business plan for printing company

Printing Business Plan PDF Example

• February 29, 2024
• Business Plan

Creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial for launching and running a successful printing business. This plan serves as your roadmap, detailing your vision, operational strategies, and financial plan. It helps establish your printing business’s identity, navigate the competitive market, and secure funding for growth.

This article not only breaks down the critical components of a printing business plan, but also provides an example of a business plan to help you craft your own.

Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or new to the service industry, this guide, complete with a business plan example, lays the groundwork for turning your printing business concept into reality. Let’s dive in!

Our printing business plan is meticulously developed to incorporate all vital elements essential for a comprehensive and strategic blueprint. It outlines the company’s operational workflows, marketing tactics, industry landscape, competitive analysis , management hierarchy, and financial outlook.

• Executive Summary : Offers a concise overview of the printing business concept, highlighting the market analysis , management expertise, and financial strategy.
• Facility & Operations : Discusses the location, size, and layout of the printing facility, including the types of printing equipment and technology used to provide services.
• Services & Prices : Details the range of printing services offered, such as digital, offset, and large format printing, along with pricing strategies.
• Key Stats: Offers statistics on the size and growth of the commercial printing industry, underscoring the ongoing demand for printing services.
• Key Trends: Highlights significant trends in the printing industry, including technological advancements, sustainability practices, and shifts towards digital printing.
• Key Competitors: Evaluates major competitors in the market, detailing their services and how the printing company differentiates itself from these competitors.
• SWOT Analysis : Conducts a comprehensive analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, offering strategic insights for the company’s growth.
• Marketing Plan : Specifies the marketing strategies designed to promote the printing services and establish long-term relationships with clients.
• Timeline : Sets key milestones for the printing company, outlining the path from startup to expansion and operational excellence.
• Management: Introduces the management team, highlighting their experience, roles, and contributions to driving the company towards its goals.
• Financial Plan : Forecasts the 5-year financial performance of the printing company, detailing expected revenue streams, profitability, and the financial strategy to ensure sustainability and growth.

Printing Company Business Plan

Fully editable 30+ slides Powerpoint presentation business plan template.

Download an expert-built 30+ slides Powerpoint business plan template

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary introduces your printing business’s plan, providing a succinct overview of your company and its offerings. It should outline your market positioning, the variety of printing services you provide, including digital printing, large format printing, and specialized printing solutions, as well as its location, size, and a snapshot of daily operations. 

This section should also delve into how your printing business will fit into the local market, including the number of direct competitors in the area, identifying who they are, along with your business’s unique selling points that set it apart from these competitors.

Moreover, information about the management and co-founding team should be included, detailing their roles and contributions to the business’s success. Additionally, a summary of your financial projections, including revenue and profits over the next five years, should be presented.

Make sure to cover here _ Business Overview _ Market Overview _ Management Team _ Financial Plan

Dive deeper into Executive Summary

Business Overview

For a printing business, the Business Overview section can be efficiently divided into 2 main parts:

Facility & Operations

Briefly describe the physical setup of your printing facility, emphasizing its design, efficiency, and the technology-driven environment that ensures high-quality printing services. Mention the business’s location, highlighting its accessibility and the convenience it offers to clients, such as proximity to business districts or ease of delivery and pickup services. Explain why this location is advantageous in attracting your target clientele, including businesses, professionals, and retail customers.

Services & Pricing

Detail the range of printing services offered, from standard document printing to specialized services like large format printing, custom merchandise printing, and high-quality digital printing solutions. Outline your pricing strategy , ensuring it reflects the quality of printing services provided and matches the market you’re targeting. Highlight any bulk order discounts, business account deals, or loyalty programs that provide added value to your clients, encouraging repeat business and customer loyalty.

Make sure to cover here _ Facility & Operations _ Services & Pricing

Market Overview

Industry size & growth.

In the Market Overview of your printing business plan, start by examining the size of the printing industry and its growth potential. This analysis is crucial for understanding the market’s scope and identifying expansion opportunities.

Key market trends

Proceed to discuss recent market trends , such as the increasing demand for customized printing solutions, the growth in digital and 3D printing technologies, and the shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly printing practices. For example, highlight the demand for services that cater to specific customization needs, such as personalized marketing materials, custom packaging, and on-demand printing, alongside the rising popularity of green printing solutions.

Key competitors

Then, consider the competitive landscape, which includes a range of printing services from large-scale commercial printers to local print shops, as well as online printing platforms. For example, emphasize what makes your printing business distinctive, whether it’s through superior print quality, innovative technology, a wide range of services, or specialization in certain types of printing. This section will help articulate the demand for printing services, the competitive environment, and how your business is positioned to thrive within this dynamic market.

Make sure to cover here _ Industry size & growth _ Key competitors _ Key market trends

Dive deeper into Key competitors

First, conduct a SWOT analysis for the printing business, highlighting Strengths (such as advanced printing technology and a broad range of printing services), Weaknesses (including reliance on equipment that may require costly maintenance or the challenge of adapting to rapidly changing technology), Opportunities (for example, the growing demand for personalized and on-demand printing services), and Threats (such as digital media alternatives reducing the need for traditional printing).

Marketing Plan

Next, develop a marketing strategy that outlines how to attract and retain customers through targeted advertising, promotional offers, an engaging online presence, and partnerships with local businesses. Emphasize the importance of showcasing your unique capabilities, such as high-quality printing, fast turnaround times, or eco-friendly printing options, to differentiate your business from competitors.

Finally, create a detailed timeline that outlines critical milestones for the printing business’s launch, marketing initiatives, customer base growth, and expansion goals. This should include key phases such as establishing your facility, launching your website and online ordering system, initial customer acquisition efforts, and the evaluation of potential new services or technologies to keep your business at the forefront of the printing industry, ensuring the business progresses with clear direction and purpose.

Make sure to cover here _ SWOT _ Marketing Plan _ Timeline

Dive deeper into SWOT

Dive deeper into Marketing Plan

The Management section focuses on the printing business’s management and their direct roles in daily operations and strategic direction. This part is crucial for understanding who is responsible for making key decisions and driving the printing business toward its financial and operational goals.

For your printing business plan, list the core team members, their specific responsibilities, and how their expertise supports the business.

Financial Plan

The Financial Plan section is a comprehensive analysis of your financial projections for revenue, expenses, and profitability. It lays out your printing business’s approach to securing funding, managing cash flow, and achieving breakeven.

This section typically includes detailed forecasts for the first 5 years of operation, highlighting expected revenue, operating costs and capital expenditures.

For your printing business plan, provide a snapshot of your financial statement (profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow statement), as well as your key assumptions (e.g. number of customers and prices, expenses, etc.).

Make sure to cover here _ Profit and Loss _ Cash Flow Statement _ Balance Sheet _ Use of Funds

Privacy Overview

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.

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 Start a Printing Business in 3 Simple Steps

Printing is a great industry to start up in. There is a wide range of options when it comes to printing services which means you can specialize and find your corner of the market.

But setting up a printing business is no small venture. It requires a large investment and astute planning.

So in this post, we’ll guide you through every step to make sure the process runs smoothly from conception to launch.

3 Steps to Start a Printing Business

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to start your new printing company:

• Plan and research
• Legally form the business
• Set up shop

The Easy Parts of Starting a Printing Business

It’s worth noting that printing services remain in-demand, despite the advent of the digital age. In fact, the commercial printing industry is forecast to grow in the next five years .

You might think that setting up a retail establishment is particularly difficult, especially as opposed to setting up a digital business where most of the work and/or transactions are completed online.

But the truth is, getting your hands on the hardware and software you need to take payments for a retail business is surprisingly easy these days. There are many affordable and easy-to-use Point of Sale (POS) systems on the market.

The Difficult Parts of Starting a Printing Business

Printing is rather an expensive business to start compared to some other industries. This is due to the need for specialist equipment. Depending on the type of printing you wish to do and the scale of your operation, you may need tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars in investment.

Naturally, that means you’ll need to acquire funding. So you’ll likely need to think about how you’re going to attract investors or appease lenders from the get-go. 

This means you’ll need to put a ton of energy into creating a strong market offering, as well as carefully researching and planning every aspect of the development of your business so that financiers are happy to get involved. 

But of course, it isn’t impossible. And if you get the planning stage right, you’ll be off to a good start.

Step 1: Plan and Research

19% of failed startups don’t make it due to a flawed business model. Thus, it’s crucial you create a detailed plan for success plus have a firm understanding of your offering and how you’ll finance the whole thing.

Choose Printing Services

Choosing which services to offer early on is vital as it will govern many of the next steps. For example, what kind of printing equipment you need to purchase and who your target market is.

It’s a good idea to choose a particular sub-sector of printing rather than offering general printing services. Choose a niche market and you can determine your ideal customers and target them more successfully. Plus, you’ll benefit from less competition.

There are many areas of printing to choose from, such as:

• Publishing – books, magazines, journals, newspapers, etc.
• Business – branded materials e.g. letterheads, marketing materials e.g. brochures
• Signage and banners
• Promotional items (e.g. mugs, bumper stickers)
• Garments (e.g. T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags)

Research Your Target Market

Each type of printing service comes with its own target market. In other words, customers with particular requirements, pain points, and values. To sell to these people successfully, you need to understand them.

To start with, you may wish to create an ideal customer profile. Base this customer profile on hard evidence rather than conjecture. For example, you might conduct surveys or access relevant databases to find the information you need.

HubSpot has a handy Make My Persona tool to help you create the profile. It includes items such as demographic traits, industry (for those seeking B2B customers), challenges, responsibilities, and the like.

Create a Business Plan

A business plan is an essential roadmap for growth. When you outline your goals and the specific steps you’ll take to achieve them, you’ll be so much more likely to accomplish what you set out to do.

Your business plan should contain the following information:

• Executive Summary – A quick outline of your business, your mission statement, business structure, location, and high-level growth plans.
• Company Description – More details about your company, the value you provide, competitive advantages, and problems you solve for your customer base.
• Market Analysis – Competitor research, what differentiates your business, target market research, and trends.
• Service Details – The printing services you’ll provide, how services are packaged, equipment, and facilities you’ll use.
• Marketing Plan – Strategies for customer acquisition and promotion.
• Financial Plan – Financial projections, budgets, expenses, and how you’ll get funding.

Get Funding

If you hope to open a printing shop, you’ll likely need a large investment as there are many startup and ongoing expenses to consider. The investment needed depends on the scale of the business and the type of equipment you’ll need. 

