How to Start A Screen Printing Business
Learning how to start a screen printing business is relatively simple. Thanks to improved technology and machinery, a screen printing business can be set up in a room of your home and is very inexpensive to start.
The equipment is easily handled by one person if you wish to start small in your t-shirt business.
Finding customers, on the other hand, may not be quite as simple!
One of the wonderful things about learning how to start a screen printing business is the amount of work you can generate from the internet. The web allows you to accept business from all over the world.
No longer do businesses have to view endless proofs. With software and internet capabilities they can upload their graphic information easily and quickly for your business to process. You can operate both your screen printing as well as a digital printing business.
Scope Of How To Start A Screen Printing Business
Screen printing is a craft and like any business you must provide a quality product to succeed. In screen printing an image is produced by a mesh and is placed on a frame with a stencil or image plate.
A squeegee is used to work in through the material. It is a process that can produce designs on a variety of items including, t-shirts, hats, shorts, glass, polyethylene, paper, metals, and wood.
Part of deciding how to start a screen printing business is focusing on which items you want to promote. T-shirts are profitable and ideal for the starting screen printer but niche markets exist in high-end clothing, decorative tapestry, awards and recognition items, promotional CD's, etc.
You may also choose to target a select type such as team uniforms or fundraising t-shirts. Research your local and web competition to find the item market you can be most competitive in.
Leasing or buying your equipment
If you are starting out small it will probably be better to buy your supplies rather than lease. You can start small for under $2,000. However, if you wish to start with a larger set-up, you may want to consider leasing.
Leasing has many advantages including; fewer upfront costs, flexible payment options, easy equipment upgrades, and the ability to use more advanced technology.
The most expensive item is the screening station. Small business can start with a station of 1 bin with a single color up to 10 bins with 10 colors. The more colors you have available the quicker you can perform complex designs.
Most designs will not require more than 4 colors so this is a nice number to begin with. The minimum equipment and supplies you need to start include:
* Screens
* Degreasing chemical
* Emulsion
* Coater
* Drying cabinet
* Washing Booth
* Pressure washer
* Scoops
* Spot lifter
* Inks
* Software, Computer, and Scanner
* Ink degrader
* Squeegees
* Drying Cabinet
Training
Classes are offered through various sources including equipment manufacturers, trade and technical schools, and private instruction/apprenticeship. Basic courses taught at a facility are typically cost $500-$1,500.00 and private courses taught at your site cost from $3,500.00 - $5,500.00. The following is a description of the classes and techniques you will need to learn.
* Proper screen coating technique
* How to choose and use the proper screen frame
* Athletic numbering
* Special inks and procedures
* Curing and Flashing
* Screen cleaning and reclaiming
* Mesh selection and use
* Controlling exposure control with emulsion
* Equipment Troubleshooting
Starting a Screen Printing Business Can Be All About Three Words
Location, Location, Location!
With a successful screen printing business, you can work just 2 and a half days a week and put five hundred dollars in your pocket. You can set your business up in several different places and just have the crowds come to you.
The general thought is that if you are going to own a successful business you have to work a lot of hours and hope you can find customers. While that may be the rule of thumb for many businesses, a screen printing business can be run on a part time basis and still bring in decent cash.
There are two places where you can set up your business and work just a few days a week and have the public almost throw money at you:
1) The Flea Market. Would you believe that a decent flea market can have as many as ten thousand people a weekend walk through? Flea market shoppers are regular people like you and I and like the shopping atmosphere and the bargain pricing that you find in a venue like that. With the growth of flea marketing shopping there are many indoor markets spring up as well so you have the benefit of air conditioning and heat when either is needed. Setting up a screen printing business at a flea market is easy because you can back your car right up to your booth, set up your equipment, display some shirts and hats and be in business in no time. With the masses walking the isles you are sure to make money.
2) An Indoor Mall. Setting up at an indoor mall is going to take a little more effort as you just can not drive your car up and unload so you will need a dolly or hand truck to move your equipment and wares. Setting up a screen printing business at an indoor mall is generally very profitable because the majority of the people that frequent malls are looking to buy clothing. Since 91% of all screen printing is done on clothing you have the perfect match. You also have more selling hours at the mall and can count on the creature comforts of a controlled environment as well.
Either place is a great place for setting up a screen printing business, it's just what fits you and your personality best.