties and balloon notes, etc. to return or to keep the item, respectively.

Offering Profitable Services

Step 1 Choose a business location.

  • You can look at locations online via realtor websites or hire a realtor to help you find the perfect location for your new printing business.

Step 2 Turn printed items into products by creating a menu of what you offer.

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Plan to outsource complimentary services you cannot do in-house. If you can print business cards but lack a good paper cutter, establish relationships with a local print shop who has one. Instead of competing with one another for business, learn how to work together to partner on jobs and create more prosperity for both printing businesses. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

business plan about printing shop

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Prepare a Bill of Quantities

  • ↑ http://graphicartsmag.com/articles/2009/07/niche-print-markets
  • ↑ http://www.technifoldusa.com/bindery-success-blog/bid/34727/How-Can-I-Generate-More-Sales-in-My-Printing-Business
  • ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140829080534-39488528-the-emerging-digital-printing-business-versus-offset-printing/
  • ↑ http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/digital-printing-service
  • ↑ https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/pick-your-business-location
  • ↑ http://www.noobpreneur.com/2012/06/11/how-to-start-a-successful-printing-business-with-minimal-investment/

About This Article

Helena Ronis

To start a printing business, start by finding a niche that fulfills a specific need for your customers, such as digital printing or budget-friendly sign printing. Then, find a location for your business that’s easy to get to and is large enough for your equipment. Once you have a storefront, research the equipment that you’ll need to buy, such as a computer, design software, and a high-quality printer. Next, create a menu of services to offer customers exactly what they need, such as a portable tabletop sign that can be used for events or sales meetings. For advice on how to promote your printing business online and in your community, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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ProfitableVenture

Digital Print Shop Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » B2C Sector

Are you about starting a digital print shop? If YES, here is a complete sample digital printing business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Printing shop business does pretty well if it is properly located in the right location. It has been proven over and over again that a printing hubs and commercial centers are indeed a thriving location for a printing shop. This is the reason why any entrepreneur who is interested in starting a printing shop business will be willing to pay much to locate the business in any of the locations stated above.

A Sample Digital Printing Shop Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Operators in the printing industry mainly print on paper, textile products, metal, glass, plastic and other materials, excluding fabric. Printing shops engage in a variety of printing processes which include lithographic, gravure, screen, flexographic, digital and letterpress.

It is important to state that this industry does not include publishers that also perform printing, nor does it comprise companies that perform pre-press or post – press services without traditional printing.

A close study of the Printing industry shows that the industry has been struggling over the last half a decade due to the fact that digital products and services have increasingly displaced traditional printed materials. Printers were historically central to both publishing and advertising; though, over the past 20 years, rapid technological change has toppled both markets and sent the industry into structural decline.

It was predicted that going forward, the printing industry will continue to struggle as digital media replaces traditional paper products. In the interim, profit margins are expected to slightly increase, mainly due to a drop in labor expenses as a result of industry consolidation.

The Printing Industry is indeed a very large industry and pretty much active in all the parts of the world. Statistics has it that in the united states of America alone the industry rakes in a whopping sum of billion annually. There are about 48,698 registered and licensed printing shops scattered all across the length and breadth of the United States and they are responsible for employing about 458,145 people.

The industry is projected to enjoy -0.2 percent annual growth within 2011 and 2016. It is important to state that the establishments with the dominant market share in the printing industry in the United States are Quad / Graphics and R.R. Donnelley and Sons.

Research carried out by IBISWORLD shows that the Printing industry’s long-term struggles have continued over the past five years as digital products and services have increasingly displaced traditional printed materials. Printers were historically central to both publishing and advertising, yet over the past two decades, rapid technological change has upended both markets and sent the industry into structural decline.

The report further states that the migration of media content and ad dollars to digital platforms has only accelerated since 2011, precipitously reducing demand for the Printing industry. Amid this trend, industry revenue is expected to decline at an annualized rate of 0.2 percent over the five years to 2016 to $85.7 billion.

If you are looking towards starting your own printing business, then you should endeavor to learn the trade. The truth is that the technology and processes involve in this line of business is one that will require a period of time (months) to learn.

Over and above, the printing industry is pretty much open to new entrepreneurs and investors to come in and build a successful business.

But they must first and foremost ensure that they conduct thorough feasibility studies and market survey before situating the business in any location. This is very important because if this type of business is better located in an area that has available market for its services.

2. Executive Summary

F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC is a standard and registered printing company. We have been able to secure a standard and well – positioned office facility in a busy business district in Los Angeles – California. We are a world class printing company that is set to compete in the highly competitive printing industry not only in the United States market, but also in the global market.

F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC will be involved in the all aspect of printing services such as commercial lithographic printing, commercial gravure printing, commercial flexographic printing, commercial screen printing. Quick printing, digital printing, manifold business forms printing, book printing, blank book, loose-leaf binders and devices and other related printing services.

Our business goal is to become one of the leading printing companies in the United States and we will make sure that every printing job that leaves our printing press can favorable compete with the best in the industry. Our workers are going to be selected from a pool of talented and highly creative professional printers in and around Los Angeles – California and also from any part of the United States as the business grows.

We will make sure that we take all the members of our workforce through the required trainings that will position them to meet the expectation of the company and to compete with leading printing companies in the United States and throughout the globe.

At F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC our client’s best interest come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by delivering excellent and neat jobs and also meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our clients. F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC is a private business that is owned and managed by Mr. Felix F. Robin and his immediate family members.

F.F Robin studied Printing Technology from Illinois Institute of Technology and he has well over 10 years of hands on experience working with one of the leading printing companies in the United States of America. He will be bringing his wealth of experience to grow F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC to become a national brand.

3. Our Products and Services

F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC was established with the aim of maximizing profits in the Printing industry. We want to compete favorably with the leading printing companies in the United States of America which is why we have but in place a competent quality assurance team that will ensure that all our printing jobs and other related printing services rendered meet and even surpass our customers’ expectations and match – up with international best practices.

We will work hard to ensure that F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC is not just accepted in Los Angeles – California but also nationally throughout the United States of America. Our service offerings are listed below;

  • Commercial lithographic printing
  • Commercial gravure printing
  • Commercial flexographic printing
  • Commercial screen printing
  • Quick printing
  • Digital printing
  • Manifold business forms printing
  • Book printing
  • Blank book, loose-leaf binders and devices
  • Other related printing services

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

  • Our vision is to establish a standard and world class printing company whose services and brand will not only be accepted in Los Angeles – California but also throughout the United States of America and the global market.
  • Our mission is to build a world class printing company that will be known to execute top notch printing projects and to become the number one choice for branding, advertising and promotion agencies and other stake holder in the industry.
  • We want to build a printing company that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the industry.