So, you’ll need to research your expenses carefully. Along with equipment, you must factor in rent or mortgage payments on a location, business management and accounting software, marketing expenses, payroll, and the costs associated with legally forming a business.

Once you’ve prepared a budget you can seek funding. You may be able to bootstrap the business which means using your own funds, for example from savings. You might consider applying for a bank loan or line of credit. Alternatively, you may seek out investors. These could be friends and family, or entrepreneurs/groups that’ll take a share in the company in exchange for funding.

Step 2: Legally Form the Business

There are certain legal requirements that every new business needs to take care of. These processes may require a lot of time and effort. But, they’re certainly worthwhile. Taking care of the legal aspects protects the personal assets of business owners.

Choose an Organizational Structure

Choosing an organizational structure for your business will influence how the company operates. It also allows you to form a legal business entity, which prevents you from being personally liable for any legal or financial problems the business may incur. 

An informal structure such as a sole tradership or general partnership may put you at risk. Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a better option. It’s a simple business structure in which the company is owned by members whose personal assets are protected.

A Corporation is a more complex structure where the business is owned by shareholders. But, it may be the right choice if you need to attract investors for the business.

Register the Business

If you decide to form an LLC or Corporation, you must register the business at the state level. It’s a legal requirement. However, it also has benefits such as securing your business name and intellectual property.

Speaking of the business name, it’s strongly recommended that you perform a local business search before you make a final choice. This is to ensure your business name is distinguishable from others in your area.

The procedures and fees involved in registering an LLC or Corporation vary from state to state. It will involve filing legal documents such as Articles of Organization, which you can usually do online.

Visit the Secretary of State website for your region. You must read and carefully follow the rules and regulations laid out in order for your filings to be successful.

Register for Taxes

Another legal requirement is, of course, registering for state and federal taxes. You must do this before you start doing business.

To register for taxes, you first need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. You also need this number to open a business bank account and to be able to hire employees.

Apply for your EIN using the IRS’s EIN Assistant . It’s free and you’ll receive an EIN immediately upon completion.

Open a Business Bank Account

A business bank account offers a corporate veil. This means you separate your personal finances from your business finances and therefore protect your personal assets. Opening a business bank account also makes accounting and filing tax returns a lot simpler.

In some cases, it may be easier to open a business bank account with the same bank you use for your personal account. But, it’s always a good idea to shop around to find the business bank account with the best services to meet your requirements and the lowest fees.

You may also wish to seek out other benefits in a business bank account such as introductory offers, good interest rates, and low transaction fees.

Get Insurance

You may also wish to consider insuring your business to mitigate risks. It’ll help your company survive in the case of losses, unexpected events, or legal issues.

There are various types of business insurance. To start off with, consider general liability insurance. This covers the company in claims of bodily injury or property damage that occurs in the workplace.

Another type of coverage to consider is workers’ compensation insurance. This helps to pay for medical care, lost wages, and other benefits related to workplace injuries.

Given the nature of a printing business, you may also consider taking out commercial property insurance to cover your location and the equipment inside.

Step 3: Set Up Shop

Setting up shop and actually launching your printing business is exciting. But, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. Once you take care of the practicalities, you’ll need to create a memorable brand and put strategies in place to acquire customers.

Find a Location

The great thing about opening a printing business is that you don’t necessarily need a high foot-traffic location to attract customers. Potential customers are more likely to research printing businesses online before visiting a store.

When choosing a location, think carefully about the needs of your business and its customers. For example, you’ll likely need to find a location with warehouse space and easy-access parking, as well as a storefront.

After bagging a location, be sure to register your business address with online directories and create a Google Business Profile so that customers can easily find you online.

Source Equipment

Having the right equipment ensures the smooth running of your business. 

Naturally, the equipment you require depends on the printing services you offer. For example, you may need a screen printer for textiles or a flexographic printing machine for packaging. 

Remember that, as well as printing equipment, you need further facilities to get your store going. One of the most important pieces is, of course, your POS. As mentioned above, we recommend Square as it’s a flexible and transparent payment system. Plus, you can get started for free.

Create a Brand

Creating a memorable and trustworthy brand is everything. 59% of consumers prefer to buy products from familiar brands.

There are many aspects to building a brand. But, some key things to consider are creating a brand that makes you stand out from competitors and one that resonates with customers and their values.

Create branding guidelines that not only outline design elements but also what you stand for and hope to portray as a business. Then make sure your online presence, marketing, and customer service reflect these things.

Promote Your Services

The only thing that’s left to do is to acquire customers. Putting a strong marketing and sales strategy in place is important to help you develop repeatable processes that’ll help you grow your customer base consistently.

The first step is to make sure you thoroughly understand your target audience. The reason is that different marketing materials appeal to different people. Then create your marketing and sales plan with this information in mind.

Every printing business will require an online presence. Set up an easy-to-use, clean website. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for potential customers to find the information they need, e.g. contact information, and make purchases from you.

Then, using your research, target your audience specifically where they hang out. For example, if your services are B2B you might secure contracts via LinkedIn but for B2C you may find customers through Facebook ads.

Privacy Overview

How to Start a Printing Business

If you're passionate about printing and want to get your feet wet in the printing industry, you can kick-start operations with minimal investment. Furthermore, setting up your printing services venture is less cumbersome than other types of businesses. It's possible to begin operations with an entry-level printing press, inkjet printer, a cutter, ink, and a desktop computer.

The best part is that you can have help with Skynova's software products . In turn, you'll find it easier to create professional documents using customizable templates. The software products also enable you to manage inventory and maintain up-to-date financial records.

Laying the Groundwork for Your Printing Shop

Drafting a comprehensive plan allows you to create a working blueprint for your print shop's day-to-day operations. The planning phase provides an opportunity to decide the amount of time you'll dedicate to the business. You should also identify the right printing equipment and design software to suit your needs.

Compose a Detailed Printing Business Plan

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.

Your overall expenses will depend on multiple factors, such as the type of printing equipment involved, the choice of business premises, and whether you hire employees or work alone. Identifying your target market is a critical aspect to consider during the planning phase. It determines how you spread the word about your new business and the services you offer.

Select Printing Service Offerings

You should decide whether to focus on traditional or digital printing. You can also consider offering value-added services to your customers. These services enhance your appeal to your target market. For instance, your print shop can offer high-quality brochure holders to complement the print job. Offering holders allows customers to display their printed brochures more conveniently.

Some printing service offerings to consider include:

• Leaflets and flyers
• T-shirt printing business
• Mug printing
• Business cards
• Signs and banners
• Greeting cards
• Labels and stickers

Your chosen offerings should match your target market's needs. Doing so enhances your own printing business's competitiveness.

Determine the Ideal Target Market

To become one of the most successful business owners, you should target a specific market audience. This approach helps tailor your company's services to suit your target customer base. As a result, you're more likely to compete favorably.

To pick the right target market, conduct comprehensive market research to determine the viability of your business model and overall plans.

Potential customers include graphic designers, individuals, and local companies. Depending on your print shop's capabilities, you may also serve larger printing businesses that outsource some of their jobs.

Determine Operational Costs

Whether you print-on-demand or offer ready-made items, it's vital to calculate the cost of doing business to plan more accurately. A storefront printing shop comes with rental and other costs that you must consider. The ideal premises provides adequate space for your offset printing equipment, materials, laminator, copier, and printing accessories like toner.

The cost of equipment represents a significant expense that requires proper budgeting. Also, ensure that you allocate funds to cover equipment repair and maintenance to avoid disruptions. If you decide to become part of a franchise, such as PostNet or The UPS Store, you should set aside franchise fees. Additional cost considerations include insurance and marketing.

Setting Up Your Printing Company

Once you complete the planning phase, it's time to choose a business name and register the company with state authorities. You'll also need to familiarize yourself with business regulations, including license and permit requirements applicable in your state. After registering your small business, determine your venture's tax obligations, obtain insurance, and open a business bank account.

Register Your Printing Business

Register your business via the secretary of state's office to ensure that your print shop operates legally. You can form the company under one of several business structures: corporation, partnership, or limited liability company (LLC). These business types share several similarities and have many differences. A printing shop LLC allows you to either proceed as a single owner or co-own the business.

A corporation and partnership have no provision for single-member ownership. On the other hand, opting for an LLC enables you to file tax returns as an individual. Unlike a sole proprietorship, LLCs, partnerships, and corporations are legal entities that provide personal legal liability protection. Thus, if third parties sue your print shop, you're not personally liable for the legal ramifications.

Choose a Business Name

Selecting the right business name for the print shop helps differentiate your venture from competitors. A unique name is vital regardless of whether you operate a business online or from a physical shop. You can establish the availability status of your preferred name by checking via search engines and the secretary of state's office.

Registering your name prevents other businesses from using it, giving you exclusive rights. After registration, incorporate the name in your business's website, social media pages, and other marketing materials.

Obtain Permits and Licenses

As you set up your printing business, you must identify the licenses and permits required to operate a printing shop in your state, city, and county. Zoning laws stipulate rules that prohibit or allow business activities in specific areas. For instance, operating a print shop from your home may come with restrictions.

Additional permits and licenses include sign permits, fire safety permits, environmental licenses, and a certificate of occupancy. The latter allows you to operate the print shop from storefront premises or other buildings. You or your landlord receive the certificate if the building complies with regulations stipulated by relevant laws.

Open a Business Bank Account

One way to protect your personal assets from seizure (in the event of lawsuits) is to open a business bank account. In addition, you can use the account to establish a credit history for your print shop. A favorable credit score allows you to access business loans and grow the venture. In turn, you can take advantage of lower interest rates and higher lines of credit.

Depending on your chosen business structure, you may need to submit a confirming letter for the employer identification number (EIN) or provide your Social Security number to open an account. However, requirements may vary from one financial institution to another.

Meanwhile, Skynova's accounting software bolsters your ability to maintain proper financial records. With the software, you can track payments, check the status of billing processes, and monitor the finances flowing in and out of your bank accounts.

Promote Your Print Shop

To boost sales, adopt an effective marketing strategy that leverages traditional and digital channels. The combination of a website and a social media presence provides a practical way to showcase your T-shirt designs and printing process and allows potential customers to easily find your printing shop.

Boost Your Online Presence With Google My Business and a Print Shop Website

Google My Business can boost your visibility to potential customers. The platform provides access to your print shop's operating hours, physical address, customer reviews, contact details, and other vital information. Your company will also appear on Google search results and Google Maps, allowing prospects to get in touch with you.

