How to Start Your Own Printing Business

The look and feel of paper products still holds appeal for most businesses and individual buyers. Some people want marketing and information sharing that you can see, feel, and keep. The printing industry still exists and is thriving in many parts of the world, even as it trims down a bit because of digital services. If you’re a person who believes they can open up a new printing business and make a go of it, here are a few steps to take.

1. Start by researching locally

Delivering print solutions locally is a first step for many people. Are there a lot of businesses in your area that use printing products? Is there a major university or community college near you that would benefit from professional grade printing services? What kind of printing services are already available and have they been in business for awhile? If the market is saturated in your local area, you can always focus your printing business toward an online audience and mail your products.

2. Business Name and Licensing

If you’re going to have an all-out business and want to make things official, begin thinking of your business name and mission. Designers can come in handy here and help you design your logo and come up with promotional materials. Many businesses these days still have “grand openings” where people from the local community visit you and get discounts right off the bat. If your business will be primarily online, you can do press releases and distribute them to websites in your business category. Your local Secretary of State often handles business licensing, so if you need a permit or license to open up a shop, be sure to take care of all necessary paperwork.

3. Equipment Matters

Printing businesses like your burgeoning business need to have modern, preferably state of the art equipment. Know what to look for in a home office printer that you plan to use for commercial use. Investigate the types of paper you’ll need for your specific printing business. If you’re going to be a general printing business, you’ll want to have all types of paper on hand. If you’re going to focus on one area – such as business cards – you need to buy quality source materials so that your customers have the best products.

4. Have Samples on Hand

Once you’ve got your equipment set up and have your materials ready to go, set up some “samples” of your work for customers to really look at. Take pictures with a high quality camera and post them on your brand new business website. Good quality pictures are going to bring your business to life more than anything else. You want people to see lively, creative printing products that make them want to use your service. Once you have a few customers on your side, you can showcase your work on your website.

5. Web Design and Promotion

All businesses depend on marketing. Well, the businesses that stay in business depend on marketing. You’ll want to create a mission statement for your printing business and let people know what your business stands for. A good PR firm or marketing firm handles all of that for you and leaves you with time left over to do what you do best: run your printing business. A professional, high quality web design makes a powerful first impression on potential customers.

Printing Businesses and Modern Life

People often mistakenly think that printing businesses are part of a bygone era. In reality, people still use printing services to get their business goals across (or to share something special with friends or family). If you create a printing business in the right place and at the right time, you can really thrive in today’s digital world. You’re offering a service that not many people offer anymore, and if you reach the right audience, good things are ahead.