How to start a copy center business. Copy center. Copy center as a business

Copy center business on printing.

Services for printing and copying during student sessions bring tangible profits. Abstracts, manuals, term papers, theses, drawings - all this requires printing, and here you can’t do without a copy center. A copy center located near an educational institution will bring you a good profit.

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A copy center is, first of all, a center for the provision of the following services:

  • Photocopy.
  • Printing text on a b/w printer A 4.
  • Printing text on a color printer A 4.
  • Scan A 3, A 4.
  • Printing photos from digital media.
  • Lamination.
  • Recording on disks, flash drives.
  • Large format printing A 1, A 2.
  • Risography.
  • Hard and soft binding.
  • Typing and editing text.

The number of services provided depends on the availability of equipment in the copy center.

Since the main consumers copy services students, then the copy center should be located in close proximity to the higher educational institutions. Quite often, printing services can be found in stores. stationery, in addition to printing, customers often buy related products - folders, pens, notebooks and other accessories.

For a small copy center it is enough to rent small room or part of the premises in the store about 8 m² on sublease. This area is enough to install the necessary equipment.

From the equipment for a beginner copy center, you will need at least:

  • Computer with MFP or printer for b/w printing.
  • Single color copier A 3.
  • Laminator.
  • Risograph (duplicator) A 4. Printing replication of forms, questionnaires, leaflets, the cost of such printing is very low, the larger the circulation, the lower the cost of printing.
  • Paper cutting equipment.
  • Semi-professional stapler, hole puncher.
  • Binding device (soft, hard cover).
  • Office furniture.
  • Showcases for stationery.

This equipment at the initial stage will be quite enough, over time, you can expand the range of services and add equipment:

  • Color copier A 3.
  • The printer for photo printing is preferably inkjet, for example Epson A 4 format with CISS.
  • Large-format plotter A 1 (for printing drawings).

To open a copy center, it is enough to register an IP. Under this activity, the OKVED code 74.83 is suitable.

If you are planning to trade in stationery, then you will also need to indicate - 52.47.

Taxation system USN or UTII.

A minimum of 2 workers with shift work will be required to operate the mine center.

Monthly expenses will be:

  • Rent.
  • Consumables (paper, ink, toners).
  • Wage.
  • Taxes.

In addition, the equipment requires periodic maintenance - refilling cartridges, repair.

Copy center as a business.

As already mentioned, the main customers of the mining centers are students, of course, there are still customers who need photocopies of documents, but university students make the main profit. Therefore, a mine center will be profitable only near universities. Accordingly, in the period from July to August, when there are no classes at universities, there will be practically no clients in the mine center. Alternatively, you can also organize a trade in stationery.

The main expense item when opening a copy business is the purchase of equipment, it is up to everyone, the entrepreneur, to buy a new or used one, by virtue of their financial capabilities.

To cover monthly expenses (rent, consumables, salary, taxes) and make a profit, it will take at least 3 months of work after the opening of the mine center. But if we talk about when the equipment will pay off, then it depends on the cost of the equipment itself, minimum set copying equipment will pay off not earlier than in a year.

Economic performance of a small copy center located on 10 sq. m, subject to the lease of the premises.

Today, copy centers are in great demand among the population due to the fact that almost no appeal to authorized organizations is complete without providing copies of documents. Many companies use the services of such companies. legal entities that need to be copied:

  • schemes;
  • drawings;
  • other documentation in non-standard formats.

In this regard, this type of activity can become quite promising for a novice entrepreneur. In addition, running a copy business does not require special financial investments, it is enough to foresee all the organizational nuances in advance.

Registration and organization of business

Opening a copy center in order to generate income requires a mandatory state registration by registering the organization with the Federal Tax Service. To do this, fill out the appropriate application form, which indicates the OKVED code 74.85, reflecting the activities for the provision of the following services:

  • secretarial;
  • editorial;
  • translation.