A website acts as an online brochure, contact channel, e-commerce store, and blog to share guides. The availability of intuitive website builders and content management systems (CMS) like WordPress can help you design a quality printing shop website with no prior web development experience.

Spread the Word via Social Media

Social media makes it easier to put your printing services in front of potential customers. Platforms like Pinterest , Facebook , and Instagram can help promote custom T-shirts, screen printing, and other services. You can connect with new and existing customers. By posting multimedia content about the services and products you offer, you can drive traffic to your print shop website and increase brand awareness.

Twitter and LinkedIn are ideal for connecting with businesses in your area that need graphic design and print-on-demand services.

Handling Day-to-Day Printing Shop Operations

As you begin working on customers' printing projects, you need digital solutions that help reduce the workload. Whether you're sending quotes, streamlining billing, keeping track of payments, or issuing professional invoices , you can count on Skynova's customizable solutions. We offer recurring and subscription invoices to improve efficiency when dealing with repeat orders.

By adopting our software solutions, you can enhance internal accounting processes and customer experiences. As a result, you'll bolster customer loyalty for your printing company.

Supercharge Your Printing Business With Skynova

Proper planning is a cornerstone to long-term success in the printing industry. The most successful print shop owners fine-tune their business ideas by taking a 360-degree view of their venture to avoid common pitfalls. One of the critical success ingredients in this industry is setting realistic goals.

Additionally, there's a need for the right software solutions. Supercharge your operations with our comprehensive range of Skynova business templates and accounting software . Discover how Skynova's products can power your print shop today.

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 May 14, 2024

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/ ))

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

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 ))

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.

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 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 3D printing, which involves the construction of a three-dimensional object from a computer design. This is not your grandfather’s printing method.

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

Step 3: Brainstorm a Printing Company Name

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”
• A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

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

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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

Here are the key components of a business plan:

• 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.

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.

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

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We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2024

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• 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

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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Write your business plan

Business plans help you run your business.

A good business plan guides you through each stage of starting and managing your business. You’ll use your business plan as a roadmap for how to structure, run, and grow your new business. It’s a way to think through the key elements of your business.

Business plans can help you get funding or bring on new business partners. Investors want to feel confident they’ll see a return on their investment. Your business plan is the tool you’ll use to convince people that working with you — or investing in your company — is a smart choice.

Pick a business plan format that works for you

There’s no right or wrong way to write a business plan. What’s important is that your plan meets your needs.

Most business plans fall into one of two common categories: traditional or lean startup.

Traditional business plans are more common, use a standard structure, and encourage you to go into detail in each section. They tend to require more work upfront and can be dozens of pages long.

Lean startup business plans are less common but still use a standard structure. They focus on summarizing only the most important points of the key elements of your plan. They can take as little as one hour to make and are typically only one page.

Traditional business plan

Lean startup plan

Traditional business plan format

You might prefer a traditional business plan format if you’re very detail-oriented, want a comprehensive plan, or plan to request financing from traditional sources.

When you write your business plan, you don’t have to stick to the exact business plan outline. Instead, use the sections that make the most sense for your business and your needs. Traditional business plans use some combination of these nine sections.

Executive summary

Briefly tell your reader what your company is and why it will be successful. Include your mission statement, your product or service, and basic information about your company’s leadership team, employees, and location. You should also include financial information and high-level growth plans if you plan to ask for financing.

Company description

Use your company description to provide detailed information about your company. Go into detail about the problems your business solves. Be specific, and list out the consumers, organization, or businesses your company plans to serve.

Explain the competitive advantages that will make your business a success. Are there experts on your team? Have you found the perfect location for your store? Your company description is the place to boast about your strengths.

Market analysis

You'll need a good understanding of your industry outlook and target market. Competitive research will show you what other businesses are doing and what their strengths are. In your market research, look for trends and themes. What do successful competitors do? Why does it work? Can you do it better? Now's the time to answer these questions.

Organization and management

Tell your reader how your company will be structured and who will run it.

Describe the  legal structure  of your business. State whether you have or intend to incorporate your business as a C or an S corporation, form a general or limited partnership, or if you're a sole proprietor or limited liability company (LLC).

Use an organizational chart to lay out who's in charge of what in your company. Show how each person's unique experience will contribute to the success of your venture. Consider including resumes and CVs of key members of your team.

Service or product line

Describe what you sell or what service you offer. Explain how it benefits your customers and what the product lifecycle looks like. Share your plans for intellectual property, like copyright or patent filings. If you're doing  research and development  for your service or product, explain it in detail.

Marketing and sales

There's no single way to approach a marketing strategy. Your strategy should evolve and change to fit your unique needs.

Your goal in this section is to describe how you'll attract and retain customers. You'll also describe how a sale will actually happen. You'll refer to this section later when you make financial projections, so make sure to thoroughly describe your complete marketing and sales strategies.

Funding request

If you're asking for funding, this is where you'll outline your funding requirements. Your goal is to clearly explain how much funding you’ll need over the next five years and what you'll use it for.

Specify whether you want debt or equity, the terms you'd like applied, and the length of time your request will cover. Give a detailed description of how you'll use your funds. Specify if you need funds to buy equipment or materials, pay salaries, or cover specific bills until revenue increases. Always include a description of your future strategic financial plans, like paying off debt or selling your business.

Financial projections

Supplement your funding request with financial projections. Your goal is to convince the reader that your business is stable and will be a financial success.

If your business is already established, include income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for the last three to five years. If you have other collateral you could put against a loan, make sure to list it now.

Provide a prospective financial outlook for the next five years. Include forecasted income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and capital expenditure budgets. For the first year, be even more specific and use quarterly — or even monthly — projections. Make sure to clearly explain your projections, and match them to your funding requests.

This is a great place to use graphs and charts to tell the financial story of your business.  

Use your appendix to provide supporting documents or other materials were specially requested. Common items to include are credit histories, resumes, product pictures, letters of reference, licenses, permits, patents, legal documents, and other contracts.

Example traditional business plans

Before you write your business plan, read the following example business plans written by fictional business owners. Rebecca owns a consulting firm, and Andrew owns a toy company.

Lean startup format

You might prefer a lean startup format if you want to explain or start your business quickly, your business is relatively simple, or you plan to regularly change and refine your business plan.

Lean startup formats are charts that use only a handful of elements to describe your company’s value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances. They’re useful for visualizing tradeoffs and fundamental facts about your company.

There are different ways to develop a lean startup template. You can search the web to find free templates to build your business plan. We discuss nine components of a model business plan here:

Key partnerships

Note the other businesses or services you’ll work with to run your business. Think about suppliers, manufacturers, subcontractors, and similar strategic partners.

Key activities

List the ways your business will gain a competitive advantage. Highlight things like selling direct to consumers, or using technology to tap into the sharing economy.

Key resources

List any resource you’ll leverage to create value for your customer. Your most important assets could include staff, capital, or intellectual property. Don’t forget to leverage business resources that might be available to  women ,  veterans ,  Native Americans , and  HUBZone businesses .

Value proposition

Make a clear and compelling statement about the unique value your company brings to the market.

Customer relationships

Describe how customers will interact with your business. Is it automated or personal? In person or online? Think through the customer experience from start to finish.

Customer segments

Be specific when you name your target market. Your business won’t be for everybody, so it’s important to have a clear sense of whom your business will serve.

List the most important ways you’ll talk to your customers. Most businesses use a mix of channels and optimize them over time.

Cost structure

Will your company focus on reducing cost or maximizing value? Define your strategy, then list the most significant costs you’ll face pursuing it.

Revenue streams

Explain how your company will actually make money. Some examples are direct sales, memberships fees, and selling advertising space. If your company has multiple revenue streams, list them all.

Example lean business plan

Before you write your business plan, read this example business plan written by a fictional business owner, Andrew, who owns a toy company.

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Printing Company Business Plan Template

Document description.

This printing company business plan template has 33 pages and is a MS Word file type listed under our business plan kit documents.

Sample of our printing company business plan template:

[INSERT IMAGE/LOGO] [YOUR COMPANY NAME] ADDRESS/CONTACT INFO

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Printing Press Business Plan

The extensive marketplace, ever-increasing demands, and abundant opportunities for scalability make the printing press business an exciting opportunity for anyone to start.

Is your business idea financially feasible? Is it capable of achieving desired growth? What would be the approximate costs to run this business? Answering foundational questions gets much easier when you have a comprehensive business plan for your printing press business.

Need help writing a business plan for your printing press business? You’re at the right place. Our printing press business plan template will help you get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

How to Write A Printing Press Business Plan?

Writing a printing press business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.

Market Opportunity:

Products and services:.

Highlight the products and services you offer in your printing press business. Highlight the USPs and differentiators to establish a competitive edge.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

Describe your business in this section by providing all the basic information:

Describe what kind of printing press company you run and the name of it. You may specialize in one of the following printing press businesses:

Offset printing press

Digital printing press, online printing press, specialty printing press.

• Describe the legal structure of your printing press company, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

If you’re an established printing press service provider, briefly describe your business history, like—when it was founded, how it evolved over time, etc.

Future Goals:

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

Start this section by describing your target market. Define your ideal customer and explain what types of services they prefer. Creating a buyer persona will help you easily define your target market to your readers.

Market size and growth potential:

Describe your market size and growth potential and whether you will target a niche or a much broader market.

Competitive Analysis:

Market trends:.

Analyze emerging trends in the printing press market like advanced technologies and equipment, emerging demand for novelty printing solutions, etc. Explain how your business will cope with all the trends.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your digital printing business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Describe your offerings:

Mention the printing press products and services your business will offer. This list may include products and services like,

• Printing services like digital printing, offset printing, 3D printing, wide format printing, etc.
• Graphic services
• Print Finishing solutions like binding, lamination, cover, etc.
• Stationery products
• Packaging and label solutions

Describe each service:

Provide a detailed description of each service you provide.

Graphic designing and printing services include:

• Getting clients’ requirements and getting creative designed by graphic designers.
• Getting approval from the client.
• Choosing appropriate printing techniques and beginning printing.
• Giving final touches to printed materials.
• Packing it appropriately and getting it delivered.

Quality measures:

This section should explain how you maintain quality standards and consistently provide the highest quality service.

Additional Services:

In short, this section of your printing press plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

Define your business’s USPs depending on the market you serve, the equipment you use, and the unique services you provide. Identifying USPs will help you plan your marketing strategies.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your printing press business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your printing press business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Mention your printing business’s staffing requirement, including the number of employees needed. Include desired qualifications, skill sets and training requirements, familiarity level with advanced technologies, and their duties.