Our Business Structure

F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC is a printing company that intend starting small in Los Angeles – California, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading printing companies in the industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operations.

At F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Creative Director
  • Human Resources and Admin Manager
  • Sales and Marketing Executive

Printing Machine Operators

Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

  • Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
  • Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
  • Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
  • Responsible for providing direction for the business
  • Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
  • Evaluates the success of the organization.

Creative Director:

  • Serves as project manager of the organization; works directly with employees
  • Responsible for designing and approving concepts for printing of materials for client
  • Develops strategic plan by studying technological and financial opportunities; presenting assumptions; recommending objectives.
  • Accomplishes subsidiary objectives by establishing plans, budgets, and results measurements; allocating resources; reviewing progress; making mid-course corrections.
  • Coordinates efforts by establishing procurement, production, marketing, field, and technical services policies and practices; coordinating actions with corporate staff.
  • Builds company image by collaborating with customers, government, community organizations, and employees; enforcing ethical business practices.
  • Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
  • Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications / journals; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional societies.
  • Makes certain that production and development department perform efficiently, coordinate employee efforts, and facilitate communications between management and printing machine operators and rapid prototyping specialist
  • Ensures that the organization work in line with international best practices.

Admin and HR Manager

  • Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
  • Designs job descriptions with KPI to drive performance management for clients
  • Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of HR Policies, Procedures and Processes
  • Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
  • Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
  • Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
  • Carries out staff induction for new team members
  • Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
  • Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
  • Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
  • Oversee the smooth running of the daily office activities.

Sales and Marketing Manager

  • Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
  • Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
  • Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
  • Writes winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
  • Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
  • Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
  • Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
  • Creates new markets cum businesses for the organization
  • Empowers and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Accountant / Cashier:

  • Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
  • Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
  • Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
  • Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
  • Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
  • Responsible for administering payrolls
  • Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
  • Handles all financial transactions for F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC
  • Serves as internal auditor for F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC
  • In charge of handling commercial lithographic printing, commercial gravure printing, commercial flexographic printing, commercial screen printing. Quick printing, digital printing manifold business forms printing, book printing, blank book, loose-leaf binders and devices and other related printing services.
  • Liaises with clients to determine their requirement and budget
  • Working to a brief, which details what the space will be used for, and finding out the client’s personal ideas and requirements
  • Responsible for creating patterns and operating printing machines cum equipment
  • Responsible for developing detailed designs and choosing materials
  • Responsible for preparing drafts or material based on an agreement brief.
  • Researches and advices the organization on style, genre and other trendy info as it relates to printing et al.
  • Welcomes clients and visitors by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
  • Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
  • Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
  • Manages administrative duties assigned by the HR manager in an effective and timely manner
  • Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to potential clients when they make enquiries
  • Receives parcels / documents for the company
  • Distributes mails in the organization
  • Handles any other duties as assigned by the human resources and admin manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

We are quite aware that there are several printing companies both large and small in the United States of America which is why we are following the due process of establishing a business so as to compete favorable with them.

We know that if a proper SWOT analysis is conducted for our business, we will be able to position our business to maximize our strength, leverage on the opportunities that will be available to us, mitigate our risks and be welled equipped to confront our threats.

F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC employed the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured printing business that can favorably compete in the highly competitive printing industry in the United States and the world at large.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC;

Our core strength lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team of creative and highly proficient professional printers, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in various niche areas in the printing industry.

Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected professional printers and support staff members, we have some of the latest and efficient printing machines and equipment and of course our work output and services will be guided by international best practices in the industry.

As a new printing company in Los Angeles – California, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from the government and other high profile clients in the already saturated and highly competitive printing and industry; that is perhaps our major weakness. Another weakness is that we may not have the required cash to promote our business the way we would want to.

  • Opportunities:

Beyond every reasonable doubt, the opportunities in the printing industry are massive considering the number of individuals and corporate organizations that would need the services of standard printing companies. As a standard printing company, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that is available in the industry.

Just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power.

Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new printing shop or even a 3D printing and rapid prototyping services company in same location where our target market exists and who may want to adopt same Business model like us. We are not ruling out the fact that unfavorable government policy can also affect our business.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

  • Market Trends

The trend in the Printing industry shows that the industry has been struggling over the last half a decade due to the fact that digital products and services have increasingly displaced traditional printed materials. Printers were historically central to both publishing and advertising; though, over the past 20 years, rapid technological change has toppled both markets and sent the industry into structural decline.

The Printing industry over time has experienced rapid growth and this is due to rapid technological advancements, falling costs and new uses for printing technology. Going forward, the demand for printing service and of course the revenue generated is projected to increase rapidly.

As a printing company with the aspiration to favorably compete in the industry, you are expected to keep tab with new trends and products that are always coming up in the industry. It is important to state that in recent time, for a printing company to continue to stay in business and grow, they must continue to come up with highly creative design and concepts and also engage in other printing related services.

8. Our Target Market

Before starting our printing company, we are certain that there is a wide range of both corporate and individual clients who cannot successfully carry out promotions and branding of their products and services without hiring the services of a standard printing company like ours.

We will ensure that we develop strategic pacts with corporate organizations, advertising and branding agencies, and religious organizations et al.

This will give us several options to generate revenue for our company. In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various corporate organizations and individual who we know can’t afford to do without our services.

We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that all our printing services are well accepted in the marketplace. Below is a list of the people and organizations that we have specifically market our products and services to;

  • Banks, Insurance Companies and other related Financial Institutions
  • Blue Chips Companies
  • Corporate Organizations
  • Manufacturers and Distributors
  • Real Estate Owners, Developers, and Contractors
  • Research and Development Companies
  • The Government (Public Sector)
  • Schools (High Schools, Colleges and Universities)
  • Celebrities, Politicians, Public Figures and Public Speakers
  • Sport Organizations
  • Religious Organizations
  • Political Parties
  • Television Stations
  • Printing Press (Publishing Houses) and Authors
  • Branding and Advertising agencies
  • Aspiring celebrities
  • Entrepreneurs and Startups

Our competitive advantage

It is a fact that the competition in the printing industry is getting stiffer by the day, you have to be highly creative and come up with appealing designs and concepts and very neat jobs in order to survive in the industry.

The printing industry is indeed a profitable and at the same time a highly competitive industry; it enjoys strong demand as organizations and individuals continue to print materials for promotional purposes. Clients will only hire your services if they know that they can get nothing but the best from you.

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the printing industry means that you are not only expected to be able to deliver consistent and highly creative designs, but you must be able to meet set targets. No one would want to continue to hire your services if don’t always meet up with the target date of completion of projects.

Our competitive advantage lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team of creative and highly proficient professional printers, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in various niche areas in the printing industry.

Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected professional printers and other support staff members, we have some of the latest and efficient printing machines and equipment and of course our work output and services will be guided by international best practices in the industry.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups printing companies in the United States) in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

  • Sources of Income

F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the printing industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to meet and surpass the expectations of all our clients. F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC will generate income by offering the following printing services and other printing related services;

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be corporate organization and individual who would need the services of printing companies whenever they have to conduct promotions and branding and also other related printing services.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in the printing industry and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow our printing company to enviable heights.

We have been able to critically examine the printing services market and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to similar startups in Los Angeles – California.

Below are the sales projections for F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC, it is based on the location of our business and of course the wide range of our printing services and target market;

  • First Fiscal Year-: $250,000
  • Second Fiscal Year-: $400,000
  • Third Fiscal Year-: $750,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same printing services or even 3D printing and rapid prototyping services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

  • Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are not ignorant of the fact that there are stiffer competitions in the printing industry; there are loads of printing shops and even 3D printing and rapid prototyping services companies jostling for contracts; which is why we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the general printing industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their set targets and the overall business goal of F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC.

Our goal is to grow F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC to become one of the leading printing companies in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in Los Angeles – California but also in other cities in the United States of America.

F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients and win printing contracts;

  • Introduce our printing company by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to corporate organizations, advertising and branding agencies, religious organizations and key stake holders.
  • Promptness in bidding for printing contracts from the government and other cooperate organizations
  • Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and radio station.
  • List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
  • Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
  • Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets and still deliver excellent printing services
  • Leverage on the internet to promote our business
  • Engage direct marketing approach
  • Join local chambers of commerce and industries to network and market our services
  • Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market.

We are set to become the number one choice for both corporate clients and individual clients in the whole of the Los Angeles – California and beyond which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our printing company. Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC;

  • Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
  • Sponsor relevant community based events / programs
  • Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our services
  • Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around Los Angeles – California
  • Engage in road show from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
  • Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
  • Contact corporate organizations and residence in our target areas by calling them up and informing them of F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC and the services we offer
  • List our printing company in local directories / yellow pages
  • Advertise our printing company in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
  • Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles and trucks are well branded with our company logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

If you are conversant with the printing industry or even the 3D printing and rapid prototyping services industry, you will realize that the pricing structure ranges from fixed price rate to per square foot billing and even to the quantity of materials to be printed on.

Almost all companies adopt all the available pricing system as it applies to the quantity of the job or project they are expected to execute.

At F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC we will adopt all the pricing system as is obtainable in the industry but we will ensure that we keep the prices of our services a little below the average market rate for all of our customers by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance from corporate organizations who would hire our services to help them print on their promotional materials.

In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our customers at regular intervals. We are aware that there are some one-off printing services jobs or government contracts which are always lucrative; we will ensure that we abide by the pricing model that is expected from contractors or organizations that bid for such contracts.

  • Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America. Here are the payment options that F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC will make available to her clients;

  • Payment via bank transfer
  • Payment with cash
  • Payment via online bank transfer
  • Payment via mobile money
  • Payment via Point of Sales Machines (POS Machines)
  • Payment via check
  • Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for printing services without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for our printing services.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. When it comes to setting up a standard printing services business, the machines and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a standard printing services company; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. However, this is what it would cost us to setup F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC in Los Angeles – California, U.S;

  • Business incorporation fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
  • The budget for liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
  • Acquiring an office space or warehouse that will accommodate the number of employees for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $150,000.
  • Equipping the office (computers, standard printing machines and equipment, servers / internet facility, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $10,000
  • The amount required to purchase the needed software applications – $3,500
  • Launching an official website will cost – $500
  • The amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
  • Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000
  • Miscellaneous – $2,000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need about two hundred thousand ( 250,000 ) U.S. dollars to successfully set – up a medium scale but standard printing company in the United States of America. Please note that the salaries for the payment of staff members for the first 3 months is included.

Generating Funds / Startup Capital for F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC

F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC is a privately registered family business that will be owned by Mr. F.F Robin and his immediate family members. They are the sole financial of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital for the business to just three major sources. These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

  • Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
  • Generate part of the start – up capital from friends and other extended family members
  • Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 ( Personal savings $85,000 and soft loan from family members $15,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our printing services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

F.F Robin & Sons® Printing™, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of ten years or more as determined by the board of the organization. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

  • Business Name Availability Check: Completed
  • Business Incorporation: Completed
  • Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
  • Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
  • Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
  • Securing a standard office facility plus renovation of the facility: Completed
  • Application for business license and permit: Completed
  • Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
  • Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
  • Generating part of the start – up capital from the founders: Completed
  • Writing of Business Plan: Completed
  • Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
  • Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
  • Design of Logo for the business: Completed
  • Secure trademark for our products: In Progress
  • Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
  • Recruitment of employees: In Progress
  • Purchase of the needed printing machines and equipment: Completed
  • Purchase of the needed furniture, office equipment, software applications, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
  • Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
  • Creating Awareness for the business: In Progress
  • Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
  • Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in the industries: In Progress

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Digital Printing Business Plan Sample

MAR.30, 2018

Digital Printing Business Plan Sample

Do you want to start digital printing business?

There are many benefits of starting a digital printing business. You can start it with a very low initial investment from your home, or you can increase its magnitude to any size depending on your investment. Moreover, it gives an incredibly high ROI as compared to other businesses started from comparable investments. Before you move on to starting this business, you will have to prepare comprehensive printing business plans which will establish the basis of your company’s future operations and decisions. If you are wondering how to write one then here we are providing you the business plan for printing company business startup named ‘Junes Printing Services’.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Junes Printing Services will be a digital printing startup located in the main commercial market of Downtown Manhattan. The company will be owned by Elia Junes, a passionate Graphic Designer.

2.2 Management

The success of a startup heavily depends on its staff and management that’s why Junes planned it before starting a print shop . The main management of the company will comprise sales executives, graphic artists, technicians, and customer representatives.

2.3 Customers

Our target market is the corporate sector located in Manhattan. We will provide all sorts of digital printing services and our high-quality services will outperform our competition.

2.4 Business Target

Our target is to balance the initial cost of the startup with earned profits by the end of the first year and to achieve the net profit margin of $10k per month by the end of the first year.

Digital Printing Business Plan - 3 Years Profit Forecast

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Junes Printing Services will be owned by Elia Junes, a business graduate from the University of Illinois. She is also an adept designer and is known for her exceptional graphics skills and innovative designs.

3.2 Why the Business is being started

Junes has always been passionate about starting her own printing shop business plan . Although she is a business graduate, her interest in graphic designing led her to start print shop business .