The optimal form of ownership for such a business is an individual entrepreneur. With it, the entrepreneur will be liable with his property and pay a significant contribution to the FIU, but at the same time he will not have to keep complex accounting and form an authorized capital.

For activities to provide services to the population in the form of making copies, you can choose a simplified taxation system or UTII. Mandatory availability of cash registers for settlements with customers is not required, sales receipts can be used for this purpose, but if the device is purchased, then it must be registered with the tax office.

Location and premises

Given the characteristics of the target audience of copy centers, the best option for their placement are places located close to:

  • institutions of secondary and higher education;
  • communal organizations;
  • medical institutions;
  • financial enterprises;
  • large residential areas.

The main success factor is that the business should be located in places with high traffic of people.

The copy center itself should be spacious and divided into several zones:

  1. Hall for work with visitors.
  2. Stock.
  3. Tech room.
  4. Utility room and bathroom.

To ensure the flow of customers, it is important that the premises are located on the ground floor of the building. total area copy office can vary from 10 to 45 sq. m., depending on the range and volume of services provided.

Range of services

In order for the center to bring a good income, one copying is not enough. Therefore, in the process of organizing a business, it is worth providing the following set of additional services:

  • lamination of documentation;
  • black-and-white and color printing of texts, diagrams, graphs and pictures;
  • business card printing;
  • carrying out binding of diploma, course and scientific works;
  • production of small books and booklets, which are not taken by printing houses due to the small number of sheets;
  • production of postcards, invitations and calendars.

In addition, a copy center can deal with photo printing, which is in good demand, since such organizations can make good discounts for large orders. You can offer customers to select the desired photos on the spot, and optionally purchase memory cards to record them.

A good increase to the total revenue will be added by the sale of related stationery (printer paper, etc.).

Equipment

The list of necessary equipment will directly depend on the set of services provided by the center. The mandatory minimum list includes the following equipment:

  • PC or laptop;
  • copier;
  • scanner;
  • laser or inkjet printer (buying a laser device is more expensive than an inkjet, but its maintenance is much cheaper).

At first, in order to save money, you can buy a 3 in 1 multifunctional device that combines the functions of a copier, copier and printer. But with an increase in the flow of customers, when you have to simultaneously provide two types of services, you will have to purchase all three devices separately.

In addition to a set of basic devices to provide additional ones, you will also need to purchase a number of auxiliary equipment:

  1. Black and white copier for large paper sizes (A3).
  2. Color copier.
  3. Bookbinder.
  4. Laminator.
  5. Risograph.

When doing photo printing, making postcards, booklets on a PC, you will have to install a licensed design program. Also, when preparing a cost estimate for equipment, it is important to consider that furniture will need to be purchased for the interior of the office:

  • tables;
  • chairs;
  • cabinets;
  • shelves.

Staff

For reference commercial activities for the maintenance of a small copy center, it is enough to hire two employees:

  1. Secretary.
  2. Print Specialist.

In addition, for uninterrupted operation the organization will need the services of an accountant and a specialist in refilling cartridges. But it is better to cooperate with them on outsourcing.

Advertising

When organizing a copy center, you should not disregard its advertising. The most effective measures to promote such a business are:


The financial component of the business

When drawing up a business project for opening a copy center, in addition to considering organizational issues, it is necessary to carry out a number of financial calculations:

  • the cost of opening and maintaining;
  • the amount of future income;
  • payback period.

They will determine economic feasibility commercial activities.

Cost of opening and maintaining

Opening a center for the provision of copying services does not require large investments. If you don't have your suitable premises, then it is better to rent it, because at first, until it is known whether the business will develop, its purchase does not make sense.

The average size of the starting capital is about 100 thousand rubles. This amount includes:

  1. Rent for the first month of work.
  2. Purchase of equipment.
  3. Purchase of consumables.
  4. Advertising expenses.

In the course of work, current payment costs will be added wages, for the purchase of paper and rent of premises, which will reach 50 thousand rubles per month.