Operational Process:

Equipment & machinery:.

Include the list of equipment and machinery required for a printing press, such as printing machines, inkjet technologies, finishing tools and equipment, etc.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your printing press business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:, organizational structure:, compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

Mentioning advisors or consultants in your business plans adds credibility to your business idea.

This section should describe the key personnel for your printing press services, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

Determine and mention your business’s break-even point—the point at which your business costs and revenue will be equal.

Financing Needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the printing press industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your printing shop business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This sample printing services business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful printing press plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our printing press business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a printing press business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful printing press business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your printing press company.

What is the easiest way to write your printing press business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any printing press business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

How do I write a good market analysis in a printing press business plan?

Market analysis is one of the key components of your business plan that requires deep research and a thorough understanding of your industry. We can categorize the process of writing a good market analysis section into the following steps:

• Stating the objective of your market analysis—e.g., investor funding.
• Industry study—market size, growth potential, market trends, etc.
• Identifying target market—based on user behavior and demographics.
• Analyzing direct and indirect competitors.
• Calculating market share—understanding TAM, SAM, and SOM.
• Knowing regulations and restrictions
• Organizing data and writing the first draft.

Writing a marketing analysis section can be overwhelming, but using ChatGPT for market research can make things easier.

How detailed should the financial projections be in my printing press business plan?

The level of detail of the financial projections of your printing press business may vary considering various business aspects like direct and indirect competition, pricing, and operational efficiency. However, your financial projections must be comprehensive enough to demonstrate a comprehensive view of your financial performance.

Generally, the statements included in a business plan offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.

What key components should a printing press business plan include?

The following are the key components your printing press business plan must include:

• Executive summary
• Business Overview
• Market Analysis
• Products and services
• Sales and marketing strategies
• Operations plan
• Management team
• Financial plan

Can a good printing press business plan help me secure funding?

Indeed. A well-crafted printing press business will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping them make better financial decisions.

So, if you have a profitable and investable business, a comprehensive business plan can certainly help you secure your business funding.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Digital Printing Business Plan Sample

Published Mar.30, 2018

Updated Apr.12, 2024

By: Jakub Babkins

Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 6

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Table of Content

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.

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:

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:

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

6.4 sales yearly, 6.5 sales forecast, 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

8.2 projected profit and loss, 8.2.1 profit monthly, 8.2.2 profit yearly, 8.2.3 gross margin monthly, 8.2.4 gross margin yearly, 8.3 projected cash flow.

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• Business Plans Handbook
• Business Plans - Volume 01
• Printing Company v1 Business Plan

Printing Company

BUSINESS PLAN

MASTER PRINTER AND PARTNERS PRINTING

52 James St. Grace, NM 84753

6924 Auburn Dr. Grace, NM 84753

June 23, 1990

This business plan outlines a two-store operation offering a full range of printing services and supplies. The joint enterprise will improve efficiency through the use of Total Quality Management (TQM). Following is a description of the ways in which the companies will employ extensive use of strategic, operational, and financial planning, as well as ways they intend to incorporate TQM methods into their businesses .

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Business description, company history, market analysis, marketing strategy, job flow description, management and organization, goals and objectives, historical financial analysis and operational goals, financial information, balance sheet, supplemental documents.

There are two components to this company: Master Printer of Grace and Partners Printing of Theadora. Master Printer has been owned, all or in part, by Shawn Russell since 1981. Ms. Russell started Partners in 1990 to increase market share and penetrate the Theadora market. The firm lost a major contract in 1991. This experience caused the first major loss in eight years. It is our goal to diversify the sales to the extent that we will never be dependent on one customer to that degree again. In addition, we will improve our efficiency and effectiveness through the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM).

The two stores offer a full range of printing services and supplies. We have the ability to operate as a "quick printer" when necessary. A full list of services is included in the Business Description section.

The market is divided into commercial taxable and nontaxable accounts. We are currently identifying the number of potential accounts. The main competition is Charter Stationary, Langston Printing, and Monroe's Print Shop in Grace, and Penny Printing and Paper Supplies and Priceless Printing in Theadora. Our company will emphasize service, quality, price, and speed of service to compete in the market place. The printing industry is growing at a rate of 8 to 11 percent a year. We estimate our market share to be 34.2 percent and plan to increase that to 44.4 percent in five years through the implementation and annual revision of this plan.

Master and Partners have the ability to offer full-line printing services. The labor force consists of 13 people who have 150 combined years of printing and/or sales experience. We will use a delivery service to get the products to our customers in the outlying areas and for customers who need rush service.

We presently have a need for the following funds:

We would like to have this loan over a 12-year term at 8.34 percent interest.

This business plan makes extensive and exhaustive use of strategic, operational, and financial planning. An essential element of this plan is the installation of the TQM method.

Master Printer and Partners Printing offer a range of services, including:

• Offset printing
• Limited in-house full-color
• Job out balance of full-color
• Books, manuals, brochures
• Computer typesetting with Apple Macintosh and Varitype
• Letter press

At the current time our regular customers are:

• Percy's Restaurant
• Jim's Video Arcade
• Grace School System
• Pine Acres Rest Home
• Government Printing Facility
• Sarah's Stitchery

In addition to the few accounts listed above, we have approximately 100 accounts not listed (i.e., churches, businesses, clubs, etc.).

Master Printer is a local commercial printing company that has recently expanded to Theadora, New Mexico. Master was established in Grace, New Mexico in 1889 as a local newspaper printer, along with a job print shop. It was created to meet the printing needs of the local community.

After a period of time, the job print shop was sold as a commercial print shop. It was owned and operated as Grace Printing Company by Mrs. Dorothy Simmons.

In 1935, an employee, Drake Master, purchased Grace Printing Company and changed the name to Master Printer. During 1945, Mr. Master had a building erected at 52 James Street. This site remains the location of the present shop.

Master Printer was operated by Mr. and Mrs. Master until 1972. A few years after the death of Mr. Master, the shop again changed hands. It was sold to Mrs. Jane Appleton, who had been an employee of the company for 20 years.

In January 1981, Ms. Appleton sold Master Printer to two employees, Arthur Banes and Jack Wilson. Annie Reese became a junior partner.

Master Printer operated under this general partnership until it was dissolved in October of 1984. It was during this time that Shawn Russell became the sole proprietor of Master Printer.

In October of 1990, Shawn Russell expanded to Theadora, New Mexico. She opened a print shop under the name of Partners Printing. The two locations are full service printing companies and offer a wide range of printing products and services.

Potential Customers:

In addition to our current customers, I have identified the following businesses that will help diversify our revenue base:

• Tandy Toy Store
• Wednesday's
• Thomas, Bailey, & Hardy
• Jamie's Boutique
• Ralph White's Hardware

Small customers that have been overlooked in the past, such as physicians, young professionals, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses in our market area will be identified by next December.

Estimated Printing Market Size and Competition:

• Selection of Service
• New Business

The threats within the local market are:

• New print shop(s)
• New and better copiers, for in-house do-it-yourselfers

These are only potential threats, so no plan of action is necessary at this time. It is important to recognize and monitor these items for future strategy.

Target Markets

We are going to strengthen our local market by concentrating on increasing our smaller business accounts, as mentioned above. We estimate that by concentrating on maintaining our existing accounts and securing new accounts, our market share will increase as follows:

We intend to price our services and products just below or equal to our competition. The goal is to accomplish this while maintaining superior service over our competitors. We can accomplish this through efficiency, company training sessions, and by concentrating on quality control.

We will emphasize our perceived competitive advantage of service, quality, and price, to penetrate the market. To accomplish this, our promotion plan will include:

Public Relations

We intend to have periodic meetings and training sessions teaching employees how to communicate effectively with customers on the phone, and in person. One of our aims, in hopes of satisfying our customers, is to demonstrate alternative ways to do their printing. This should, in many cases, save them time and money. These training sessions are scheduled on the master calendar. (See Supplemental Documents section for information about the company calendar).

Advertising and Sales Incentives

We will develop a series of radio commercials that will be effective in exposing both companies to our market areas. We plan to have periodic promotions offering discounts or specials on various printing items (i.e. business cards, envelopes, letterheads, etc.). We will be able to determine what means of advertising will be most effective for our companies by utilizing these promotions at different intervals on various types of media. Campaigns will be initiated at the monthly Marketing Evaluation Meeting as scheduled on the monthly calendar.

Outside Sales

Outside sales has been a weak area. It has been targeted as a major area of emphasis. We are presently utilizing certain employees who we feel are qualified to work in outside sales. By readjusting production and work schedules, we are certain that the volume of business should noticeably increase for both companies.

We will survey present customers and potential customers in an effort to find the weak and strong areas of our products and services. This will be accomplished by utilizing outside sales people and the mail service. Through this survey, we should be able to gain valuable information giving us a competitive edge over our competition. Surveys are also scheduled on the master calendar. A sample survey has been provided in the Supplemental Documents section.

If the marketing goals, as outlined above, are not within 25 percent of projection by February 1, 1994, then the following strategy will be implemented immediately:

• Additional emphasis will be placed on outside sales by doubling our sales efforts.
• A 25 percent increase in radio advertising will be initiated.
• Additional promotional incentives will be implemented.
• A conference will be held with our accountant and banker.

If the marketing goals are still not met by July 1, then a marketing consultant with proven experience in the printing industry will be hired to implement a successful strategy.

The printing plants are located at 52 James Street for Master Printer and 6924 Auburn Drive in Theadora for Partners Printing. The combined labor cost for both companies is $121 per hour. Our operations consist of the following procedures:

First, the customer places the order. The employee taking the order should get as much information from the customer as possible (filling out the job worksheet should be sufficient). Also, at the time the employee receives the order a reasonable time should be determined for completing the job. The customer should be notified of any changes occurring with the order.

Second, the job ticket with all the information should be completed and documented in the job log book. The typesetter should be notified if typesetting is needing or the job should be taken directly to layout if all of the information is camera-ready. If the job is a repeal order, it should also be taken to layout.

Third, the typesetter should typeset any required copy as specified by the customer. Questions or problems should be directed to the person who took the order. No work should leave the typesetter until it has been properly proofed by two or more employees.

Fourth, every time typesetting is done for a customer, the customer must see a proof before printing is done. Therefore, the client is to be called in for proofing and they should sign a proof slip after reviewing the completed work. A customer who is proofing the typesetting that we have done should be encouraged to check spelling, phone numbers, etc. for accuracy.