3.3 How the Business will be started

The printing shop business plan will be located in a 100-square-feet leased building in the main commercial market of the Downtown Manhattan. The company will initially procure twenty commercial printers, assorted office stationery, five filing cabinets, five work desks, a round table with chairs for meeting area and couch and chairs for customer waiting area. The startup summary is as follows:

printing business plans - startup cost

Services for customers

If you are writing a business plan for printing services , make sure to pay special attention to what services will you offer to your customers because the planning of many subsequent components depends on your services .

The value of a digital printing business can be increased significantly if you also offer basic level graphic design services to your customers because many customers tend to modify and revise their designs after seeing them in print form.

Junes Printing Services will offer following printing services to its customers:

  • Booklets and guides
  • Restaurant menus
  • Event flyers
  • Marketing brochures
  • Invitations and business cards
  • Newsletters

Marketing Analysis of digital printing business

The most important component of an effective digital printing business plan is its accurate marketing analysis that’s why it is advisable to seek the help of marketing experts. If you are starting this venture on small scale, you can take help from this digital printing business plans sample and carry out a marketing analysis yourself. For the marketing analysis before starting her venture, Junes acquired the services of marketing experts to help her through this phase. Marketing analysis is extremely important because it gives you an idea of your position in the market. Therefore, it must be considered before developing the printing shop business plan .

5.1 Market Trends

There are about 7000 digital printing businesses in the United States, which generate about $10 billion every year. The industry is expected to grow at 1.9% every year. Despite the huge number of existing businesses, this market has a lot of potential provided that one plans and executes this business efficiently.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

It is very important to analyze the market segmentation of the future customers of your services before developing a printing stote business plan because a successful and efficient marketing strategy can only be developed after we completely know our potential customers. Our target market is the corporate sector located in the Central Business District of the Manhattan which provides many opportunities to us. Manhattan houses more than 300,000 businesses as of 2014, including local, national and multinational businesses. Our experts have identified the following type of target audience which can become our future consumers:

Digital Printing Business Plan - Market Segmentation

The detailed marketing segmentation of our target audience is as follows:

5.2.1 Corporate Sector:

The biggest consumer of our services will be the corporate sector located in the Downtown Manhattan. The corporate sector includes product manufacturers and distributors, real estate owners, hotels, restaurants and food companies, IT and software development firms, branding and advertising agencies. These companies and businesses need digital printing services for mass printing their brand messages or for other purposes. This target group will contribute the biggest portion of our revenue hence our marketing strategy for business will be specifically tailored to attract this customer group.

5.2.2 Institutions & Organizations:

Our second target group comprises of various institutions and organizations located in Manhattan including government and public-sector organizations, schools, colleges and universities, political parties, religious and sports organizations, and non-profit organizations. These organizations also need digital printing services for promoting their messages and other purposes.

5.2.3 Print & Digital Media:

Our third target group consists of print and digital media companies located in Manhattan. These companies include but are not limited to television studios, video production companies, publication companies.

5.3 Business Target

  • To achieve the net profit margin of $10k/month by first year, $15k by second year, and $25k by third year
  • To balance the initial cost of the startup with earned profits by the end of the first year

5.4 Product Pricing

Product pricing is one of the most important factors in deciding the strategy for any business plan for printing company . After considering the market demands, we have priced all our products in similar ranges as of our competitors.

Alex provided prompt reply and good…

Alex provided prompt reply and good understanding and research, thank you

Like marketing analysis, sales strategy is also an important component of a printing shop business plan  as it determines how the business will grow.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

As of 2018, there are about 7000 business plan for printing company in the United States, so we can say that we have a tough competition ahead. Although we have a lot of competitors, but none of them provides as high-quality services in the same price as provided by us. Secondly, we will facilitate our customers with online orders and free delivery service.

6.2 Sales Strategy

  • We will ensure at least a 20% increase in website traffic each month and will ensure at least an 80% conversion rate, i.e. to turn 80% of our website visitors into our customers.
  • We will advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and social media.
  • We will offer a 20% discount on our services for the first three months of our launch.

6.3 Sales Monthly

Digital Printing Business Plan - Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

Digital Printing Business Plan - Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Digital Printing Business Plan - Unit Sales

Personnel plan

Personel plan shows information about the staff of a company along with their salaries. If you don’t know how to make one, you can take help from this sample business plan for a printing company . Junes has developed the following personnel plan for her company.

7.1 Company Staff

Junes will act as the General Manager of the company and will initially hire following people:

  • 1 Accountant to maintain financial and other records
  • 2 Sales Executives responsible to market and discover new ventures
  • 2 Graphic Artists to design and modify print media
  • 3 Technicians to operate the printing machines
  • 2 Managing Assistants to manage the company’s official website and social media pages
  • 4 Customer Representatives to interact with customers and record their orders
  • 4 Drivers to transport or deliver printed materials
  • 1 Front Desk Officer to act as a receptionist
  • 1 Security Officer

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

The success of a business heavily depends on its accurate financial analysis so make sure to pay special attention to your financial plan before opening a print shop .

8.1 Brake-even Analysis

Digital Printing Business Plan - Brake-even Analysis

8.2 Projected Profit and Loss

8.2.1 profit monthly.

Digital Printing Business Plan - PROFIT MONTHLY

8.2.2 Profit Yearly

Digital Printing Business Plan - PROFIT YEARLY

8.2.3 Gross Margin Monthly

Digital Printing Business Plan - GROSS MARGIN MONTHLY

8.2.4 Gross Margin Yearly

Digital Printing Business Plan - GROSS MARGIN YEARLY

8.3 Projected Cash Flow

Digital Printing Business Plan - Projected Cash Flow Diagram

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Printing and Photocopy Business Plan Sample

Fill the form to download printing and photocopy business plan example.

Starting a 3D printing business or other types of printing business has many benefits. It is very easy to get started with a very low investment from your home, or you can increase its size depending on your investment.

In order to launch this business successfully, you will need to prepare comprehensive printing and photocopy business plan which will lay the foundations for future business operations and decisions.

If you are wondering how to write one, then here is a printing and photocopy business plan sample  to help you write your own.

Executive Summary

Thinktank will be a business service provider based in Miami, Florida. Founded by Mrs. Cindy Smith, Thinktank will offer a variety of business services including postal, shipping, faxing, and copying to the local residents. While these services will comprise the initial market entry core, long-term plans call for the integration of storage and relocation capabilities to the business mix. The local area has been in dire need of a service of this type for some time and Thinktank plans to adequately serve them through the consistent delivery of real-time business solutions.

The market is definitely filled with opportunities but in order to capitalize on them, a strong infusion of working capital must acquiesce. The founder projects needing 100K for their business venture with repayment being made out of the profits that are driven annually. Funding that is secured will be used in a variety of areas including marketing, logistics, management, site procurement as well as the day-to-day operations of the organization.