Size of future income

The size of the center's future income will directly depend on the range of services provided. On the early stages the main customers will be persons who need to copy or scan documents, customers who need to print the text will contact less often.

The average cost of one service (copy) in black and white format is 4 rubles, and in color format - 20 rubles, and the price of one scanned sheet is 15 rubles. Considering that about 500 sheets of a standard copy, 50 color copies and 50 scans are processed per day, and the center works 6 days a week, the center's monthly revenue will be 100 thousand rubles.

Payback period

Sum net profit will be approximately 50 thousand rubles per month. Considering that very few clients use the center's services for at least the first two months, the initial investment in it can pay off no earlier than four months after the opening.

Despite the favorable financial performance of the copy center maintenance activity, it is important to include in your list of services exactly those types that customers of a particular market need.

Near various government agencies, hospitals, educational institutions and just in crowded places, copy services are quite in demand. Near universities there is a high demand for scanning, photocopying, printing, page laminating and design theses(binding).

Let's talk about opening a copy center, and also about possible problems and methods for solving them, and in conclusion, we will evaluate the profitability of this business.

Necessary equipment

You must purchase computer and copy equipment, without which it is impossible to open a copy center. Such equipment includes computers, copiers, printers, scanners, binders. There should be at least two printers - one laser for printing documents (its cost is more expensive, but you will significantly save on ink during its operation), and one inkjet for printing photos. Instead of a printer, scanner, and copier, you can purchase a multifunctional device. So you will significantly save the budget and, importantly, the area. Over time, when the flow of customers begins to expand, it will be possible to purchase separate equipment - then the functionality of your copy center, and, consequently, the speed of customer service will increase.

You will also need furniture, but you can not spend much on it, if possible - it is better to purchase used furniture, this will save you money.

In total, the opening of a copy center will have to spend about $4,000.

Center location

The next step is to choose the area for your copy center. As mentioned above, it is better that it is located in a university, a large store or in an area with large quantity public institutions.

It is most convenient to place a copy center on the first floor of a building, since the traffic on the second floor is always much less (with the exception of universities). In addition, if you open a copy center on the second floor or Above, and after some time, competitors settle on the first floor of the same building or a building nearby, then it is likely that you will have to urgently look for a room with a better location, as a result you You will lose customers and a significant part of the budget.

The copy center must be located on an area of ​​at least 6 square meters, and preferably ten, so that several people can fit in it at once.

What services does a copy center provide?

  • Printout of documents.
  • Photocopy.
  • Document lamination.
  • Color print(it is in great demand due to the rather high cost of color printers and cartridges for them).
  • Printing photos is also a very popular service. Often people do not even know how to pull out a flash card from a camera, so you can offer customers the selection of photos they need for printing right on the spot. In addition, popular discounts in large numbers printed photos, for example, when printing 50 photos, the price is lower.
  • Making business cards, for this you need to stock up on thick paper and have the skills to work in Photoshop and CorelDraw.
  • Production of books and booklets. Such orders are not very often, but with some frequency they will appear on the horizon, since publishing houses usually print only in large numbers.
  • Binding of diplomas. This service, as a rule, is seasonal, as students take their diplomas at about the same time. However, it brings good earnings - the cost of binding one diploma is $ 8, although its cost is minimal.

In addition to copying services, you can organize the sale of stationery in your copy center, as well as flash cards, disks, paper - in bundles or by the piece. It is also possible to provide the population with services for refilling printer cartridges.

A copy center can provide services that, at first glance, are not directly related to it - this is the creation and printing of individual postcards with images selected by customers. Many centers conclude an agreement with wedding organizers and on the day of the wedding they print, for example, calendar cards with photos of guests received from the wedding. Such services are becoming more and more popular.

In order for customers to return to you, you must be friendly, polite and patient. It is worth knowing that for any business the initial stage cannot be called easy and very profitable, but after a short amount of time you will notice all the profitability of your enterprise.