It is a good idea, and should be a regular practice, for an employee to go over the proofing process with the customer and review the printing specifications as they are printed on the job ticket. Take nothing for granted and never ASSUME anything.

Fifth, after the proofing and correction stage, the job should go to layout, where logos and art work are added, an original is made, and a plate is prepared for printing.

Sixth, the plate is taken to a pressman. The pressman's job is to pull the stock required for the job and then print it to the specifications on the ticket. Again, the pressman should not assume anything. If there is any question or doubt as to the specifications of printing the job, the pressman should take the questions to the shop foreman for clarification.

Seventh, the job is printed and then goes to the bindery for any bindery work needed (i.e. collating, numbering, padding, cutting, gathering, packaging, etc.). When all bindery work is done and the job is complete, it should either be delivered or taken to the front office for pick-up.

Eighth, the delivery person or the front office employee should get a signed delivery receipt and/or a signed in voice when the job is picked-up. The delivery receipt should then be placed in the job envelope and the envelope filed in the completed box. The invoice also has its assigned place and should be filed there without fail.

Personnel in each department should be aware of the delivery dates requested by customers. The work schedules should ensure that these dates are met. Should a job be held up in a department that will affect the delivery dates, the customer should be notified to help maintain proper public relations.

Also, it is the responsibility of the bookkeeper to make sure that all customers are invoiced weekly and that statements are in the mail at the proper time. Any time an invoice can be delivered with the job, it should be, as this will eliminate unnecessary postage and work load in the front office.

The managers' duties are quite encompassing, as they oversee all shop employees. Therefore, this job requires knowledge of operational procedures, people skills, and a very broad knowledge of shop equipment maintenance. Further duties and responsibilities are:

• Management of each department supervisor
• Ordering supplies and all paper stock
• Overseeing the completion of jobs and ensuring quality control
• Maintaining schedules
• Cost controlling and waste management which requires shop personnel to use stock that is cut and left from previous jobs, instead of cutting down new stock
• Responsible for monitoring job flow and ensuring that each order is on schedule
• Taking job orders, answering the phone if the front office needs help, and waiting on customers

A listing of all management goals that have been derived as a result of this plan are listed in the Supplemental Documents section.

When the previous months financial statements are received, these procedures will be reevaluated and appropriate changes will be made. If the cost containment measures are not effective, then changes will be made. Financial reviews are scheduled on the monthly calendar.

Target percentages for the line items that will be monitored for containment are:

TQM will be instituted after management is educated on the benefits and short comings of the process. TQM has been scheduled on the master calendar.

Management Goals

• Recapitalize through loan proceeds.
• Initiate a plan of action to create a better working atmosphere.
• Reduce cost and increase profits.
• Through new formats and procedures, increase profitability.
• Strengthen present customer base and expand customer base to outside areas (Rosemond, Alareado, Mansfield, etc.).
• Update equipment to expand into more specialized areas of the printing market.
• Increase employee benefits.

Operational Goals

Cost contain.

• Contain all costs within FRA guidelines where applicable.
• Establish a regular insurance audit to determine needs and reduce cost where applicable.
• Install TQM in phases as indicated on the master calendar.
• Examine costs on a regular basis during monthly financial review.

Implement the following accounting changes:

These items are projected to be purchased in the following time frame:

Productivity/Efficiency Goals

• Contain waste through regular management meetings, at the present time and through TQM methods in the long-run.
• Install employee suggestion box with cash incentives for suggestion that result in cost savings on increased productivity. This will lead to a team based presentation program through TQM in the long-run.
• Outline Quality Control Procedures. (See subsection on Production and Quality Control).

Business Plan complete - September 21st

Loan Funded - October 2nd

A management calendar has been developed to indicate projection dates for reaching strategic decision goals. It is also used to schedule strategic planning sessions, evaluations, and general meetings.

Information about obtaining the comprehensive historical income statements can be found in the Supplemental Documents section. The following text is a summarized version of these statements.

An analysis of the 12-year trend indicates an increase in revenue for 11 of the past 12 years. The year, 1981, is the exception to this trend.

In 1981, Shawn Russell was adjusting to making management decisions, while continuing her work as a presswoman. The work force consisted of the two general partners, one junior partner, one full-time employee, and occasional part-time help. The high number of employees resulted in lower salaries and wages for that year.

In 1982, there was a considerable salary increase without a corresponding increase in sales or gross profit. The difficulties experienced in the partnership limited sound management decisions. This salary increase, along with the absence of an active sales force, contributed to a decrease in gross profits for the company by 1984.

In August of 1984, the partnership realized that it needed to disband. It was dissolved in October of 1984. After the dissolution of the partnership, the shop has realized steady growth.

Several expense line items have been analyzed and have provided opportunities for cost containment.

Cost of Goods

This item appears to have been out of proportion at certain periods. To remedy this, several steps have been and will be taken.

• Procedures are being taken to monitor material waste. Waste due to errors can be considerably reduced by implementing and enforcing policies on quality control.
• Pricing updates will be made more often to reflect price increases on papers and supplies. Price lists have recently been updated and modified to simplify pricing procedures for employees. This will be a major help in eliminating pricing errors.
• Each department will be responsible for recording time spent on each job. This will show what types of printing jobs are more or less profitable, and indicate what measures should be taken to increase profitability.

Wages (including owners)

Wages have averaged 28.6 percent over the 12 year history. Current labor expense is high, 37.3 percent of gross sales, due to the loss of the Hillman Equipment contracts. The figures are ½ actual and ½ projection. One employee has been terminated and one employee quit. As a result, this percentage should be lower by year end. The FRA (Financial Research Association) comparison for a like-size business indicates a 35.98 average. Therefore, Master Printer and Partners Printing are only 1.32 percent above this industry average. Increases in productivity brought about through the implementation of this plan will bring this figure to below the industry average.

Payroll Taxes

Payroll taxes have increased from .7 percent in 1981 to 3.7 percent in 1992. However, this line item is only controllable indirectly through total labor.

Advertising

Advertising is .7 percent on average and is above the FRA average of .39 percent for small-sized businesses. In order to increase our penetration in the market, this item will have to remain above this average for a short time. However, we do feel that by utilizing an effective advertising strategy, our advertising dollars will yield a greater return than in the past.

Auto Expense

Auto expense was .8 percent in 1982, and 1.9 in 1992, or a 237 percent increase. There are no industry averages for this line item, but it is deemed to be high.

The increase is contributed primarily to the frequent trips and distance from Grace to Theadora. These trips should be less frequent due to the loss of certain Hillman contracts. Therefore, this expense should decrease without an action plan.

Bad debts have not been a significant problem in the past, but we will continue to monitor accounts receivable to avoid developing any problems in this area.

Insurance costs have escalated from .4 percent of gross to 1.2 percent and are in line with the FRA industry average of 1.78 percent.

Interest has moved from 2.3 percent of gross to 2.8 percent in 1991, which is a 21.7 percent increase in 11 years. We hope to reduce our interest expense by obtaining a loan at lower interest rates than we are presently paying.

Lease Expense

Lease expense has fluctuated over the years, starting at 4.6 percent in 1981 and decreasing to 2.3 percent in 1991. We hope to reduce this expense even further by purchasing equipment, rather than acquiring it on lease options. The purchases will be evaluated with our accountant to determine what items will be most advantageous at the time.

Repairs and Maintenance

Repairs and maintenance increased significantly from 1981 through 1988. This was due in part to service agreements on new equipment. From 1988, however, this expense has significantly decreased from .77 percent of revenues to .37 percent.

Pro-forma income statement projections and balance sheets are available from the main office of Harris, Ridder, & Manny, Inc., 6734 Desert Drive, Grace, NM 84753. The following is a summary of their findings and recommendations.

Two pro-forma income statements were constructed for the purpose of analysis. One is based on the current debt structure and the other focuses on a capital restructuring program. The first indicates a net cash position of $18,348 at year end, while the second reveals a new cash position of $25,016. The capital restructuring program is as follows:

Of the $25,000 in operating costs, $10,000 will be placed in a money market account and marked for emergency use only. This account will be built to a level of $26,000, which is ten percent of gross profit. It will be maintained at that level in accordance with the gross profit figures.

Historical growth has occurred at 15 percent over the last 11 years. However, for purposes of this analysis, the growth rate was held to ten percent. The actual year to year growth rate varies in accordance with the ebb and flow of the local economy. The 1995-1996 fiscal year shows an actual decrease in sales, something the company has experienced only once in the past 11 years.

Owing to greater efficiencies and economies of scale, the net cash available grows from $25,223 in 1993-1994 to $80,404 in 1994-1995.

A FMV balance sheet was constructed because of the extensive depreciation the company currently has on the books. A market analysis was obtained from the company (See Supplemental Documents) to establish the value of the real property. The value of the equipment was estimated using replacement costs, instead of new costs, as a guideline. Value was given to the leased equipment only if it was projected to pay out in less than six months. The owners' equity in FMV terms is 34.5 percent.

Cash was used as a plug figure from the income statements. Accounts receivable and inventory were increased at five percent per year, and this amount was subtracted from cash because no allocation was made in the pro-forma income statements. The capital purchases were also subtracted from cash. Depreciation was estimated at the current rate for the life of the projection. After the current period, the payables were reduced to $1,000.

Since the business has a substantial amount of equipment depreciated out or almost out, the net worth figure was modified by adding the FMV net to arrive at an adjusted figure.

Major Assumptions

• Economy of Grace and Theadora remain relatively the same.
• No "significant" new competition.
• No large capital purchases within two years.
• TQM will be implemented within one year, with resultant efficiencies.

Company Calendar

The Master Calendar is a long range planning tool for company managers. It is a five year record of management meetings and programs. Some of the items included on this calendar are: Insurance Audits, Financial Review Sessions, Policy and Procedure Meetings, a schedule for implementation of the TQM Program, and Quarterly Management Summary Meetings.

A copy of the Master Calendar can be obtained from the Master Printer office.

Organizational Chart and Management Resumes

A chart illustrating the management hierarchy has been prepared by the owner, Shawn Russell. Please contact Ms. Russell for a copy.

Management resumes and references are available upon request.

Financial Documents

Tables containing sales figures, gross profit, operating expenses, other income, and net income over the past 12 years have been prepared by Harris, Ridder, & Manny, Inc., 6734 Desert Dr., Grace, NM 84753.