To read the complete executive summary click here

Useful Resource:   How to write an executive summary for a business plan

Financial Highlights

financial highlights Postal Service Business Plan

View the full financial highlights by downloading the pdf

Startup Summary

startup expenses of postal services business plan

For a detailed startup summary, click here to download a pdf

Industry at a Glance

Industry at a Glance of postal services business plan

Click here to read more about the industry at a glance.

Key External Drivers

Industry activity is mostly affected by the level of outsourcing of non-core activities. A growing trend of outsourcing administration functions has resulted in significant growth in revenue in the past. Although rising competition from other industries is now occurring.

postal services business plan

Download the pdf file here for a complete guide on key external drivers

SWOT Analysis

1. Location. The location is one of the primary strengths of the Thinktank business model as there are currently no other organizations that have the capabilities to offer the types of services that will be introduced to the market.

1. Lack of funding. Funding is the sole weakness of the Thinktank business venture. While funding is a weakness it should be noted that the founder is confident that if adequate funding is secured, she will be able to develop a viable, sustainable business.

Opportunities

1. Limited competition. The limited amount of local competition  is the primary opportunity for Thinktank as it will give the  organization the opportunity to develop a loyal customer base  while erecting barriers to entry.

1. Larger organizations. Larger organizations could possibly realize the opportunities that can be found in the local region and begin entering the market. While this is a threat, the founder believes that with strategic marketing, community efforts and customer service, this threat can for the most part be mitigated.

Click here to download the pdf for complete detail of the SWOT analysis.

Financial Indicators

financial indicator of postal services business plan

To learn more about financial indicators, click here to download the pdf

Projected Cash Flow

cash flow of postal services business plan

Click here to download the pdf to view the full projected cash flow

Projected Balance Sheet

Balance sheet of postal services business plan

Click here to download the pdf to view the full projected balance sheet

Click to view the faxing and printing and photocopy business plan. Our experienced MBA business plan writers professionally write each business plan and work with you to develop a winning plan.  Your business plan can look as polished and professional as this sample business plan, we provide real sample business plans free of charge.

Business Plan Sample for Printing and Photocopy Business

Download Printing and Photocopy Business Plan Example PDF

We will show you some real-world business plan examples so you may know how to write your own, especially if you are seeking a bank loan or an outside investment and need to use SBA-approved formatting.

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Writing a business plan for a photo printing shop

Table of Contents

Business description

Mission statement, products and services, unique selling point, market analysis, competitors, target audience, goals and strategy, financial projections, how countingup can help make projecting and managing finance easy.

If you want to start a small photo printing business to help people relive their favourite memories, you’ll need a plan. A business plan can provide you with clear objectives to get started and refer back to as you progress. Your aims may change over time, but you can analyse your success by comparing your positions to your expectations.

More than that, you may need to cover costs for a shop location or require equipment to get started. A business plan will help you secure funding to make your print shop possible. 

This guide will cover writing a business plan for a photo printing business, including:

  • Aims and strategy

Describe what the company is and what it represents in your plan, this will help explain the idea when approaching an investor or bank for a small business loan . 

One way to do this is by writing a mission statement for your company. It is a declaration of your business’ purpose and what it will add to customers’ lives or the local community, in the case of a small business. For example, you could seek to bring back an appreciation for the experience that photos provide and make that appreciation accessible.

With a mission statement, you have an idea behind the business, but to communicate that to your customers, you need a brand that suits it. Branding is the public identity of your business. How the brand presents itself goes further than a name and logo as well. To have branding that is cohesive, you can also put together brand guidelines . 

Your guidelines include what to follow in your marketing strategy, such as: 

  • Name — what variations of the name to use.
  • Logo — what variations of the logo to use.
  • Colour scheme — two or three colours the brand will use.
  • Tone of voice — the way you speak to customers (e.g. friendly and casual or corporate and serious).

Having a solid brand represented in your business plan shows that your photo printing company will build a relationship with customers and have growth potential. Branding is crucial to see for professional investors, especially.

Another significant section to include within your business plan is what products and services you intend to offer customers. Your products and services should be fully explained through the plan. You may be presenting it to investors or lenders with little knowledge of your industry.

Your unique selling point (USP) to your business is the core reason for customers to buy from you. Your point will either be a specific product you offer or a unique service you provide. 

Your unique selling point should be something that customers can’t get anywhere else. Your key selling point communicates the strengths of your business, which can also be used in marketing.

Market analysis is another important section for your business plan. Your analysis will feature two main things: what competition you have and who your customers are .

To find as much out as you can about your competition, conduct market research . This activity involves visiting competitors’ sites or stores and noting their services and which marketing channels they use. 

If they sell similar products, purchase them and directly compare them with yours. Carrying out comparative physical research is called benchmarking, which may help you to create a better quality product than competitors. For example, perhaps you could look at the prints that competitors sell. 

Continuing with your research, you should be investigating the groups of people who are most likely to want to engage with your business. You can speak to the public directly to help find this out. Surveys and interviews allow you to ask questions about what people want.

Suppose you start to find similarities between the people who respond positively to what you offer. In that case, these form your target audience. A helpful way to present those findings in your plan is to put together a customer profile (sometimes called customer avatar). A profile is a hypothetical person that represents an ideal customer.

Customer profiles should include:

If the purpose of your business plan is to help you secure funding, include your business goals. Beyond funding, including short, medium, and long-term plans for the business gives you something to work towards and track your progress. To make that easier for yourself to compare, make sure the goals can be measurable and set timeframes for reaching them.

When you establish goals, it’s also crucial to produce strategies to achieve them. For example, if you aim to have a hundred customers in the first month, you can plan how to market your launch. After the first month is over, you can look back to see if you reached a hundred purchases.

Financial projections is another crucial section that investors and lenders will look for. In this part, create a sales forecast to provide your plan with a detailed prediction of the expected money coming into the business.

A sales forecast includes your expectations for the number of sales you expect to earn multiplied by the amount customers will spend. Calculating that forecast can give you a picture of how much revenue you expect for a month, quarter or year.

As you complete your photo printing business plan, and start your business, you’ll need to manage your finances well. By setting up a separate account for your photo printing business, you will be able to keep track of everything going in and out. Staying on top of your finances will also be useful when it comes to filing tax returns. Countingup can provide you with cash flow insights so you can keep a record of finances easily.

Countingup is the current business account with built-in accounting software. It includes an expense categorisation feature that lets you sort your costs together to look at different financial information for each business area. 

Start your three-month free trial today.  Find out more here .

