How to Start a Printing Business

Posted by Multi Programming Solutions on May 18th, 2022

If you are tired of the office routine and want to plan your schedule, it\'s time to think about your own company. Fortunately, the world offers many opportunities for those who wish to develop their businesses from scratch. A printing business startup is one of the options to consider. It\'s a profitable commercial direction where you can become successful having basic industry experience and a great desire to create and earn. In this article, we will talk about the main stages that you must go through on the way from an idea to its implementation.

Guide to starting a print business: 7 steps to success

Finding a printing niche

The first step in any strategy is to research the market and study the audience to find a promising direction, i.e., your niche. This term can be applied to any specific product. In our case, it means a range of products profitable to print for target customers.

So, you can choose a product type (T-shirts), a category (Women\'s clothing), or a destination (Tourism and outdoor activities) and gradually add new products. Starting a small printing business entails many risks due to high competition. To work in a wide niche containing different categories, you need experience and a budget to buy additional equipment and expand the team.

You will be more successful if you initially focus on a specific need rather than offering everything at once. The best option is finding a balance between your expertise (professional knowledge and experience), personal interests (hobbies), profit (market trends and growth potential), and competition in the target region.

When studying trends, we recommend using the following tools:

• Google Trends. It’s an easy way to identify the keywords and phrases your audience is looking for in different regions. Here you can find out what potential customers are interested in and what queries they enter in the search.
• Google AdWords. If you decide to start your own printing activity, you will definitely need a business account. It is useful for those who want to find popular topics, plan advertising campaigns in time, and launch them.
• Trendhunter. It is a lesser-known tool than the previous ones. However, it will help you find creative ideas and get inspired. You can also use analytics to study consumer behavior.

Get ready to put focus on niche research. If you manage to combine all 4 factors (expertise, your interest, profitability, and low competition), you will have a strong base for commercial development and competitiveness.

Choose printing methods

The next essential step in your strategy is selecting working methods. Starting a printing business involves specialized technologies for applying texts, photos, drawings, and patterns on various materials (paper, fabric, glass, ceramics, plastic, wood, etc.). If you focus on a narrow niche and product category, it is easier to choose appropriate methods. As your printing company expands its range of services, you should introduce new technologies into your business.

Here are prevalent printing technologies:

• Digital printing

This term includes all technologies used to reproduce text and images in electronic format without forming. That is, paints are applied to the surface without printing forms. Direct application technology does not require complex preparation and is relatively cheap, so you can expect decent returns. 

You can use 3 kinds of the method: 

• Sheet-fed: non-contact (laser). For large volumes or single copies;
• Roll-to-roll: wide format with solvent ink. To ensure the resistance of the image to mechanical damage.
• Inkjet: High-resolution photo printing. To create bright pictures with sharp edges on special photo paper. 

This method is suitable for small and medium circulation products. It is indispensable for outdoor advertising (signs, posters, presentation stands), business cards, booklets, catalogs, flyers, calendars, stickers. Logos, photos, inscriptions, and combined images (picture + text) can be applied to the fabric.

• Offset printing

This technology involves applying ink from the printing plate to paper through an intermediate link (offset rollers). You can work with any kind of paper and create large print runs in the shortest possible time.

Depending on the method of applying paint, there are two offset types: with dampening solutions and dry (with silicone). By equipment type: sheet (individual sheets of paper) and roll (rolls of paper). The latter is justified only for large printing houses with a high print run.

The method is suitable for different product formats: from etiquettes to books and large geographical maps. If you plan to launch a printing business for making magazines, postcards, calendars, diaries, or envelopes, this method will come in handy. Especially when it comes to large orders, as this will significantly reduce the cost of printing.

• Screen printing

This type compares favorably with all the others: it allows you to place any full-color images on any surface: paper, polyethylene, fabric, or metal. The picture will look clear and bright on any background.

We recommend choosing this method for drawing designs on earthenware and glass mugs, T-shirts, notebooks made of craft cardboard or textured designer cardboard, business cards, or business document folders. A wide range of colors and shades allows you to create multi-color products.

• 3D printing

If you want to do something extraordinary, start with 3D products. You will need a 3D device to create unique digital models. Also, you have to spend on expensive materials. Ask for help from someone experienced in design and configuring such equipment.

However, the costs will justify themselves. People appreciate non-standard approaches and like exclusive products. With this method, you can produce both single parts and complex objects at no additional cost.

Determining what equipment you\'ll need

So did you select the printing method? Choosing the equipment is not so difficult. We recommend that you visit the competitor\'s website and find out what models and brands they use. In short, you need printers of one or more types, a laminator, cutting machines, and a sheet stapler. And, of course, specialized software for correcting and retouching images, applying effects, setting gradients, adding fonts, drawing, etc.

You can learn more about specialized equipment from our expert article. 

Find printing materials supplies

Many inexperienced entrepreneurs wonder how to start a printing business without spending big money on materials. We answer: you can\'t save on this! The basis for your products is vital because it affects whether the quality will suit your customers and whether they will return to you again. That’s why we single out establishing relationships with suppliers as another large-scale stage.

In practice, it’s not as easy as it seems. The main task here is to find reliable wholesale contractors. We suggest you use the following channels and tools:

• search engines;
• catalogs by regions and industries;
• competitor resources;
• exhibitions;
• joint procurement platforms;
• recommendations from people you trust.

Act according to your financial condition. Don’t focus on cheap things to save money. We also recommend that you clarify all the important points right away: a license, minimum batches, delivery features of these batches, warranty cases. So you and your customers will avoid serious trouble...