The firm of Harris, et al has also compiled additional financial statements and supplementary schedules including: a proprietorship balance sheet; a table illustrating the proprietor's capital for the one month and eight month period that ended in August of 1993; and other related statements of income. Please contact the main office, at the address listed above, for copies of these financial documents.

Market Analysis

A Market Analysis of local properties has been completed by the Benchman Company, 7483 Riverside Dr., Grace, NM 84753. The report revealed the estimated market value of both single family dwellings and retail office space. The homes ranged from $45,000 to $105,00 and the office facilities were between $9,500 to $70,000. A copy of the full analysis is available upon request.

Employee Guidelines and Production and Quality Control

Production and Quality Control is everyone's responsibility.

Dealing with Customers

Be polite and cordial

A prerequisite and requirement to taking orders is being friendly and cordial, regardless of how bad a day you may have had. Make each customer feel he or she is important and welcome. Every customer is important, so be careful not to be rude or brash.

When a customer arrives, know in advance who is going to deal with their order. Wait on customers immediately. DO NOT keep them waiting. If more than one customer comes in get someone in the back to help.

Receiving Jobs or Information (in person or on the phone)

Write everything down (use the work order form)

• Record person's NAME, TIME of call, and DATE.
• Get the address and phone number if possible.
• Type, color, and weight of stock
• Size or sizes of stock
• Color or colors of ink
• Types of bindery required (if necessary)
• Job due date
• Question information that is vague
• Quantity or quantities of order
• Record price quoted if possible
• Do not quote the customer a price unless you are sure of it. Double check the price with someone if possible.
• When receiving information concerning jobs already in production, write down the change and send it immediately to the appropriate department. Make sure that the change is recorded on the job ticket.
• Watch for Obvious Errors: Always check name, dates, and phone numbers.

After information on Page One has been obtained and recorded, the old job ticket should be pulled and a new ticket should be filled out. Someone other than the person taking the job should call the customer to verify information recorded, including the price.

After a proof is ready, with respect to the due date, the customer will be contacted, or proof will be delivered to the customer. If proof has not been picked up or OK'd in a reasonable time, with respect to the due date, a follow-up call needs to be made to the customer.

The same shall apply to completed jobs waiting to be picked up by the customer.

If supplies that have been ordered have not arrived in a reasonable amount of time, a follow-up call is to be made to the company. This also applies to orders shipped outside of the print shop.

• If it is clear where the fault lies, due to carelessness or negligence, the cost of the job may be charged to the person or persons responsible for the error.
• Communicate effectively
• Work together
• Keep your mind and thoughts on your job

Reducing Expenses

• Utilized supplies efficiently
• Avoid cutting too much stock
• Be conservative when using supplies. Use only what is needed.
• Designated persons will be responsible for cutting papers and stocks for each job prior to printing
• Each job ticket will be attached to a production control sheet. Each person and department will be responsible for recording the time the project was started and the time it was completed.
• Utilize time efficiently
• Strive to produce 8 hours of quality production daily
• Work overtime only when necessary
• Overtime is encouraged when the level of production justifies it.
• Inform the front office when you are making up time or working comp-time or overtime.
• Regular Maintenance on equipment is required: Equipment will be lubricated on a regular basis. Operators of each piece of equipment will set up a regular maintenance schedule for each piece of equipment. These schedules will be submitted and reviewed at the end of each month.
• Equipment will be cleaned and kept clean daily.
• Each person will be responsible for keeping his or her immediate work area neat and organized
• An organized work space will create a more efficient work environment

It is in everyone's best interest to be efficient and to reduce costs as much as possible. If you see something that needs to be done, inquire about it, and see that it gets done. Each person working at this company is a valuable and important part of our success.

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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

View the full financial highlights by downloading the pdf

Startup Summary

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

Industry at a Glance

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.

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

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

Projected Cash Flow

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

Projected Balance Sheet

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

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Screen Printing Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Screen Printing Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their screen printing companies. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a screen printing business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Screen Printing Business Plan?

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

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Screen Printing Company

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

Sources of Funding for Screen Printing Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a screen printing business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards 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 confirm 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 is the other most common form of funding for a screen printing business. Venture capitalists will usually not fund a screen printing business. They might consider funding a screen printing business with a national presence, but never an individual location. This is because most venture capitalists are looking for millions of dollars in return when they make an investment, and an individual location could never achieve such results.  With that said, personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for screen printing companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a screen printing company.

If you want to start a screen printing business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your screen printing business plan template:

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 type of screen printing business you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a screen printing business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of screen printing businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the screen printing industry. Discuss the type of screen printing business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of screen printing business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of screen printing companies:

• T-shirt/ Clothing : this type of screen printing business focuses on printing graphic t-shirts and other items of clothing.
• Logos and Decals: this type of screen printing is focused on providing logos and decals in a variety of forms such as stickers, magnets, patches, pens, etc.
• Advertising: this type of screen printing is focused on providing banners, posters, flyers, car wraps and more for advertising purposes

In addition to explaining the type of screen printing business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, number of positive reviews, number of products sold, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal business structure here.

Industry Analysis

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

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

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

The third reason for market research 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 screen printing business plan:

• How big is the screen printing 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 market for your screen printing 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 screen printing business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: business owners, event planners and college students

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of screen printing business you operate. Clearly, a business owner would respond to different marketing promotions than a frisbee club at a local college, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most screen printing businesses primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand 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 screen printing businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes clothing stores, texttile printers, and ecommerce companies. You need to mention such competition as well.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other screen printing businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be house flippers located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses 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 products do they sell?
• 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 printing for a wider variety of products than your competitors?
• Will you offer a quicker turnaround time?
• 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 screen printing business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of screen printing company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to screen printing, will you provide embroidery, offer bulk discounts, or offer a rewards program for returning clients?

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

Place : Place refers to the location of your screen printing company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your screen printing marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local websites
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising

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 screen printing business, including promoting your company, researching potential clientele, tracking inventory, and screen printing.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include when you hope to reach $X in revenue or the date when you hope to secure your X th client. It could also be when you expect to expand your screen printing business to a 2 nd location.

Management Team

To demonstrate your screen printing business’ ability 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 screen printing 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 like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing screen printing companies or successfully running small businesses.  

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 revenues 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 purchase new inventory once per month or twice per month? 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 screen printing 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 bank 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

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a screen printing business:

• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• Cost of screen printers or press and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

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 product design mock-ups.

Putting together a business plan for your screen printing 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 really understand the screen printing industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful business.  

Screen Printing Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my screen printing business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Screen Printing Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of screen printing business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a screen printing business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of screen printing businesses?

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

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Custom Printed T-Shirts Business Plan

Start your own custom printed t-shirts business plan

Your T-Shirt!

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.">, opportunity.

Imagine the ability to create a totally custom shirt. You choose the material and style of the shirt, and then the image or graphic you want on the front and/or back. This is the ultimate form of expression. There are no limits to what you can communicate. Some people might show their fanaticism for a particular sports team, others a musician. Or you might have a social message or cause on your shirt. Whatever you may decide, you can print any image on your shirt. 

Your T-Shirt! is an exciting new business that allows people to custom design a shirt (specifically the design on the front or back) any way that they would like. By intelligently leveraging cutting edge technology, Your T-Shirt! will harness the power of computer sublimation to allow custom shirt printing in production runs as small as one unit.

Your T-Shirt! has segmented the market into two groups, organized by the type of product that they purchase. The first group is customers that desire an already created graphic image to be placed on the their shirt. The second group are those that prefer custom artwork to be placed on their shirt. Your T-Shirt! has decided to divide the market by the products that they purchase because it offers an intuitive, easy method of targeting the two different groups. An additional reason for segmenting the market based on the two products is because the demographics for the buyers of the two products are distinct enough to group them separately.

Competition

Your T-Shirt! has identified three competitors, two are local companies, the third is an Internet-based shirt designer.

• T-shirt World  — This local competitor specializes in silk-screening. 70% of their business is silk-screening with the remaining 30% sublimation. They require a minimum order of 10 with a 2-3 week lead time. This company only uses pre-existing designs for their silk-screening and for sublimations you must use their artist.
• Shirt Shack  — This local retailer is geared toward organizations or teams with production runs of 20 or more. They do fairly good work but are rigid regarding custom work.
• Design House  — This is an Internet-based retailer that primarily offers computer sublimations. Design House has a catalog of approximately 200 images for the customer to choose from. They do allow customers to use their own graphic. The quality of the sublimations is mediocre at best because they can only use off the shelf technology.

Our mission is to offer the finest in custom shirt sublimation production. We will offer customers the best product at the best price. Customer’s expectations will always be exceeded.

Expectations

We are going to grow our business to start making a modest profit in year 3. Our name will become synonymous with high quality fashion forward T-Shirts. Everyone will come to us when they want to wear something custom made. We will be able to pay off friends and family by year 5. 

Financial Highlights by Year

Financing needed.

We will be getting a total of $84,500. David will be contributing $19,500 of his own money. We have a loan of $65,000 which will be fully paid by year 5. We will make a small profit starting year 3 and will consider taking on more staff by year 4 or 5 after we pay off the loan completely. 

Problem & Solution

Problem worth solving, our solution, target market, market size & segments.

Market Segmentation

Your T-Shirt! has segmented their market into two distinct groups. As mentioned previously, the two segments are grouped by the type of product they chose. Although Your T-Shirt! is dividing the market by product type, it is effectively dividing the market by age as well since the customers who purchase the custom artwork shirts tend to be older than the group preferring the ready-made graphics. While this is not a hard and fast rule, it is a fairly accurate generalization.

Graphics  — This is group purchases a shirt and has an existing graphic placed on the shirt. This is the less expensive option and lends itself to low production numbers, as low as one, since there is not the inherent expense of artwork creation.

• 69% are students
• Median individual income is $26,000
• Go out to eat 3.4 times a week
• Listen to 3.6 hours of music a week

Artwork  — This segment prefers having custom artwork created and placed on their shirt. They generally have the image or style in mind and will direct the artist to create it. Occassionally when the customer will not have an exact image in mind but will rely on the artist’s skills to help shape the work. Some of these customers will use Your T-Shirt!’s partner artist, others will have a friend or other service provider develop the art.

• Median individual income is $42,000
• Go out to eat 2.7 times a week
• Listen to 3.3 hours of music a week
• 18% are using the shirt as a form of communication for a cause or a message

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

Your T-Shirt! has chosen these two market segments because their demographics (reasonably young) have the highest likelihood of purchasing a custom shirt. Both of these segments are reasonably young. This is important because most of Your T-Shirt!’s products are T-shirts and younger people tend to wear them frequently.

