Copy center business plan: cost calculation, necessary equipment and proper advertising of services. Reviews of Copy Center as a Business Copy Service Business

In this material:

The ability to purchase a copier for home use could not nullify the demand for this kind of service. A copy center business plan will help you organize a profitable business with a small start-up investment.

Copy center services are in demand enough to organize a profitable, dust-free business. The main thing is to choose the right location and not skimp on advertising. There are always free places in this niche, the one who can catch the wave and meet the expectations of the consumer will win.

Business benefits

Among the various areas of small business, the organization of a copy center is one of the most attractive. Business benefits include:

small start-up capital;
minimum of permits;
relatively low operating costs;
high profitability;
small staff (without special qualifications).

In fact, anyone can become the owner of such a business with a certain start-up capital and business acumen.

Analysis of the demand for copying services

The presence of photocopiers in apartments and offices is not a reason to believe that copying services are not in price these days. The need to make a photocopy sometimes arises very unexpectedly, and the easiest option is to seek help from a copy center, where the problem will be solved for a nominal fee.

In addition, the services of copy centers are not limited to copying documents only. They have the ability to print files from the Internet or from digital media, amend finished documents, increase or decrease the size of documents. At home, it is not always possible to make a copy of A3 format, print out scale drawings, diagrams, drawings, scan or laminate paper. Additionally, copy centers print photographs, make custom-made collages, calendars, postcards, print on T-shirts, mugs and other souvenirs. The range of services is wide and varied, so a copy center located in a busy place will not remain without work.

Organizational matters

registration

To open a copy center, it is enough to issue an IP. To do this, after submitting an application to the tax office, you need to obtain an individual taxpayer number - TIN and submit documents to the city government:

copy of your passport;
receipt of payment of state duty;
application of the established form.

The STS or UTII is suitable as a taxation system.

Choosing a place and premises

The main criterion for choosing the location of the copy center is high traffic and availability. A busy city street, an office center, a building in the immediate vicinity of large educational institutions (or in them) will do. The copy-center should have a convenient approach and driveway, preferably parking, including for bicycles. A premise located on the first or basement floor is the best choice.

The size of the room is not important, even a small room or office will do. It must meet the requirements of the SES and firefighters, be equipped with an emergency fire extinguishing system, a fire detector and ventilation.

Determination of the range of services

The list of services determines the choice of office equipment required for work. The wider it is, the more potential visitors the copy center will be able to serve:

copying;
scanning;
typing, editing and printing of text;
printing of documents from carriers;
lamination;
drawing pictures on products;
stitching.

Purchase of equipment and materials

The copy center equipment will require at least:

a computer with a multifunction device;
copier of А \u200b\u200b3 format;
risograph;
laminator;
apparatus for cutting paper;
stapler, hole punch;
bookbinding machine (binder);
photo printer;
plotter A1.

In addition, you need furniture - a table, chairs, racks, shelves, showcases.

Staff recruitment

To work in the center, 2-3 people will be needed, they do not need special education, it is enough that they will be confident PC users and will be able to handle office equipment. Such qualities as responsibility, communication skills, creativity, accuracy are important.

Advertising

It will take some time for the copy center to work in full force. The best advertising is word of mouth, but while it goes on, it is worth launching a video on local radio, on TV, placing information in the press and free flyers that are thrown into the mailboxes. You can distribute flyers and business cards, hang a bright announcement in educational institutions near the center. Advertising on the Internet, social networks, city portals gives a good result.

The copy center should have a noticeable sign that can be seen from afar.

Financial plan

Initial investment

At the start, the main costs consist of:

purchases of furniture and equipment - 165 thousand rubles;
paperwork - 800 rubles;
advertising - 40 thousand rubles.

Monthly expenses

rent and utilities - 20 thousand rubles;
purchase of consumables (ink, refilling cartridges, paper) - 70 thousand rubles;
advertising - 5 thousand rubles;
salary - 50 thousand rubles.

Profit

Payback period

The profitability of the business is 18-20%, the initial investment will pay off in 12-14 months.

At the dawn of a business, it is absolutely not necessary to buy a large amount of expensive office equipment; you can start small, gradually expanding your capabilities.

