Setting-up a Cheaper Digital Photo Printing Business
May 12, 2008 by Leo 20,743 Views
The “digital revolution” entails a lot of promise for enterprising individuals, and going into the digital photo printing business is a wise option. It is now emerging as a profitable market boosted by the advent of affordable camera cellphones and digital cameras.
If you are interested in putting up a Digital Photo Printing Business but cannot afford the prices for the machine being used by other digital printing companies like Photoline, Kodak, Picture City, Tronix, Digiprint, etc., here’s a cheaper and simple alternative. The items below are necessary and part of the system that you will need for the Digital Printing Shop to be fully operational. All you need is the business site.
- A PC set with at least the following specifications:
- Pentium IV or AMD equivalent processor with 1GB Ram
- 17″ monitor
- Floppy and optical drive
- Bluetooth
- Infrared/WiFi
- Card reader
- USB connections/hub
- 2 printers with Continuous Ink Supply System (CISS) loaded with 100ml of ink (6 color ink printer for best quality printouts)
- Digital Printing Software (prints 3R size, 3R wallet size, 4R size & 4R wallet size)
- 3R photo paper (500 pcs.)
- 4R photo paper (500 pcs.)
- Paper cutter
- Flatbed scanner
- Table, chairs and office supplies
Approximate total investment: P100,000 – 120,000
ROI: 5-6 Months
Pricing:
- 3R size = P5.00
- 3R wallet = P5.00
- 4R size = P6.00
- 4R wallet = P6.00
Approximate Computations
Given: Gross Sales for a 1 PC, 2 printers and 1 employee set-up, and shop operation is 10 hours.
- Gross monthly sales = P54,900
- Average daily sales = P1,800
Less Expenses:
P6,000 – Rent/Electricity
P13,000 – Photo Paper
P2,500 – Ink
P8,000 – Employee salary
P600 – Others (office supplies)
——————————————
P30,100 – Total expenses
Net Income = 54,900 – 30,100 = 24,800
The salary may vary depending on how much you will pay and number of employees. The material cost of the inks and photo paper will also vary depending if you can get the supplies cheaper.
Note: The estimates above is based on the actual digital printing shop. Amounts may vary depending on your shop location and rental rates.
Update: Nov. 4, 2009 – Additional Tips from Ricachu:
I’m into this business for 4 years now and this is what I can say, if you really want hassle free digital photo printing, go for a minilab like the one used by Kodak, Fuji or Noritsu, the price is rather expensive but the quality of prints are far better than any inkjet photo printer… maintenance wise, it is also less hassle.
As with using inkjet printers, setting up the entire thing does not ensure a smooth operations. not unless your costumers are not so picky and they are ok with pictures which are sometimes bluish, reddish or with some fine lines showing, then you can go ahead. But otherwise if you want quality and professional results, you should know how to set the hues and intensity of the ink against the model and brand.
First of all you have to know how to install or repair CISS yourself while in action because sometimes just a wrong twist of the tubes inside will cause the printer to function abnormally.
You should also learn how and when to clean and deep clean your printers or else you will end up wasting so much ink smudging many photopapers. It is also a must that you know how to reset your printers. Printers have built in counters such that when the counter reached the maximum print count, it will automatically give an error message and will refuse to print.
I can’t say it can’t be done but based on experience, it’s not super easy at all. So if you really have the capital, go for the minilabs. meantime, if cash is not readily available then I guess inkjet will do fine in small volumes.
photo from doculand.net
2009 · All Rights Reversed ·
Do you all think TX100, TX200 and TX300 (all in CISS) are all okay for this kind of business?
hi….im also interested in this kind of business…..i do have a capital to invest but dont really have enough info where i could buy the printer and consumables…please do inform me just text me @ 09105617179…by the way im from GENSAN but still im willing to go to cebu or davao to purchase if needed
ryan pls check sulit.com there are lots of paper products ads there..
anyone…
it is worth it if mafranchise ako ng TRONIX???????????????
pls. help to distinguish kinds of paper and their substance. I had a client gusto nya malaman yung ibat ibang papel for calling card.
helo po we have a comp shop but we nid some changes.we nid a digital photo printing..we don’t know were to buy dis and the suppliers…we nid your help…and the photopaper ( any kind of photopaper like glossy,linen) were do we buy dis?please email me loui_0101@yahoo.com or txt me 09158844120 tnx so much…. LOU
monica, i sent you an email already. share lang po. in my shop majority of my printers are epson although others said hp and canon selected models are also nice and stable for ciss. if your printing requirements is more on documents printing just buy a cheap printer with 4-color inks carth. (epson c90 & T10 or Canon 1980) priced @ around 1,250.00/unit + ciss kit 1,800.00. for photos try epson r230 or r290 @ 7500 up and 8500 up respectively. you can also add card tray for that r-series printers so that you can accept direct to pvc card printing.. is there any budget left??? then, buy a cheap point & shot camera for your rush photo!!! scroll some store in quiapo for much cheaper device of this kind. GOOD LUCK PEPS!
~~~ A CANDLE NEVER LOSES ITS LIGHT BY LIGHTING ANOTHER -galil gibran~~~
Hi! My husby & I are considering to put up this kind of biz. I’ve read all your questions and comments. Somehow I learned a lot already. I hope you can provide the exact addresses and contact numbers of the suppliers. Am from Sn Carlos City Pangasinan. Thanks again and adore Leo & Joel they are very supportive to all hu are curious about the bznes.
To Joel Brutas, thanks for your your very helpful info, may I ask what model/unit of your EPSON Printer? Thanks in advance.
<<<<email: tinyjoeb@yahoo.com
if you have an epson printer it comes with a cd containing its driver and software applications. install the application program named “Easy Photo Print” (not sure exactly that name was but sounds like it ^_^). if you use that program you can choose a presetted paper sizes like a3, a4,a5 & 4r and borders. much of all you can create photo sizes like 1×1, 2×2, passport, wallet-size (3r devided into 2), mini-wallet (4r devided into 4) and other customed-sizes that you wish. the program is also equipped with photo printing enhancement that direct the printer to print pictures into a photo-lab quality-like finish much better than if you only print the picture directly without using the program. hoped i help. happy new year to all!
addl: does anyone here know some supplier of good quality and cheap photo papers other than cdr king, please email me po. salamat!
Hello
How much po ang digital print software namai 3r 4r idsizes and wallet sizes direct print. Wer can we buy? How much?
please do text me for digital printing software and supplier
0906-3701344
if you have supplier please do txt me their numbers and office. i need supllies because i want to put up a photo digital printing business. i also need the software like what tronix have. 0906-370-1344
where I could buy the cheapest but good quality photo papers?and the digital printing software?please email me or text me here.# 09287557004 or 09157750314. This is important for our study. Your response will be greatly appreciate.
Thank You!!!!!
God bless!!!
@ryan, check with cd-r king.