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Printing Services Broker Business Plan

Start your own printing services broker business plan

Executive Summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. It describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">

Copriso is a total solution provider for printing related services and products such as office stationery, brochures, business forms, and marketing materials to Denver area businesses. It is a Colorado based, home business. Copriso operated under the name of ePrint, Inc. for the past five years under the sole ownership of Adam Suson. In 1983 Adam joined his family owned Sir Speedy franchise which his father had founded in 1972. From 1983 to 1996 Adam managed scheduling, procurement, press operations, employees and customer service issues for Sir Speedy. When the family chose to sell the franchise several years ago, Adam became an independent printing consultant under the name of ePrint, Inc.

The name Copriso was adopted last year to represent “Colorado Printing Solutions”. This name change was due to a Colorado name registration conflict. With the new name, it was determined that an aggressive marketing strategy should be implemented. This strategy involves direct mail and telephone solicitation. To facilitate this marketing strategy, Copriso brought on board a new business partner.

Paul Levy brings 15 years of sales and marketing experience in both computer technology and telephony. During that 15 year period, Paul demonstrated consistent performance personally, and with sales team members, in meeting and exceeding all sales goals with quotas ranging from $1-$3 million. Paul handled both individual sales as well as sales management and training.

Printing is an unavoidable business expense for most businesses. With our combined experience, and this industry’s resilience, we feel that this change in name and ownership coupled with our new marketing strategy will prove a sound business decision. Our keys to success and critical factors for the next year are, in order of importance:

  • Implementing our new marketing plan.
  • Increasing our customer base.
  • Financial control and cash flow planning

We are seeking a long-term loan to assist in our marketing strategy. Due to the seasonal nature of this industry, this loan will assist with business expenses during the first year of operation and insure that our marketing efforts are consistent.

Printing services broker business plan, executive summary chart image

1.1 Mission

Copriso is a printing solutions provider dedicated to offering a single source for all printing needs with a priority on earning and maintaining our customer’s trust. We will maintain a consistent and reasonable margin while providing customers with a fair price and exceptional service. We will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, that respects new ideas and hard work.

1.2 Objectives

1. To generate generous annual sales by the third year of this plan.

2. To establish a tiered client hierarchy:

  • 20% long term, established customers
  • 60% customers with ongoing irregular and periodic needs
  • 20% new customers with unestablished needs.

3. To find 12 new appointments and bidding opportunities per month.

4. To establish two new long-term “quality” relationships per month.

5. To operate at 50%+ margin. This margin is arrived at through historical rates from the previous eight years of data.

6. To be a true one-stop operation by being able to accommodate all of a customer’s printing needs from consulting and design assistance to printing, binding, and distribution. Our goal is to eliminate the need for our customers to source any printing outside of our scope.

7. To promote an awareness of Copriso so as to support sales and income goals through aggressive marketing and telephone contact. This awareness will come from both marketing and word-of-mouth referrals. We will be using our existing customer base to solicit continued and enhanced business as well as requesting referral information from every customer. Client awareness of Copriso will initially be promoted through direct mailings and telephone sales. Future marketing plans are being discussed with both radio and television potentials.

8. To achieve a 30% annual growth rate. This number is arrived at using eight years of historical data and applying the new marketing plan.

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Company summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">.

Copriso is a privately owned and operated small business with well established relationships in the Denver Metro area. It was incorporated last year, but was conceived and begun several years ago as ePrint, Inc. Copriso was founded by Adam Suson who had 14 years experience in printing, managing and operating a Sir Speedy franchise.

Copriso offers a unique way to accomplish printing for businesses. Many companies that refer to themselves as brokers really match client and printers for a fee and their responsibility ends there. Printers try to meet the needs of their clients, but have a focus on profitability. Our company structure fills a niche while providing a classic environment of the “win/win” scenario.

We save our customers money and time in three ways:

  • We operate for our customers as an internal resource or employee of their company without the need for ongoing salaries.
  • We find the most efficient and effective way for our customers to accomplish each and every printing task.
  • We do this at a rate that’s very competitive, saving the customer an average of 10% to 25% off of direct printer pricing.

On the other hand, we provide a valuable service for our printer partners by bringing them large volumes of ongoing business. Our printer partners offer us a substantial discount off of the regular costs due to this positioning, allowing our projected margin.

2.1 Start-up Summary

Our start-up costs and expenses assumptions are shown in the following tables and illustration. The start-up costs are to be financed by direct owner investment. An additional loan is being sought to ensure business operations, marketing and stability during the first three years.

Printing services broker business plan, company summary chart image

2.2 Company Ownership

Copriso is a privately-held Colorado S-corporation. Adam Suson, Copriso’s founder, is the President and Operations Manager. Adam will be handling the internal operations, job management, and accounting functions. Paul Levy is the Vice President and Sales Manager. Paul will be handling the marketing, sales, computer based functionality, data management and storage functions.

Copriso provides custom solutions for business printing needs. We service customers that are looking for a one-stop solution for all of their printing needs. We provide them with an overall cost savings through our “value-add” strategy of job specific solution sales. Our solutions focus on the needs of the customer, the time frame for the project and the overall scope of work. With well established vendor partners, Copriso can accommodate any job size with solutions tailored to the specific need and can further reduce costs by aggregating and allocating among the various sources. Products and services include:

  • Consultation
  • Printing needs analysis and recommendations
  • Inventory management and storage
  • Graphic design
  • Corporate image
  • Copy writing
  • Pickup and delivery
  • Electronic communication and file management
  • Bindery, including cutting, folding, stitching, die cutting, foil stamping embossing
  • Business cards
  • Business forms including multi-part and carbonless
  • Annual reports
  • Specialty items including silk screening, embroidery and advertising specialties

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

The market for printing is worth an estimated $168 billion nationwide according to the 2001 Printing Industry of America (PIA) report and projected to grow an average of 5% per year. The 2002 print markets will mirror the growing but slowing economy. Total US print shipments should grow around 5% to approximately $171 billion. This rate of growth in print shipments is slightly below the growth in total US economic output not adjusted for inflation, reflecting the transition of the printing industry from a growth industry to a mature industry. However, this should allow plenty of opportunity for printers with an additional $8.2 billion in printing shipments. Approximately 2% of the growth in print shipments is expected to reflect price increases, leaving around 3% real growth. Copriso’s predecessor, ePrint, Inc., has been selling at a rate of approximately $160,000 per year with no sales efforts at all for the past 5 years.

4.1 Market Segmentation

The printing industry is separated into the following market segments with the following anticipated growth:

Although Copriso handles all business printing needs, our focus and expertise will be towards the larger scale, full color promotional and marketing pieces. Our ability to source more effectively and job specifically allows us to offer a much more competitive rate for each individual circumstance. Our ideal product focus is with full color, sheet fed printing. Customers for this product include, marketing and advertising firms, manufacturing, retail, and restaurant.