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The services of copying centers are still in demand and are very popular. This happens due to the use of professional equipment, which is aimed at a quick and high-quality result. At the same time, the cost of printing text is much lower than on a home printer, which periodically needs to be refueled and bought paper 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 department that provides services to the population for copying and printing all types of documents in different formats.

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

Based on this, good copy center must provide the population with the following types of services:

Copying of all types, sizes and formats.
Lamination of important papers and documents. This is done so that over time the information is not lost and remains always in a readable and legible form.
Printing of documents. Moreover, it can be black and white documents or paper 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.
Making business cards. This process is not particularly difficult and does not take much time. But business cards cannot be printed on cheap and low-quality paper, so many clients turn to copy centers for such services, where the necessary paper is always available. Here employees know how to use the necessary graphic editors with which you can quickly create good business cards.
Printing photos. This should not be a priority for a copy center, but having such a service will greatly help expand your customer base. Not everyone can afford to install a printer with a color cartridge at home, since refilling it and buying photo paper is a very expensive pleasure.
Printing of booklets, books and teaching aids. 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.
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 different formats, flash drives with different amounts of memory, small office supplies.

The more varied services a copy center provides, the higher the chances that customers will not only return here, but also bring other people with them.

Premises, its location, target audience

To open a copy center from scratch, first of all, you need correctly choose a room 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 clients.

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

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

The location of your copier should be readily available... 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 will have extremely positive emotions. It must be properly organized and include:

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

The best option would be a room with an area of \u200b\u200b20-45 square meters, which is located on the ground floor, for example, a university, a business center or a shopping complex.

Necessary equipment

The organization of a copy center implies the purchase of the necessary equipment. But before doing this, it is necessary 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 limitation, then for the first time you can purchase multifunctional equipment 3 in 1. That is, in one device there will be a printer, copier and scanner. But over time, there will be more customers and it will be necessary to simultaneously provide several different services. Therefore, the 3-in-1 device can only be used for a short period of time.

In addition to the purchase of basic machines for the provision of various services, additional equipment must be purchased at the copy center. It includes:

copier for A3 paper size in black and white;
color copy machine;
device for binding documents;
equipment for lamination;
risograph.

The wider the range of copy center services, the more modern equipment should be present in it. The client cannot be allowed to go to another place for the necessary service... Therefore, over time, it will be necessary to install equipment for 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 activities of the copy center are not subject to licensing. That is, to get started, 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

For a copy center to be profitable, it must be properly advertised. This will help attract a large number of new customers. Correct and effective advertising consists of the following activities:

Signboards and outdoor advertising, which will be located near the copy center, to point to it as the stream of people passing by. It should be bright and colorful, but not irritating to people.
Flyers and business cards. They can be distributed to 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, family and acquaintances.
Advertisements on the Internet. Today it is very popular and effective to promote your business through social networks, specialized sites and forums.

You can also create your own website in the process. So people will be able to get all the up-to-date information about services and their cost via the Internet at any convenient time.

Investment, 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 shouldn't be higher than competitorsbecause potential customers can simply make a choice in their favor.

If 1 employee works in the 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 of photos - 200-220 pieces per day;
scanning - 80-90 sheets.

You won't be able to get started until you have a calculated business plan for your copy center. If the norm is fulfilled, for 20-22 working days, the monthly proceeds 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 necessarily include:

rent;
staff salaries;
cost of equipment.

Based on this, the total annual expenditures in Moscow will be from 2.5 to 2.7 million rubles, in the regions - 1.8-2 million rubles.

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

To achieve such results, you need to have not only the most expensive and modern equipment, but also 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.

Copy center will be a great opportunity to get a high level of income. In order for it to bring maximum profit, you need to take care of correctly organized work, quality materials and equipment, and hire friendly and honest employees.

In order to attract a large number of new customers who may become permanent in the future, you need to take a responsible approach to advertising your company. If you draw up a business plan correctly, then in the shortest possible time your business will start to make a profit.

Use the Rubitime CRM online scheduling system: the service will help you analyze business performance and productively interact with your customers.