Business Profitability

To calculate the potential income of the enterprise, you need to know the approximate number of customers per day, as well as the prices for the services of copy centers in your city. Of course, you will not always have large orders - there are periods of downtime. However, when competent organization business, you can expect a profit of 2-3 thousand dollars per month. With such results, you will pay back your investment in two months.

Now, at the present time, more and more young and ambitious people are thinking about starting their own business. If there is a clear confidence in the need for this, then you should decide for yourself a number of important questions: in which area to make your choice, how to get the most income with the minimum amount of costs, how to draw up a business plan, buy the right equipment, pick up informational advertising. AT recent times the most popular are various copy centers, and this is understandable, because not everyone has their own personal printer at home, and copies of various documentation are always in demand. You should think about how to open a copy center and what is needed for this.

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First you need to think about what the size of the initial capital will be, develop a business plan for the copy center, its location, Technical equipment and equipment.

To place a copy center, you should choose places of mass congestion of people, educational institutions or territories adjacent to it.

Working hours are preferably around the clock, without days off and holidays. After all, often students need copies of documents at the very last moment, and this will help increase income and leave a positive impression of the company. The business plan of the copy center should also include the amount of initial capital and what it will be used for. To begin with, the amount must be at least 100 thousand rubles. If this money is not available for this period, then you can take advantage of a profitable offer to open a small business using an employment center or take a loan from a bank.

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Name of the company, its structure and estimated costs

You need to decide on the name of the company and its structure. Depending on what it will be, a small copy point or a large copy center, equipment should be purchased. For a large organization, one inkjet printer and a computer will not be enough, it is better not to skimp on a professional laser printing machine, binders, stitchers, expendable materials etc. The name of the organization should be chosen in such a way that it is clear what it does and what range of services it provides. It is desirable to use part of the word "copy", for example, "Copycenter", "Copymania", "Copy-market", "Kopitsvet".

Let's calculate the estimated costs. Please note that prices can vary greatly depending on the region.

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Registration and taxation of an enterprise

Now another important part follows - this is the registration and taxation of the enterprise. It's better to register as individual entrepreneur. It should be noted that an individual entrepreneur transfers an ever-increasing quarterly tax to the pension fund and is fully responsible with all his property to the tax service.

There are several types of taxation system, and you need to choose the most best option for your enterprise. The tax is calculated depending on how many employees work in this organization. Most good decision there will be either a simplified taxation system or a single imputed tax. Having estimated the profitability of one or another option, you should write an application to the tax service in the name of its boss.

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Organization Advertising and Pricing

When everything is formalized legally, you should declare yourself. Advertising activities will depend on what material means and opportunities you have. These can be discount cards, flyers at the entrances and in mailboxes, ads in the regional media.

To attract additional customers, you can set a price below the average, for example:

  • printing and photocopy of documents - 3 rubles;
  • photo printing - 6 rubles;
  • preparation of documents, recording on information media - 8 rubles;
  • manufacturing teaching materials for educational institutions - 35 rubles.

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Profitability and potential profit

The approximate profitability for all types of services offered will be as follows:

  • black and white printing, document lamination - 300%,
  • souvenir products and photo printing - 100%.

The following services are most popular in descending order: photo printing, copying and laminating documents, refilling printer cartridges, recording on information media. They also bring in more income.

Net profit, as a rule, depends on what the amount of cash investments will be:

  • up to 100 thousand rubles - from 5 thousand rubles. up to 30 thousand rubles / month;
  • up to 500 thousand rubles - from 5 thousand rubles. up to 40 thousand rubles / month;
  • from 500 thousand rubles - from 10 thousand rubles. up to 100 thousand rubles / month

The first option is to have a small copy center and work for yourself. In the following - an indication of the wages of employees is required. After a couple of months, you can analyze the current situation, if expenses exceed income, you should improve advertising activities to attract additional customers. If there is no result even after six months, close the point or open it in another place.