How To Start A Screen Printing Business

If you just opened this link; the higher chances are that you recently started thinking of all the potentials and prospects of owning a screen printing business, or you are just curious to know what we have got to say. Well, just as with every other business, it is not unusual for newcomers to get disoriented when they venture into screen printing tee shirts or apparels without understanding how to start a screen printing business or what it takes to keep the business running, profitably.

Nevertheless, you are here now; so, let’s break down the salient points and considerations that make a screen-printing business a viable one from the onset. 

Consider the Screen Printing Business Opportunities

One of the fundamentals of starting any screen printing business is understanding who your customers are, and what your services will entail.  This understanding provides you with a spectrum of the array of opportunities in the industry, as well as gives insight on what you can do differently to make a mark in your niche. As a screen printer; who are your services for? What are the traditional services you are expected to provide? What are the probable limitations of opening a screen-printing business in your location? How do you bridge them?

In considering some of the opportunities entrenched within the business, one can think of all the customized t-shirts, caps, banners, bags, mugs, towels, notebooks, and numerous brand-able items. And then think of all the special events, clubs, businesses, sports teams, schools, holidays and numerous yearly activities and business that need branded forms of those materials in your locality. 

Almost anywhere you look, people are wearing/using one form of branded material or the other – it is a never-ending trend. Studying the market within your location as a unique prospect will put you in a better position to profit from the screen printing business, with ease. 

Consider the Set-Up and Running Costs

Costs incurred in setting up and running the business is dependent on a lot of factors. Whether you are starting from home or leasing a warehouse, it’s never a bad idea to contract an analyst or your mentor for financial assessments, so you don’t get stuck in the middle.

Skill Development and Training

All is nothing if you don’t know what you are doing as screen printing professional. As much as one can scroll through YouTube and learn almost anything, you will need to commit to a lot more than that if you wish to deliver high-quality services to your customers. Opting for a business mentor that is willing to put you through the baby steps will be a great choice. Also, great attention will need to be put into learning:

• How to handle the screen-printing equipment and make screens; you can learn this from the suppliers or an existing screen printing shop. Learning from a screen printing shop also provides you with experience on other aspects of screen printing business and affords you tryouts that give you the confidence to starting on your own. 
• How to create screen printing artworks and designs: understanding this is a specialty on its own. It takes expertise to create screen printing artworks, correctly. Otherwise, it is a time-consuming task that without the required expertise, will end up as a waste of time and labor, to produce an inferior print. It cannot be overemphasized how critical it is to master how to create artwork for screen making and film positives. 
• The variety of inks most suitable for different types of garments: put simply, there are grades to screen printing inks, and not all will make a good print on all materials. Knowledge of this will help you make prints that don’t fade after the first wash. 

Getting Your Screen Printing Location, Equipment, and Accessories

A good location with a bold storefront is always a good step in customer attraction; this will get customers entering your shop in a whim.

Will you be operating from home or are you going commercial? In both cases, you will need a well-defined space. But for commercial screen-printing equipment, you will need a lot more space; as they may require special installations for electrification, waste disposal, ventilation, etc.

Create an inventory of all you will need to run your business (such as a computer, chemical supplies, press) by contracting the services of a professional in screen-printing business, or by taking a tour of an existing business. Starting out commercially might cost a lot, and it might be wise to negotiate terms of the lease of machinery with your supplier if you can’t afford it instantly.

Going Legal

In most cities, a screen-printing business is considered as a semi-industrial business and might be a subject to zoning laws and environmental regulations. It is important you research for all laws and regulatory bodies applicable to screen printing business in your location and fulfill all requirements, so your business is deemed legally compliant. Additionally, you should: 

• Make the business a legal entity (such as an LLC) and register for taxes
• Obtain all applicable permits, licenses, and business insurance
• Open a separate bank account and set up a business accounting file

How Far Do You Want To Go?

For most screen printing businesses, a base is mostly established online and on the local level. Some locations might offer an entrepreneur a large client base from the onset, but that does not rule out the need for an online presence. The web and social media serve as an avenue for a high expansion rate, influenced by the influx of a diverse customer base, beyond what is locally obtainable. As well, it is a platform for your prospects to access what you have to offer and place orders effortlessly.

Offering services that include pre-set graphics and phrases, as well as accepting and being able to efficiently design customers’ submissions for custom designs and DELIVER ON TIME, will put any screen printing business on the road to success. 

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