Hello friends! Today I want to talk about the provision of services for copying documents, or, as people say - photocopying... How much can you earn from this? Rubles, pennies? Is it worth talking about this service as a business or as an addition to an existing business? Is it cost-effective to buy copiers, print and copy various documents on paper? Let's figure it out.

Looking ahead, I declare with full responsibility - to provide photocopying services is not just profitable, but VERY profitable! And below I will prove it to you.

I just want to start the article by rephrasing a famous song - "do not think down on the photocopy ...".

The best thing about photocopying is excellent profitability, that is, the amount of profit for every ruble invested. There are few services in this world with such dedication and quick payback!

I really love the queen of sciences - mathematics and now she will help me prove my words with numbers. In order not to indulge in the jungle of reasoning and theory, I will carry out all the calculations using my specific example.

In my photo studio there is a Canon i-SENSYS MF4410 MFP.

In a nutshell, it is a great workhorse with excellent laser quality monochrome printing. This MFP not only prints well, but is also very well made, so it is a pleasure to work with it.

Now some numbers.

I purchased this unit for 7,500 rubles. There are models similar in functionality and cheaper, but I chose a laser between Canon and HP. Canon bribed with the build quality.

So, the cost of the MFP is 7500 rubles.
The standard refill of the cartridge is enough for 2,100 - 2,200 copies (runs). The price of one run I have is 4 rubles, regardless of the size of the printed area - at least for the whole page, at least from a matchbox.
The cost of refueling at the service center costs me 250 rubles. Color laser Canon LBP-5050, and I give this one to specialists. I don't want to mess around to save 250 rubles.
After three simple refills with toner for the fourth, they change the drum and squeegee in the cartridge. This ensures a clean, high-quality print. Together with the replacement of the toner, it costs 700 rubles.

Let's count.

250 + 250 + 250 + 700 \u003d 1450 rubles - this is the cost of four fillings (three simple and the fourth with replacement of the squeegee and drum).
1450: 4 \u003d 362.5 rubles - the average cost of one refueling.
362.5: 2100 \u003d 17 kopecks (!) The cost of toner per page.
Paper like "Snow Maiden" A4 size costs an average of 150 rubles per pack. We divide this figure by 500 sheets. We get 30 kopecks per sheet.
17 + 30 \u003d 47 kopecks (!) - the net cost of one copy (printout).
4 - 0.47 \u003d 3.53 rubles - net profit from one run.
2100 x 3.53 \u003d 7413 rubles - this is a net profit from one gas station!

At a price photocopies at 4 rubles, the markup is more than 750%. Where can you find a more cost effective way to invest your money?

You can argue that 4 rubles is a trifle and you won't earn much on it. And you will be WRONG! See how similar points work near tax, BTI, insurance companies. Work is not a crank. And the prices there are rarely less than 5 rubles. And in large cities it is not uncommon for a long time to copy the price of 10 rubles per sheet. After all, no one will run to look for cheaper prices when copies are urgently needed.

And in points that were lucky enough to open near universities and other educational institutions, the daily revenue is 5,000 - 8,000 rubles for only one photocopy and printing of control and term papers! Don't believe me? And this is true.

I do not have an institute nearby, but my girls do not sit without work. Teachers, schoolchildren, educators and ordinary citizens regularly come to me and leave their money. And once a quarter, grandmothers and low-income citizens stretch out in a line to copy receipts from housing and communal services when registering subsidies. My MFP pays for itself monthly! Is it bad?

Of course, where there is a lot of competition, prices fall to 2 rubles per run. But even this price gives more than 300% of the net profit.

Well, did I manage to convince you? If you have any stationary point where you provide any services (for example, on mugs, plates and T-shirts), and there is a place and an opportunity to install a laser MFP - your feet in your hands and run after the device to the nearest office equipment store! You will beat off the lease on it, and put the profit from the main activity in your pocket.

Several wishes when choosing an MFP. Why do I recommend taking a laser?

Because it is faster than an inkjet MFP.
The print is pure black, not gray as is often the case with compatible inkjets.
Laser printing does not fade in the sun and does not flow from water. Trust me, this is important when you print ads that can spread in the rain and sleet.

It is better not to regret the extra thousand rubles and purchase an MFP with self-grabbing sheets for scanning. This makes it much easier to copy a stack of documents. The counterpart to my self-locking MFP is the Canon i-SENSYS MF4450.

