How to open your own copy center? Detailed business plan and calculations

The services of copy centers are still in demand and are very popular. This happens through the use of professional equipment, which is aimed at fast and high-quality results. At the same time, the cost of printing text is much lower than on a home printer, which periodically needs to be refilled and paper needs to be bought for it. It is also necessary to contact a copy center if you need to print color photographs and images. Rarely does anyone have the necessary equipment at home.

Business specifics

A copy center is understood as a special service that provides services to the public for copying and printing any type of documents in various formats.

Usually, government institutions for various purposes, including higher and secondary educational institutions, become clients. At the same time, students often require services not only for printing information on paper, but also for scanning, copying, and binding of term papers and theses.

Based on this, good copy center should provide the following services to the public:

1. Copying of all types, sizes and formats.
2. Lamination of important papers and documents. This is done so that over time the information is not lost and always remains in a readable and legible form.
3. Printing documents. Moreover, it can be black and white documents or papers with color inserts. That is, various diagrams, tables that may be needed for the correct design of term papers, theses, as well as laboratory assignments.
4. Making business cards. This process is not particularly difficult and will not take much time. But business cards cannot be printed on cheap and low-quality paper, so many customers turn to copy centers for such services, where there is always the right paper. Here, employees know how to use the necessary graphic editors with which you can quickly create good business cards.
5. Printing photos. This shouldn't be a top priority for a copy shop, but having such a service can go a long way in expanding your customer base. Not every person can afford to install a printer with a color cartridge at home, since refilling it and buying photo paper is a very expensive pleasure.
6. Printing of booklets, books and manuals. It is much more profitable to perform such a service in a copy center than in a large and professional printing house, in which it is very expensive to reconfigure all the equipment for the sake of a small print run.
7. Manufacture of binding of term papers and theses. Without this, the student will not be allowed to defend his scientific work.

In copy centers, in addition to basic services, you can also provide additional services that will also generate income for small businesses. These include the sale of CDs of various formats, flash drives with various amounts of memory, and small stationery.

The more diverse services will be provided in the copy center, the higher the chance that customers will not only return here, but also bring other people with them.

Premises, location, target audience

To open a copy center from scratch, first of all, you need to right choose a place for its organization. It should take into account all the features of the target audience that will visit it.

Usually these are students of nearby schools and lyceums, higher or secondary educational institutions. In addition, teachers, teachers, medical staff become clients of the center. Also, all those people who need services for copying, printing documents, photographs and color images become customers.

Therefore, a copy center business plan should begin with choosing the right place to operate. It is best if it is located in close proximity to:

• higher and secondary educational institutions;
• communal organizations;
• medical institutions;
• large residential areas.

The location of your copier should be easily accessible. It is best if it is located in a place where there is a large flow of people in any direction.

It is very important to know how to organize a copy center so that after visiting it, people have only positive emotions. It should be properly organized and include:

• customer service room - 20 sq.m;
• storage room - 4 sq.m;
• a room for storing equipment - 15 sq.m;
• utility room;
• bathroom.

The best option would be a room with an area of ​​20-45 sq.m, which is located on the ground floor, for example, of a university, business center or shopping complex.

Necessary equipment

The organization of a copy center implies the purchase of the necessary equipment. But before you do this, you need to clearly define the services that you will provide at the beginning of your development. After the business pays for itself and attracts a sufficiently large number of customers, you can expand the list of services. Therefore, the mandatory equipment for the full functioning of the copy center are:

• Laser.
• Jet.

The first is much more expensive. But its further maintenance is much cheaper than that of inkjet models.

If there is a financial constraint, then for the first time you can purchase 3 in 1 multifunctional equipment. That is, in one device there will immediately be a printer, copier and scanner. But over time, there will be more customers and you will have to provide several different services at the same time. Therefore, the 3 in 1 device can only be used for a short period of time.

In addition to the purchase of basic devices for the provision of various services, it is necessary to purchase additional equipment for the copy center. It includes:

• copier for A3 paper size in black and white;
• color copier;
• device for binding documents;
• laminating equipment;
• risograph.

The wider the range of services of the copy center, the more modern equipment should be present in it. You can not let the client go to another place for the necessary service. Therefore, over time, it will be necessary to install equipment for photo printing, making postcards and booklets. In addition to stationary devices, it is necessary to install special licensed programs for design and graphics on a personal computer or laptop.

To make customers and employees feel comfortable and cozy in the copy center, you also need to take care of purchasing tables, chairs, cabinets and various shelves.

Business registration

The activity of a copy center is not subject to licensing. That is, to start work, you need to obtain a certificate from the Federal Tax Service and conduct business as an individual entrepreneur. The expense will be 2,000 rubles. Additional documents for this type of activity are not required.

Advertising

In order for a copy center to make a profit, it must be properly advertised. This will help attract a large number of new customers. correct and efficient advertising consists of the following activities:

1. Signage and outdoor advertising, which will be located near the copy center to indicate it to the flow of people passing by. It should be bright and colorful, but not irritating people.
2. Flyers and business cards. They can be distributed among students, pupils, employees of nearby organizations, as well as customers who have already contacted the copy center. People will be able to transfer information about the copy center to their friends, relatives and acquaintances.
3. Announcements on the Internet. Today it is very popular and effective to promote your business through social networks, specialized sites and forums.

Also, in the process, you can create your own website. So people can get all the up-to-date information about the services and the cost of them via the Internet at any convenient time.

Investments, costs and profitability

To know how much it will cost to open a copy center, you need to determine the prices for the services provided. They should not be higher than those of competitors, as potential customers can simply make a choice in their favor.

If 1 employee works in a copy center, then he must carry out his work with the following intensity:

• printing and copying in black and white format - 800-900 sheets per day;
• printing and copying in color format - 170-200 sheets per day;
• printing photos - 200-220 pieces per day;
• scanning - 80-90 sheets.

You will not be able to start working until you have a business plan with calculations for your copy center. If the norm is met, in 20-22 working days, the monthly revenue should be from 240,000 to 270,000 rubles in Moscow, 180,000 - 200,000 rubles in other regions.

In addition to revenue, it is imperative to take into account the costs that the copy center will incur in the first year of operation. These must include:

• rent;
• staff salaries;
• cost of equipment.

Based on this, the total amount of expenses per year in Moscow will be from 2.5 to 2.7 million rubles, in the regions - 1.8-2 million rubles.

Comparing all the figures, we can conclude that the profitability in the first year of operation will be from 15 to 16%. After the payback period has passed, a copy center in Moscow will increase this figure by 1-2%, a regional firm - by 3-4%.

To achieve such results, it is necessary to have not only the most expensive and modern equipment, but also to properly serve each client. Without exception, all employees must be polite and attentive, try to provide any type of service with the highest quality so that the client is completely satisfied with the work done.

Copycenter will be a great opportunity to earn a high level of income. In order for it to bring maximum profit, you need to take care of right organized work, quality materials and equipment, as well as to hire friendly and honest employees to work.

In order to attract a large number of new customers who may become permanent in the future, you must definitely approach the advertising of your enterprise responsibly. If you draw up a business plan correctly, then in the shortest possible time your business will begin to make a profit.

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