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

There is already a sense of segment strategy in the way we define our target markets. We are choosing to compete in the small to medium size business segment which we define as 10 to 200 employees with sales ranging from $250,000 to $5 million and printing expenditures of between $5,000 and $30,000. Industries include construction, property management, healthcare, manufacturing, Colorado based retail chains, Medical, Accounting and Legal firms.

We are not adverse to doing business outside the Colorado front range, however, our marketing and sales efforts are directed within Colorado. We believe that this segment of the market would not use an advertising/marketing agency yet would need the services of a printer instead of doing their own in-house work.

Our strategy revolves around “partnering” with clients. The smaller customer is likely to produce their own printed materials and larger customers tend to use the services of an agency. Medium size companies have the need for more professionally produced printing while not having the established budget to substantiate hiring an agency. Our goal is to provide an exceptional level of service while saving our customers money.

We have acquired lists of potential clients through the services of InfoUSA, a recognized leads source. With the focus that we’ve chosen, and the area within which we’re looking, there are over 5,000 immediate targets. With excellent businesses growth in this area, we feel that there are sufficient opportunities to keep our business easily on track.

4.3 Industry Analysis

The printing industry operates in an environment where a myriad of forces work on costs, prices, product demand and supply. Paper prices, electricity costs, labor conditions, and capital costs impact the bottom line, while changes in new printing technologies, emerging advertising media, new ways of conducting business, and the strengths of the print buying industries all impact the top line. Although there has been a softening of the economy in general, the printing industry is not as discretionary as other market segments.

4.3.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

In printing, cost and service are the two key areas. Sales efforts within the industry are generally sparse. Most quick and small commercial printers rely on Yellow Pages advertising and referrals in lieu of a direct sales effort; most are not truly full service printers; most rely on name recognition. We also feel that 80% of customers are willing to try alternative sources for their printing needs because there is a general lack of quality service to support the continued patronage of existing clientele.

As a service-centric business, Copriso, will strive to maintain existing customers with high quality service while educating them in additional services and products. Printing in general is not sales-centric as it is a necessary business expense. Therefore, most printers rely on customers coming to them. By going to the customer, we can capture a lion’s share of the existing printing purchases.

Comparison of local competition is shown in the following table. 

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Our strategy is to offer an unusually high level of service while aggressively maintaining and pursuing customer relationships. Organized, regimented and sustained contact will facilitate ongoing opportunities. Our service strategy is three fold:

  • Our business premise is one of reducing customer action. We pickup and deliver all projects and when customer involvement is needed for review and/or opinion, the meetings are at the customer site.
  • We manage our time wisely. Each project has a realistic due date which allows Copriso to manage and produce a job while meeting and exceeding our deadlines consistently. Although we build in sufficient time for any issues that might arise, we typically offer timelines that are far shorter that the industry standard. This is possible through our regular contact with our customers and, therefore, our knowledge of their upcoming needs to eliminate the “crisis management” that is so prevalent in the quick-print industry.
  • Each project is handled with care. We manage each step of the process to insure that the job is moving within our timeline and meeting or exceeding our expectations. We work closely with our vendor partners and reinforce our expectations along the way. We take great pride in presenting a perfect finished product to a satisfied customer.

Contact is the key to service. Marketing is designed to gain market share, new opportunities, new contacts, and eventually new customers. Sales is not only closing the order, but is customer service, knowing the customer, making sure that the customer feels like they are our most important client, and maintaining regular contact with the key decision makers.

Our strategy is supported by a contact management software platform by Symantec Corporation called ACT! It is one of the top three contact management software programs available and has proven invaluable in managing customer interactions. Our new marketing manager has implemented this program as a foundation for our new marketing strategy. Regular contact facilitates new opportunities, knowledge of personnel changes, company focus shifts, referral possibilities and customer comfort level. Regular contact assures customers that we are a part of their team and not just someone else to contact if and when a need arises.

5.1 Competitive Edge

Our strongest advantages are our consultative philosophy and purchase methodology. We come to the market with 18 years of printing knowledge in the Colorado area and over 14 years of direct Business-to-Business sales experience. Additionally, we have 12 years of experience with computer technology which we will integrate with our business model to enhance and streamline our capabilities. Our focus on customer service is our foundation. The goal is to reduce the number of our customers who are willing to try someone else from the industry standard 80% to zero.

5.2 Sales Strategy

The first element is to get an onsite appointment. We will develop a rapport with the customer by taking a genuine interest in them and their business needs. Next we address current and future printing needs, develop a customized solution and present that in a clear format as quickly as possible. Finally, we follow up on all opportunities in a regimented manner. We utilize our customer contact management software to facilitate this goal.

Furthermore, we will continue to seek new contacts through our chamber memberships, seminars, business associations, referrals, and continued telemarketing. Our sales strategy is designed to both maximize and maintain existing relationships while continually looking for new opportunities. We also continually strengthen our existing vendor relationships while exploring new sources. This assures our clients that we can accommodate their needs with the best possible resource for their particular job. It also helps Copriso maintain multiple sources of supply to insure competitive supply pricing and timely turnaround availability.

5.2.1 Sales Forecast

With no sales efforts on existing business, Copriso (as ePrint) handled approximately $160,000 in annual sales over the past three years. Our new marketing strategy should increase our sales only slightly in the first few months, due to the extensive efforts that will be put forth to build and coordinate our operations. We expect to get approximately 3 new customers per month for the first 6 months. We have arrived at our target sales figures by adding these new customers and their business volumes to the numbers from previous years’ history, and also growing the business printing needs of the existing clients. Future projections indicate that a 30% increase per year is very attainable.

Printing services broker business plan, strategy and implementation summary chart image

5.3 Milestones

The accompanying table lists important program milestones with dates for each. The milestone schedule indicates our emphasis on planning for implementation.

What the table doesn’t show is the commitment behind it. Our business plan software includes complete provisions for plan-vs.-actual analysis, and we will be holding monthly follow-up meetings to discuss the variance and course corrections.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Copriso is structured to be a two person operation. Both owners are managers as well. There is no immediate plan to hire any formal employees, however, the nature of our business model has us working with many subcontractors to match specific jobs.

6.1 Personnel Plan

Our two owners are key to our success.