Also, when purchasing, pay attention to the maximum number of printed pages per month. For example, Canon i-SENSYS MF4410 has this figure of 8000 prints per month. This means that for long-term quality work it is highly desirable to print no more than 250 - 280 prints per day.

If you're looking to print more, you should take your MFP seriously. For example, the Samsung SCX-4833FD MFP, which can print up to 50,000 prints per month, is an excellent choice.

If you have enough money on hand, you can swing at the A3 format MFP.

By the way, the copy service (photocopy) software has a code 74.83 (Providing secretarial, editorial and translation services). Indicate this code in the documents when registering a business.

That's all for today. Don't think of a photocopy downright! The apparent cheapness of the print as a result, the ruble against the ruble poured into serious amounts by the end of the month. Buy MFPs and make good money on photocopies!

An aspiring entrepreneur will be interested in learning how to open a copy center. To do this, it is enough to draw up a competent business plan with detailed calculations of expenses and estimated income. Although initially it will be necessary to carefully assess the market and the relevance of the issue.

With a targeted approach in this area, you can achieve stable and constantly growing profits. The profitability of the project is about 30%, and sometimes even higher. True, such a business will not bring you millions, but it will give you a chance to earn enough to feel like a confident entrepreneur.

Relevance of the idea

Even with computers, laptops and printers, most people still need the services of a copy center. After all, in order for such equipment to work constantly, it needs maintenance, changing cartridges, refilling ink, etc. For many people it is much cheaper and more convenient to use third-party organizations to obtain duplicate documents than to do it on their own.

If you find a good location, for example, close to educational institutions, then you can count on a constant flow of the target audience. With a well-chosen range of services and additional goods, high quality of service and affordable cost, the copy center as a business will become popular among customers and bring tangible profits to the owner.

The main advantage of this direction is that minimum investments are required to start, and you can start a simple activity from one device. And only as income increases, a gradual expansion of the range of services, purchase of new equipment and growth of the client base is available.

Registration questions

It is not difficult to draw up documents for conducting activities in the field of copying services. Let's list what you need to run a legitimate business:

Register with the tax service as an individual entrepreneur (individual entrepreneur). At the same time, indicate all OKVED codes covering the expected range of services - 74.85, 74.83, 52.47.
Choose the appropriate taxation system - UTII or STS.
With this form of activity, a cash register is not needed to settle accounts with customers. It is enough to keep simple bookkeeping and use sales receipts. If you decide to purchase a KKM, then it will need to be registered with the tax office.
Since complex and powerful electronic equipment will work in the room, you will definitely have to go through the inspection of the SES and the fire inspection, which will issue the appropriate permits. But for this, you will need to initially prepare everything in accordance with the norms and standards. Particular attention is paid to fire safety.
If you plan to hire employees to work in the copy center, you will need to register with the Pension and Social Fund as an employer.
In the case of renting premises, follow the well-drawn up contract. It is desirable that it deals with a long term (at least a year) and indicates the amount of the monthly fee.

The target audience

When planning this business, it is very important to consider which customers will visit you. Basically, in your calculations, you need to build on this fact. So, the following groups of people are distinguished who periodically require the services of a copy center:

students - the largest and most permanent audience, is considered a "gold mine" for this area;
schoolchildren, teachers;
office workers;
visitors to various government agencies (pension, social funds, tax, etc.);
clients of banks, notaries;
clinic patients.

But much also depends on the services offered. If, for example, you are engaged in printing photographs, then the customer base will expand to the entire age audience 35-55 years old. To make the flow of visitors as rich as possible, you need to focus on the needs of people and offer more different services for which there is a constant demand.

Room selection

The most important thing at the stage of organizing this business is a good location for a copy center. The number of clients, the demand for certain types of services, the necessary equipment and much more will largely depend on this.

After you have estimated your target audience and its size, you need to determine the main areas of their congestion. For example, proximity is the best solution:

Educational institutions.
State and municipal institutions.
Offices.
Clinics and hospitals.
Various enterprises of a financial nature.
City center.

