The most successful printing entrepreneurs start a printing business by focusing and specialized in one specific area. Instead of trying to be all things to all people. For examples: You can only target businesses with low budget, which only need business cards, brochures, occasional signs and banners
Step 1: To start a printing business, first you have to find out if there is a demand for printing services in your local community.
step 2: Research printing businesses which are currently attempting to fulfill the needs of your audience. Visit them and learn all you can about them to find out what services they are lacking
step 3: Write a business plan. A foundation to any business is a business plan, click here for a step by step guide on How to write a business plan
Step 5: Register your business: Click here for a step by step guide on how to register your business
Step 6: Get Business funding: If you do not have capital to start, click here ( organisations funding small business in South Africa ) or find out more about crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is another way you can fund your startup business
Step 7: Secure a location, To start a profitable printing business, Look for a place that is within your budget and that is easily accessible so customers will be able to find you with ease.
Step 8: Operating a printing business requires a few specialized equipments. Types of printing businesses include vinyl sign printing, screen-printing t-shirts, printing of business cards, brochures and documents, election ballots. Know what type of printing you want to specialize in and plan accordingly. And the most important investment you can make for your printing business is the printer. The type of printing you plan on performing will dictate the type of printer you need.
Design Software: Also consider the following desktop publishing softwares, as they are the best in the market and they are powerful programs backed by knowledgeable companies. They are Ease of use and they have time-saving features.
1. Adobe InDesign
InDesign is a page layout program that’s getting better with every release. Many people feel that InDesign is the clear leader of the pack and that it may have reached the “Quark Killer” status envisioned when it was first released.
Where to buy inDesign in South Africa?
Takealot.co.za : Price:R 1,189
2. QuarkXPress
In the late ’80s and ’90s, Quark usurped the desktop publishing community’s first love, PageMaker, with QuarkXPress. Once the undisputed king of desktop publishing software applications, Quark’s premiere product—QuarkXPress—is still a powerhouse publishing platform.
Where to buy Quark Xpress in South Africa
Takealot.co.za :R 469
3. Microsoft Publisher
The primary desktop publishing application in the MIcrosoft Office suite is Publisher. It is popular with individuals, small businesses and schools.
Publisher 2016 is available as a standalone product, and it is included with an Office 365 subscription.
Where to buy Microsoft Publisher in South Africa
softwarechick.com : Price: 1 785 ( microsoft office professional 2013 )
primezar.com : R 762 ( PUBLISHER 2010 )
ideas: You can offer print design ideas for your clients yourself, but if you don’t have the eye for design, you might want to consider crowdsourcing for design ideas. Sites like 99Designs.com can help you with that.
Step 9: Market your printing services properly, and don’t forget, you need to create your own business cards, brochures and other printed materials for your printing business – it’s a great way to let your prospects know the quality of your work. Hand them out to friends and family, and create fliers and post them throughout your community, and advertise in your local paper.
Types of business insurance in south africa
From the day an entrepreneur starts a business, he exposes himself to certain risks. Even before the first employee is hired, a business is at risk, making it important to have the right insurance in place.
Dropshipping business, find out how
The biggest difference between dropshipping and the standard retail model is that when it comes to dropshipping, the person marketing and selling the product doesn’t own the stock.
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