Adam Suson has been involved with the printing industry since 1983 when his family owned and operated a Sir Speedy Franchise. From 1983 to 1996 he managed scheduling, procurement, press operations, employees and customer service issues for Sir Speedy. Duties included outsourcing, project management, timeline estimates and press knowledge. Adam demonstrated a unique ability to earn and maintain customer trust with his steadfast determination to meet and exceed customer expectations. His outgoing personality is continually reinforced with client recognition, confidence and trust. After 1993, he was handling all aspects of the printing process individually. Adam will be handling the accounting and job operations functions.

Paul Levy has 15 years of sales and marketing experience with industries ranging from banking and brokerage to technology and telephony. During his sales career, Paul consistently demonstrated an above average ability to find, close and maintain client relationships. He has managed sales volumes of up to $3 million annually and client populations of up to 5,000. Paul has had training and experience in telemarketing, prospecting, canvassing, leads sourcing, and sales to both government and corporate C-level, and has utilized various contact management software products. Furthermore, he has over 10 years marketing experience with a previous startup company, AMISYS, Inc. Paul has given seminars, put on demonstrations, met with clients both one-to-one, and in groups ranging from 2 to 1,000. He also brings an in-depth knowledge of computer technology to Copriso. As computer technology is playing an ever increasing role in the printing industry, his expertise in this area has and will continue to prove invaluable in customer communications, general operations, and our ability to handle and manipulate multiple media formats. Paul will be handling the sales and marketing functions.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

We want to finance growth through increasing sales and enlarging our customer base.

Initial funding for the marketing effort will be crucial to long-term success.

The most important factor in our case is our low overhead and high margin.

We will attempt to maintain our pre-paid and COD business to further strengthen our cash position in the long run.

7.1 Important Assumptions

The financial plan depends on important assumptions, most of which are shown in the following table. The key underlying assumptions are:

We assume an immediate increase in sales.

We assume there are no dramatic changes in business printing needs.

We assume a constant growth in our long-term customer base.

We assume continued influx of new customers with our aggressive marketing and sales strategies.

We assume that the printing industry will continue to show a resilience against global economic factors as a non-discretionary commodity.

7.2 Break-even Analysis

The break-even analysis shows what Copriso requires in sales per month to break even. Our sales forecast is in line with this projection and exceeds it rapidly. Furthermore, we anticipate an ability to regularly acquire 2 to 3 new customers per month.

Printing services broker business plan, financial plan chart image

7.3 Projected Profit and Loss

We expect to ramp up the sales conservatively in order to achieve our desired long-term profit estimates.

Printing services broker business plan, financial plan chart image

7.4 Projected Cash Flow

With the current projections, lack of overhead, and expected margins, we project no additional need for future investment or borrowing. Cash flow and cash balance should both increase steadily through the lifecycle of the business eliminating the need for further or ongoing funding.

Printing services broker business plan, financial plan chart image

7.5 Projected Balance Sheet

The following table shows our projected Balance Sheet.

7.6 Business Ratios

Business ratios for the years of this plan are shown below. Industry profile ratios based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 7389.1706, Printing Brokers, are shown for comparison.

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  1. Print Shop Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

    Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows. Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your print shop business, including answering calls, planning and providing printed items or 3D printed items, billing customers and assisting with maintenance of equipment, etc.

  2. Print Shop Business Plan Template (2024)

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  3. How to write a business plan for a printing shop?

    A business plan has 2 complementary parts: a financial forecast showcasing the expected growth, profits and cash flows of the business; and a written part which provides the context needed to judge if the forecast is realistic and relevant. Having an up-to-date business plan is the only way to keep visibility on your printing shop's future cash ...

  4. Printing Business Plan Examples

    Printing Services Broker Business Plan. Copriso is a former sole proprietorship, restructuring and starting up as a partnership, providing printing brokerage services to businesses and printing vendors. Before you write a business plan, do your homework. These sample business plans for online print shops, print shop websites, print brokers, and ...

  5. How to Start a Print Shop

    If you want to do digital printing, you need to start out with $300k-$400k and will need to get the electric upgraded in your new shop. Equipment - The equipment you invest in will be defined by the specifics of the services you offer. This could include: embossing machine, offset printing press, plate maker, color copier, standard copier ...

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    The cost of starting a printing business depends on location, initial equipment, and upfront supplies. You should expect to spend at least $40,000 for a barebones operation and up to $400,000 on the higher end. However, most in the printing business spend about $200,000 for a well-rounded print shop.

  7. Print Shop Business Plan Template & Example [Updated 2024]

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    To summarize everything, formulate a business plan. Figure out where you are going to operate your business. Decide on what equipment you need to purchase. Budget for the remaining miscellaneous items you will need such as software programs and come up with a business name.

  9. Print Shop Website Business Plan Example

    Recent studies by Forrester Research Inc. reveal that business-to-business (B2B) commerce will total $2.7 trillion in revenue by Year 5. The data emphasize that e-marketplaces will be responsible for 53% of all online business trade. Seasoned management. The company's management is highly experienced and qualified.

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  11. How to Start a Printing Business

    A comprehensive business plan for printing services covers financial projections, your target market, any printing specialization, and your marketing plans. You can also indicate whether you plan to open a print shop or operate from home. The plan needs to incorporate financial estimates relating to potential startup costs and revenue.

  12. How to Start a Printing Business: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

    2. Familiarize yourself with the business standards. Realize that the niche for color printing and the better quality grade of printing may be in a certain number of dots per inch (DPI), which can be very demanding and tricky to match. 3. Be careful with your words.

  13. Digital Print Shop Business Plan [Sample Template]

    A Sample Digital Printing Shop Business Plan Template. 1. Industry Overview. Operators in the printing industry mainly print on paper, textile products, metal, glass, plastic and other materials, excluding fabric. Printing shops engage in a variety of printing processes which include lithographic, gravure, screen, flexographic, digital and ...

  14. Digital Printing Business Plan Sample [2024]

    The printing shop business plan will be located in a 100-square-feet leased building in the main commercial market of the Downtown Manhattan. The company will initially procure twenty commercial printers, assorted office stationery, five filing cabinets, five work desks, a round table with chairs for meeting area and couch and chairs for ...

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  16. Writing a Business Plan for a Photo Printing Shop

    Colour scheme — two or three colours the brand will use. Tone of voice — the way you speak to customers (e.g. friendly and casual or corporate and serious). Having a solid brand represented in your business plan shows that your photo printing company will build a relationship with customers and have growth potential.

  17. How to Start a Print-On-Demand Business in 2024

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  18. Online Print Shop Business Plan Template

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  22. Printing Services Broker Business Plan Example

    1. To generate generous annual sales by the third year of this plan. 2. To establish a tiered client hierarchy: 20% long term, established customers. 60% customers with ongoing irregular and periodic needs. 20% new customers with unestablished needs. 3. To find 12 new appointments and bidding opportunities per month.

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  24. Business Licensing

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