The printing business is a highly profitable one that requires knowledge of how it works and great managerial skills to be successful.
If you want to start this business in Kenya, you need to know about the cost of equipment and the basic requirements for setting up this business in Kenya.
This article will help you and get you informed about the cost of renting equipment, the requirements, etc. We have carefully researched this topic, and we have outlined the requirements and everything you have to do in this article.
This article is divided into sections; the first one covers the cost of setting up the business, and the other covers the requirements needed to set up this business in Kenya.
Cost
First of all, you must ask yourself if you want to start a small or large business. The cost depends on what you want to do. If you decide to choose a large-scale business, then you must be prepared to invest more in the business. Small-scale businesses will require less capital than large-scale businesses.
The basic costs you will incur are:
Rent
Equipment
Other expenses
Salaries
Rent
The cost of renting a shop depends on its location in Kenya. If you choose to go to busy urban centers, you will pay a lot, while rural centers will be cheaper.
In the rural centers, you can get a shop for as low as Ksh.50,000 while in the urban centers, you can get it for as high as Ksh. 500,000.
So, you must do your research and decide on the location where you want to set up your business. Keep in mind that the location affects business growth, so if you decide to go to rural centers, you may not make good money there.
Equipment
Next, you have to buy equipment for your business. Below is a list of equipment you will need for your business to kick off.
- Printers
- Laminator
- Cutting system
- Binding machine, etc.
- Computers and graphics software
Printers
This is the most important equipment you must have, but you will be faced with so many choices if you are on a tight budget. If you can afford professional-grade laser and inkjet printers, these two will give you what you want until you have the resources to go for better ones.
Laminator
Get a laminating machine because clients will want to laminate their documents after printing. An average laminating machine is not expensive, so include this machine in your budget.
Cutting system
Of course, you are dealing with papers and printing, so you will always want to cut papers after printing, so you must get a cutting system to help you do that. Starting with scissors and other cutting tools is not bad, but you must upgrade when the money starts coming in.
Binding machine
You will need a binding machine for your business. Of course, not all printing shops offer this type of binding, but I strongly suggest you get binding papers so that customers won’t go elsewhere to get it.
Computers and Graphic Software
You cannot start a printing business without a computer; you need it to render services such as registration, results checking, and lots more. You can also use this computer to do graphics—design logos, create visual effects, etc.
Adobe Suite is good software for graphic work, but the problem is that you must pay before using the software.
Other expenses
- Electric bill
- Printing material
- Utilities, etc
Salaries
You must also plan and take into consideration the amount you will be paying your workers and the number of workers you want to employ for a start.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Let us talk about the basic requirements or the strategies you need to employ before you start your business.
Get it promoted.
Because you are just starting the business and many people in the area do not know you, you must look for a way to promote your business.
Promotional tips:
- Create an official website for your business.
- Place paid ads on other sites.
- Maximize social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, among others.
- Create an email list.
- Get your company listed in an online business listing.
Prepare a Business Plan
To succeed in any business, you must have a business plan; it is what guides the business on the steps to take, the projects to do, etc. Before launching the business, you must have a well-written business plan, which you will implement during the life of the business.
Getting materials and equipment
We have discussed the equipment needed to start this business before. Equipment such as computers, printers, laminating machines, cutting systems, generators, etc. is what you need to get started.
Location
Location is everything; you need to make sure your shop is located in a busy or commercial area and is easily accessible so that customers can find you.
Workers
You must also consider hiring workers for your business. Get good hands to do graphic work; this person must be good at it so that he or she can give your clients good results. Other workers, such as printer operators, must know how to use the printer very well.