Music is also an important interest for the target markets since both segments listen to and watch more than average amount of music. T-shirts are particularly popular at music events. This phenomenon may be explained in part by the expressive nature of both music and T-shirt graphics. Your T-Shirt! will provide a form of expression, allowing each customer to choose what aesthetic or idea they want to communicate.

Lastly, the business will be located in Seattle which has a young, hip scene. There are many music and other venues that cater to Your T-Shirt!’s demographic and these will be useful in developing awareness of Your T-Shirt!

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Our Advantages

Your T-Shirt! has two advantages that will use to their advantage to achieve market penetration.

• Large catalog of graphics  — Your T-Shirt! is developing several strategic relationships with existing graphics companies that have an extensive images catalogs. It would be difficult and expensive for Your T-Shirt! to create their own library of graphics but by developing relationships with companies who own existing libraries, Your T-Shirt! is able to offer its customers an expansive array of imagery. Your T-Shirt! pays a royalty for use of these graphics.
• Quality of the sublimation  — Due to its networking contacts at Hewlett-Packard, and the use of prototype technology, Your T-Shirt! will be able to produce sublimations of much higher quality than any of their competitors. This gives Your T-Shirt! a fantastic competitive edge. At some point within the next two years this technology may be available to the public, however because of the close contacts Mr. Inkler shares with HP, Your T-Shirt! will always have cutting edge technology available, well in advance of any public release.

Keys to Success

Our keys to success is: 

• Leverage cutting edge technology as a competitive advantage.
• Exceed customer expectations by offering high quality products at reasonable prices with quick turnaround times.
• Employ careful financial and accounting analysis to ensure efficiency and proper controls.

Marketing & Sales

Marketing plan.

The marketing campaign will seek to increase visibility for Your T-Shirt!, emphasizing the ability of the customer to completely customize their design. Your T-Shirt! will use several different venues to communicate this message.

• Advertising  — Your T-Shirt! will run ads in several teen/young adult magazines whose readership demographics are similar to Your T-Shirt!’s.
• Youth events  — Many different events will be sponsored as a means of increasing visibility. These include but are not limited to music festivals and sporting events along with the new genre of extreme sporting events.
• Student groups  — Your T-Shirt! will attempt to gain awareness of the different student groups who actively purchase shirts for their members. Awareness will be achieved through a combination of sponsorship of student organization events as well as advertisements in magazines that specifically target this demographic. 

The sales strategy will emphasize the fact that ordering a shirt from Your T-Shirt! is a very easy and pleasing experience. The sales effort will work on the continual development of the website, the main tool used for ordering. It will be quite important to have a friendly, easy to use web interface for two main reasons. One, there are so many choices available that it could become daunting to the customer. The second reason is that a large portion of sales will be placed on the website. It is imperative to make it so easy that people don’t stop part way through ordering due to cumbersome or difficult instructions. The website embraces the philosophy of making the experience so easy and pleasing that the customer comes back to buy more.

Your T-Shirt! will also rely on three other factors to help boost sales. The first is exemplary customer service. Having excellent service will provide the customer with the feeling that the business is looking out for the customer’s interest. Second, when a customer places an order, they will probably be excited to see the finished product, so Your T-Shirt! will ensure the fastest turnaround time possible. Lastly, sales will be boosted by offering customers a high quality product. We will use high grade cotton shirts and state-of-the-art sublimation printing materials.

Locations & Facilities

We are going to have a small store front with one computer where our customers can put in their own designs. We will have a counter and cash register for those who would like to have help. It will be set up somewhat like a fedex kiosk, most of the work will be done online and offsite at HP. 

Your T-Shirt! will offer customers a variety of options for creating their own custom shirts. The majority of orders will be for t-shirts, however other style shirts will be available. Your T-Shirt! has developed a strategic relationship with Hewlett-Packard (HP) printer division. We will use their printer sublimation technology that allows a computer image to be applied to a shirt in a high quality, high resolution, economically feasible manner. This technology creates an image durable enough to withstand thousands of washings. Its photo-like quality, due to significantly higher printer resolution than anything on the market, will show off any image. The technology is cost effective enough to offer customers the ability to order just one unit. Most other competitors’ costs prohibit printing custom shirts in one-off production runs. Finally, the customer may choose from an extensive library of existing images, supply their own image, or have an artist create an image for them

Equipment & Tools

The store will have a computer kiosk for customers to access the graphics catalog. The customer can then place the order online or take the information to an employee to place the order.

Milestones & Metrics

Milestones table, key metrics.

Our Key Metrics are: 

• # of page views and shares on Facebook
• # of tweets and retweets on Twitter 
• # of Customers in a month
• # of higher priced custom t shirts 
• # of searches for our websites 
• # of customers calling for more info 

Ownership & Structure

Your T-Shirt! is a start-up organization. It has been formed as a Washington registered L.L.C. by David Inkler. The L.L.C. formation was chosen as a way to minimize personal liability issues for the owner and avoiding the double taxation found in traditional corporations. 

Management Team

Your T-Shirt! will be led by David Inkler and is not his first t-shirt venture. While in college David produced and sold tie-dye shirts. This early business experience gave David valuable insight into the market, the products, and the customer’s needs and desires. Since leaving college David worked in Hewlett-Packard’s printer division, and it was this experience that provided useful business and professional contacts within the shirt sublimation technology industry that he is currently leveraging. After three years in marketing at HP, David went back to school to earn his MBA. David will use his educational skills, his technological business contacts, and his previous shirt industry experience to make Your T-Shirt! profitable. Sales forecasts indicate that Your T-Shirt! will achieve sterling sales for years two and three respectively. Net profit will correspondingly be untarnished.

Personnel Table

Financial plan investor-ready personnel plan .">, key assumptions.

Our key assumptions are: 

• There are people with disposable income that will be interested in buying custom t-shirts 
• People  like wearing shirts that say something as a fashion and personal statement. 
• Our customers will find us on our website 
• Our customers will appreciate the convenience of getting t-shirts shipped to their house and will be willing to pay for it. 

Revenue by Month

Expenses by month, net profit (or loss) by year, use of funds.

 Your T-Shirt! will incur the following expenses for start up:

• Two Apple Macintosh computers — These will be high end models and utilize the following software: Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Macromedia FreeHand, and QuickBooks Pro.
• HP XX Laser Printer — This is a prototype printer not available to the public.
• In-store computer kiosk — This allows customers to view options for shirts and existing imagery.
• Website — This will be used for information disbursement as well as ordering.
• Shelving display unit — To display assorted graphic images on paper for easier viewing.
• Broadband Internet connection.
• Two desk/chair/office supplies sets.
• Small shirt inventory — Inventory will be kept small to lower overhead. This will be accomplished by using a shirt vendor who is one shipping day away, effectively using a just-in-time (JIT) system for managing inventory. 
• Heat application unit — To make the sublimation transfer.

Start-up Expenses

Legal $1,200

Stationery etc. $200

Computer equipment $6,200

Office furniture $1,000

Sublimation heat transfer unit $2,000

Wesite development $6,500

TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES $17,100 

Sources of Funds

We will need a total of $84,500. David will give 19,500 of his own money. He secured a loan for $65,000 for the startup expenses. Since we are able to break even by the second year, and make profit on the third year. He will start hiring more staff to up the sales by year 5 after he pays off the loan. 

Projected Profit & Loss

Projected balance sheet, projected cash flow statement.

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Made for every business

Whether you’re a fresh start-up or a huge global name, our business plans are here to support you. With more brand control, pro design support, dedicated account management and more. You’ll also save on everything you order – all the time.  Choose from our Business Advance d , Business Boost or Reseller  plans.

Benefits for your brand

Things to make your job easier – and make your brand look amazing.

Account management

Need help fast? Got a quick question about your design? Want something done super urgently? Whatever it is, with an  Business Advanced  or Reseller plan your MOO account manager will be there for you. Making life that little bit easier. 

Pro design support

Can’t design everything yourself? No problem. Our in-house creative team can do it for you. From creating all your Business Cards to designing a one-off custom Water Bottle. Available with  Business Advanced ,  Business Boost  or  Reseller  plan.

Special savings

Get an exclusive discount on everything you order – all the time. Perfect for those big, big orders on Business Cards. Or if you’re planning a massive brand refresh. Available with Business Advanced , Business Boost or Reseller plan.

Easy, speedy ordering

No matter how big your team, your MOO portal makes ordering everyone’s print super simple. Or let them do it themselves – with lockable, editable templates that keep everything on brand. Available with  Business Advanced ,  Business Boost  or  Reseller  plan.

Designing for clients?

Our Reseller plan is designed for you. Giving you total creative freedom, discounts on everything you order – and dedicated proofing support. So you can just focus on wowing people with your work.

Exclusive custom products

Get access to our full product range, including things you won’t see on our website – Brochures, Folders, Floor Decals and more. Plus special bespoke options and more sustainable choices for the products you know. Available with  Business Advanced ,  Business Boost  or  Reseller  plan.

Interested? Let’s chat.

Email [email protected] or fill in your details and one of our friendly account managers will be in touch.

“I’ve been a MOO customer (and fan!) for years. Way back when, I fell in love with the Printfinity option – it’s so nice to have that flexibility even as a very small business. Being able to cut out the trickier parts of printing but still get beautiful custom quality results was such a win for me.”

Mustard Made

“Whether our focus is in engaging and forging relationships with our current partnerships portfolio, fostering employee engagement through internal events and custom collateral, or networking with potential customers within the B2B landscape – MOO makes the process seamless and easy. And they’ve grown to become a valued partner of ours over the years.”

Case studies

See how all types of businesses are using MOO in all kinds of ways.

Becoming happier and healthier - a Calm case study

The Calm app collaborated with MOO to help market their brand offline.

How MOO and Kitty & Vibe celebrated World Kindness Day

This lifestyle brand teamed up with MOO to spread their brand mission.

Big Leo showcases its new brand identity in style

This creative agency is working with MOO to show its appreciation for its talented team.

Why do I need a MOO Business Services plan?

A Business Services plan lets you access the very best of MOO. Through an annual plan, you’re set up with your own MOO platform. It provides a quicker, easier way of processing your orders. You’ll also get preferential pricing at moo.com, and on branded products – plus second-to-none support from our award winning Design Services team and our brilliant account management team.

