Custom Prints Business

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Custom Prints Business? (In 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

Looking to start a custom prints business?

But curious about:

how much it costs to start a custom prints business?
what are the typical custom prints business startup costs?
or the actual cost of starting custom prints businesses?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real custom prints businesses and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

What is the average cost of starting a custom prints business?

Based on our data reported by actual custom prints business founders, the average cost of starting a custom prints business is between $999 and $400,000.

Additionally, our data shows that the the median startup costs for a custom prints business are around $5K.

Remember, though, not all custom prints businesses are the same - and neither are people's budgets. It's important to distinguish between different levels or types of custom prints businesses

Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a custom prints business?

We asked real custom prints business founders and business owners how much it actually cost to get started?

Here is what they said:

Erika Holm

Founder of PinAround ($3.7K/month)

"After four months of a lot of Googling, hard work and several tears I finally launched the webshop. It only contained one map - PinAround The World."

Erika Holm is the founder of PinAround, a business that produces wall maps with pins in different designs and dimensions.

Read this case study

Read by 6,465 founders

Zach Katz

Founder of Framed Tweets (Now its Sticker Mule) ($9.5K/month)

"I did some research and found that Alibaba was a good place to buy a wide variety of picture frames in bulk. I requested samples from a few companies, picked out the one I liked best, and ordered 500 of them with the last of my savings."

Zach Katz is the founder of Framed Tweets, a business that started in 2017 and creates framed art of popular tweets.

Read this case study

Read by 43,583 founders

Rishi Narayan

Founder of Underground Printing ($3M/month)

"Several years later (and with a $5,000 loan from Ryan’s mom), A-1 Screenprinting purchased another local screen printer named Underground Printing to expand our production capabilities – and we changed our name to something more relevant!"

Rishi Narayan is the co-founder of Underground Printing, a national custom printing apparel and promotional products provider that has expanded to 35+ locations across the country.

Read this case study

Read by 9,455 founders

Sarim Nadeem

Founder of Dexpel ($120K/month)

"We started the company with a mere budget of $2,000 and bought ourselves a small A3 printer, a laminator, and a cutting system."

Sarim Nadeem is the founder of Dexpel, a custom print store business that started in 2009 and specializes in a wide variety of customizable apparel and merchandise.

Read this case study

Read by 6,711 founders

OLAWALE AWANI

Founder of Ryteprint ($25K/month)

"We have invested over a hundred thousand dollars outside of the equipment purchase and if we add total investment to the brand to market then the total investment will be four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000)."

Olawale Awani is the founder of Ryteprint, an online printing business that started in Nigeria and currently generates an average of $25,000 monthly revenue.

Read this case study

Read by 5,158 founders

Candace McGinn

Founder of Periwinkle Greetings, LLC ($1K/month)

"I bought a special printer, special ink, special paper, and a heat press."

Candace McGinn is the founder of Periwinkle Greetings, LLC, a greeting card business that prints on recycled aluminum using dye-sublimation technology.

Read this case study

Read by 2,967 founders

George El-Hage

Founder of Wave Connect ($25K/month)

"I found a small dev shop in Montreal to start building the MVP. I had saved $10,000 to get this done, though we got it complete with $5000."

George El-Hage is the founder of Wave Connect, a sales and marketing tool business that simplifies contact exchange and management.

Read this case study

Read by 5,451 founders

Enjoyed reading these real world examples?

Our platform is full of case studies of successful custom prints businesses that you can learn from.

Starting a custom prints business - what you should know:

When starting a custom prints business, there are several key factors that can significantly influence your startup costs.

Initial Equipment Investment

The type of printer you choose is a crucial cost factor. Entry-level direct-to-garment (DTG) printers can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000. High-end models, designed for larger-scale operations, can exceed $250,000. If you're opting for screen printing, a manual setup might cost around $1,000 to $5,000, while an automatic setup can cost upwards of $50,000. Additionally, consider the cost of a heat press, which can range from $300 to $3,000.

Material Costs

The cost of blank garments like T-shirts, hoodies, and other fabric items varies based on quality and supplier. Typically, bulk buying reduces costs; expect to pay between $3 to $10 per T-shirt. Specialty items or premium materials will be more expensive. Don't forget to factor in the cost of inks or dyes, which can range from $100 to $500 per liter, depending on the type and quality.

Design Software and Licensing

While there are free graphic design tools available, premium software like Adobe Creative Cloud can enhance your design capabilities significantly. A subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud can cost around $52.99 per month. Make sure to also account for any licensing fees if you're using third-party designs.

Labor and Production Time

Labor costs will depend on whether you are running a solo operation or hiring staff. For example, hiring a skilled designer or print technician could cost between $15 to $30 per hour. Efficient production planning can optimize labor use and lower overall costs.

Shipping and Fulfillment

Shipping costs can vary widely depending on the volume and geographic reach of your orders. Domestic shipping might range from $3 to $7 per item, whereas international shipping can cost $10 to $20 or more. Consider partnering with third-party logistics services for bulk shipping discounts.

By carefully planning each aspect of your custom prints business, from initial equipment to ongoing material costs, you can better manage your budget and set yourself up for success.

Potential Costs of Starting a Custom Prints Business

Starting a custom prints business involves several initial and ongoing costs, ranging from purchasing equipment to covering labor and marketing costs.

Expense Category	Cost Range	Description
Printing Equipment	$5,000 - $10,000	Includes printers, heat presses, and cutting machines required for producing custom prints on various materials such as t-shirts, mugs, and posters.
Design Software	$20 - $50/month	Monthly subscription to professional design software like Adobe Creative Cloud or CorelDRAW.
Website Hosting	$100 - $300/year	Annual fees for hosting services such as Bluehost or SiteGround.
Domain Name	$10 - $20/year	Cost to register a domain name for the business website.
E-commerce Platform	$30 - $70/month	Subscription fees for e-commerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, which facilitate online sales and inventory management.
Website Development	$500 - $5,000	One-time cost for professional web development services, if not building the site independently.
Marketing & Advertising	$200 - $1,000/month	Costs for digital marketing efforts such as social media ads, Google AdWords, and email marketing campaigns.
Business License & Permits	$50 - $500	Fees for obtaining necessary business licenses and permits, which vary depending on location.
Insurance	$500 - $1,500/year	Annual premiums for business insurance to cover liabilities, property, and employee-related risks.
Office/Workspace Rent	$500 - $2,000/month	Monthly rental fees for a dedicated office or workshop where production will take place.
Utilities	$100 - $300/month	Monthly costs for utilities such as electricity, water, and internet.
Raw Materials	$200 - $1,000/month	Cost for purchasing raw materials like blank t-shirts, mugs, posters, ink, and transfer paper.
Packaging Supplies	$50 - $200/month	Monthly budget for packaging materials including boxes, envelopes, and protective padding.
Labor Costs	$1,500 - $4,000/month	Salaries or wages for employees or freelancers involved in production, design, or administrative tasks.
Shipping Costs	$100 - $500/month	Monthly expenses for shipping supplies and services to deliver custom prints to customers.
Payment Processing Fees	2% - 3% per transaction + fixed fee	Fees for processing payments via online payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe, usually a percentage of each transaction plus a fixed fee per order.
Miscellaneous Expenses	$100 - $500/month	Additional miscellaneous costs that may arise, including unexpected repairs, office supplies, and subscription services.

Total startup costs can vary widely based on the scale of the business and specific choices in suppliers and service providers. Initial setup could range from as low as $7,000 to well over $20,000, with ongoing monthly costs from $2,500 to $10,000.

Part of

Starting A Custom Prints Business: Everything You Need To Know

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