What different types of plan are there?

We have three different types of plan – Business Boost, Business Advanced and Reseller. You can find out more about these below.

What type of plan is right for me?

All plan types benefit from the MOO platform, preferential pricing, business support and access to our exclusive product range.

Boost is our most popular, most affordable plan. Typically Boost customers are smaller businesses and have platform access for a single user, with a single template for your most commonly used design.

Advanced is typically for businesses that are ordering more frequently or at larger volumes. It includes everything with Boost plus monthly invoicing, a dedicated Account Manager, higher corporate discounts, unlimited platform users and unlimited templates.

Reseller customers are businesses that require print or branded products for their own customers. For example design and advertising agencies, and wholesalers. You’ll benefit from your own MOO platform, monthly invoicing, a dedicated Account Manager, higher discounts, quality control checks on every order, and custom printed samples sent to you.

How does the MOO Design Services team benefit me?

Our award winning Design Services team includes over a century of combined design expertise. They include specialist graphic designers, production artists, and artwork specialists. And they assist with all things design related, like template creation, custom design, re-creating existing artwork and print-ready artwork checks. They’re also here to offer you design inspiration. You can read more about them here .

What is a template and how does it help me?

A template is one of the ways we make ordering a breeze. Templates let you edit the text of a particular design for multiple people. So if you want to produce Business Cards for all your team, we can set up a template for you. Then you just edit the details of each person. 

For larger orders, it’s as simple as sending a spreadsheet with all your colleagues’ details to our Account Management team. We’ll then find everything ready to order in your MOO platform.

Which account do I need to benefit from monthly invoicing?

The Business Advanced and Reseller accounts benefit from monthly invoicing.

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Understanding Printing Costs: How to Analyze and Optimize Expenses in Your Company

Courtney Treffkorn | May 15, 2024

Printing costs are often underestimated but can significantly impact a company’s finances. From invoices to marketing materials, the expenses associated with printing can accumulate rapidly. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of printing costs, how to identify them, and strategies to optimize expenses to enhance overall efficiency and reduce financial burden.

Identifying Printing Costs:

• Hardware Costs: Begin by evaluating the upfront investment in printing equipment such as printers, copiers, and scanners. Consider factors like initial purchase price, maintenance contracts, and potential upgrades to gauge the total hardware costs.
• Consumables: Calculate ongoing expenses for ink cartridges, toner, paper, and other consumables. Analyze consumption patterns to determine replacement frequencies and optimize inventory management practices.
• Energy Consumption: Assess the energy usage of printing devices, including electricity consumption and associated costs. Explore options for energy-efficient printers and implement measures to minimize energy consumption.
• Maintenance and Repairs: Factor in expenses for routine maintenance, repairs, and servicing of printing equipment. Identify recurring issues or inefficiencies that may contribute to elevated maintenance costs and address them proactively to optimize spending.

Tracking Printing Usage

• Print Monitoring Software: Utilize print management software to monitor printing activities across the organization. These tools provide valuable insights into printing habits, including who is printing, what is being printed, and how often, facilitating informed decision-making.
• User Authentication: Implement user authentication protocols to control access to printing services and allocate costs accurately to specific users or departments.
• Print Logs and Reports: Regularly review print logs and generate reports to identify usage trends, patterns, and areas for improvement. Utilize this data to implement cost-saving measures and encourage responsible printing behavior among employees.
• Conduct Surveys: Gather feedback from employees to understand their printing needs and preferences. Tailor printing policies and procedures accordingly to align with organizational goals and employee requirements effectively.

Analyzing Printing Costs

• Cost Per Page : Calculate the average cost per page for printing by dividing total printing expenses by the number of pages printed. This metric provides insights into the direct and indirect costs associated with printing activities.
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Assess the total cost of ownership for printing equipment over its lifecycle, considering acquisition costs, operating expenses, and disposal costs. Compare different printing solutions to identify the most cost-effective option for your organization.
• Cost Allocation: Allocate printing costs to specific departments, projects, or clients to gain insights into usage patterns and identify areas of overspending. Implement chargeback systems or cost allocation models to promote accountability and responsible printing behavior.
• Benchmarking: Benchmark your printing costs against industry standards or comparable organizations to evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement. Use benchmarking data to set realistic targets and optimize printing expenses effectively.

Optimizing Printing Costs

• Print Policy Review: Review and update print policies and procedures to promote responsible printing behavior. Consider implementing policies such as duplex printing, defaulting to black and white, and restricting color printing for non-essential documents to reduce costs.
• Print Fleet Optimization: Streamline your printing fleet by eliminating redundant devices and investing in multifunction devices that combine printing, copying, scanning, and faxing capabilities. Consolidate printing resources to optimize space and efficiency.
• Managed Print Services (MPS): Explore outsourcing print management to a managed print services provider to reduce costs and improve efficiency. MPS providers offer expertise in optimizing printing infrastructure, streamlining workflows, and providing ongoing support and maintenance.
• Employee Training: Provide training and education to employees on printing best practices, including efficient printer usage, paper waste reduction techniques, and utilization of digital alternatives such as electronic document management systems.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Implement sustainability initiatives to minimize the environmental impact of printing activities. Explore options such as using recycled paper, minimizing paper waste, and promoting digital document workflows to reduce resource consumption and enhance sustainability.

In addition to the strategies outlined above, ARC offers comprehensive scanning and document archiving services to help companies reduce printing costs and transition to a paperless workflow. By digitizing documents and establishing a centralized digital repository, businesses can minimize the need for printing, copying, and storing physical documents. ARC’s scanning services enable companies to convert paper documents into searchable digital formats, facilitating easy retrieval and sharing of information.

With robust indexing capabilities and secure cloud-based storage solutions, ARC ensures that documents are organized, accessible, and protected against loss or damage. By leveraging ARC’s scanning and archiving services, businesses can streamline document management processes, enhance collaboration, and significantly reduce printing expenses, ultimately achieving greater efficiency and cost savings.

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Steward outlines plan to offload hospitals in legal filing

Attorneys for Steward Health Care want a federal judge to bless the company’s proposed process for selling or auctioning its 31 hospitals, including eight in Massachusetts, over the next seven weeks.

A late Wednesday night filing in the US Bankruptcy Court case that started last week proposes “global bidding and auction procedures” to govern the sale of Steward’s hospitals and its physician network, Stewardship Health. If Judge Christopher Lopez approves the company’s motion, bids for Steward’s Massachusetts hospitals (and hospitals in other states aside from Florida) would be due June 24 and sale hearings would be held July 2.

A hearing on the motion is planned for June 3 at 2 p.m.

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Steward’s lawyers said the proposed sale process is “designed to continue to promote a competitive and robust bidding process, while allowing the Debtors to implement sale transactions on an expedited basis.”

Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and other state leaders want Steward out of Massachusetts, but the company has not secured buyers for its Bay State hospitals in the months since its financial predicament came to light.

Steward began marketing some of its hospitals in January, relying on the investment bank Cain Brothers to execute a strategy with the goal of “continuing critical operations at the Debtors’ core Hospitals while maximizing value by selling certain non-core Hospitals, including the Debtors’ Hospitals in Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Southern Massachusetts.” Leerink Partners was tapped in February to market Steward’s “Northern Massachusetts” hospitals.

By the time Steward filed for bankruptcy on May 6, Cain had contacted 179 potential buyers and Leerink had contacted 80 potential buyers, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, the company said. Steward’s lawyers said the company “received numerous indications of interest for their Hospitals” before filing for bankruptcy, but also that it expects more potential bidders to become aware of the sale through the bankruptcy proceeding, “thus driving more interest in the Hospitals.”

Lawyers for Steward said the company has “received attractive indications of interest from multiple potential buyers for its Southern Massachusetts and Arizona hospital operations” and also is “in discussions with various third-parties interested in purchasing and operating the Debtors’ hospitals in Northern Massachusetts, as well as with state officials and regulators to facilitate the transition of such hospitals to new operators.”

The company’s lawyers and Massachusetts state officials have acknowledged that selling the hospitals could be difficult thanks to the sale-leaseback transaction that saw Medical Properties Trust buy the land beneath Steward’s hospitals in 2016.

In Wednesday night’s filing, Steward confirmed that “substantially all” of its hospital operations are subject to master leases with MPT that “are not severable as to any particular property absent the consent of the applicable MPT Lessor(s).” The company said it “intend[s]to solicit Bids for the Debtors’ operations separately from real estate” and that bidders could “indicate the proposed treatment of such real property in their bid.”

Last week, a lawyer for Steward told the bankruptcy court that the company faces a June 25 deadline to auction its hospitals in Massachusetts and other states except for Florida under the terms of a loan it got from its landlord, MPT. But he also said that timeline was “not feasible.”

Steward’s lawyers also fired back at Campbell’s office, which was critical of the sale process Steward undertook before its bankruptcy in a filing last week , saying that “[a]s with all things Steward, this too was horribly mismanaged.”

“Yet notwithstanding that there are experienced professionals overseeing and leading the process, certain parties, including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have elected to lodge completely unsubstantiated criticisms about the Debtors’ sale process,” Steward’s lawyers wrote. “Although frustration with the Debtors’ financial circumstances and the need to commence these chapter 11 cases is understandable, filing unfounded and unsubstantiated pleadings at a time when a team of experienced and independent professionals and directors have been and are continuing to run a process (and who have managed similar processes across multiple venues in a myriad of complex chapter 11 cases) that will benefit all stakeholders, is neither appropriate nor will it be tolerated by the Debtors.”

Campbell’s office said that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services here was informed by potential buyers “that they were being excluded from participating and the separate processes made it difficult for any single bidder to bid for all of the hospitals.” Steward’s latest filing contended that the company “encouraged bids from all interested parties and did not exclude any parties from the process, nor preclude any potential transaction structure.”

Massachusetts was the only state that had its officials listed as “interested parties” in Steward’s bankruptcy case until Tuesday, when the Texas Health and Human Services Commission filed an appearance in the case.

Officials in other states are beginning to pay closer attention to the floundering health system as well.

On Friday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced that she was launching an investigation into the circumstances leading up to Steward’s bankruptcy filing and is considering intervening in the court proceeding “due to its potential negative effects on Arizona patients, providers, healthcare workers, and vendors.”

In Massachusetts, Steward operates St. Elizabeth’s in Brighton, Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Holy Family Hospital in Methuen and Haverhill, Morton Hospital in Taunton, Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, Norwood Hospital, and St. Anne’s in Fall River.