In some cases, it makes sense to locate a copy kiosk in a residential area with a large number of residents, but then it is advisable to offer a wider range of services, including printing photos, cutting discs, etc.

The size of the room depends on how much equipment you need to work. Sometimes 10-15 sq. m. for the installation of one copier and laptop. With a wider range of services, more space is needed, so sometimes it makes sense to immediately rent an office for 30-45 sq. m.

It is very important to monitor the quality and power of the electrical network, as well as other nuances of fire safety. Most often, additional repairs are not required, since the owners of such a business are looking for premises that are ready for work, which is very convenient and saves start-up investments.

For a solid copy center, it is advisable to correctly divide the room into zones. Separate the reception room from the place where the equipment is refueled, as this process is associated with increased pollution. You also need to take care of the availability of a bathroom and a utility room for staff, a warehouse for storing additional equipment, spare parts, consumables, etc.

What services to offer?

The copy center can perform only one function - to duplicate text or graphic documents. But the more different tasks you can complete, the more attractive your establishment will be for potential customers.

So, you can focus on the most popular queries:

photocopying of different document formats;
printing files from digital media;
cutting discs;
typing;
lamination;
binding of scientific works;
printing photos;
scanning;
rewriting information on removable media;
printing of leaflets, booklets, brochures of small editions, which are not taken;
creation of advertising materials, business cards, posters, postcards, calendars, etc.

You can also sell related products. For example, entering a copy center, students often remember that their pen has stopped writing, that a notebook or notebook has run out, there is no file or folder, etc. They will buy all these little things right there while they are waiting for ready copies. Sometimes it makes sense to set up a camera and take photographs for documents.

Equipment purchase

It is very important to choose the right model of the device for the main function. Your income depends on its power and speed of work. If the equipment is used or produces poor print quality, often breaks down or turns out to be expensive to maintain, then do not expect benefits from it.

It is better to initially spend money on a high-quality professional device with simple consumables than constantly suffer losses from its malfunctioning. For example, laser printers are much more expensive, but their maintenance is much simpler and cheaper than inkjet printers.

It is also important to decide on the list of required equipment. Here you should carefully consider the range of services offered, the number of expected customers and other factors. For example, sometimes one copier or multifunctional device is enough. But with a large influx of visitors and varied demand, it is advisable to have several devices in stock.

We offer an approximate list of equipment for a full-fledged copy center:

MFP - can make photocopies, scan documents and print information.
Computer or laptop.
Xerox.
Scanner.
Printer for black and white and color printing.
A similar technique for working with non-standard document sizes, for example, A3.
Camera.
Laminator.
Risograph.
Bookbinder.

Also take care of trade showcases and shelves for the sale of related products. Purchase at least a minimum amount of office furniture for staff - tables, chairs, cabinets. Do not forget about consumables - cartridges and ink, paper, tools for cleaning and refueling equipment, etc.

Staff

With a small influx of customers and a limited amount of equipment, you can cope with the work yourself. But as the center expands, it will have to hire assistants. The staff may include the following employees:

secretary;
copier;
designer for performing various character assignments;
accountant - optional, since when registering an individual entrepreneur, the business owner fills in all the reports on his own;
a specialist in cleaning, refueling and repairing equipment - may come only to perform certain functions.

If the copy center is well located, no special advertising campaign is required. All you need to do is install a signboard, stick up posters, you can put up a pavement sign or draw arrows leading to the kiosk.

In order for potential clients to know about you from the very first days, you need to distribute flyers or business cards in places where the target audience is most concentrated - before entering educational institutions, in the nearest cafes, near dormitories, not far from office buildings and government agencies.

Depending on the presence of competition, it will be necessary to very competently regulate the pricing policy and the range of services. So, if there are many other copy stalls around, then it is better to attract visitors with lower prices. With a limited set of functions performed in neighboring establishments, it is worth offering something unique and in demand, for example, printing in non-standard formats.

Today it is also important to pay attention to advertising and using the Internet. To do this, create a business card site where all the services and tariffs offered will be listed. Post ads on social networks, participate in discussions on local forums and in groups your potential customers use.

Free download here as a sample.

Financial questions

Initial investments can be very different. It depends on how much the selected model of equipment costs, what list of equipment is needed for work, the number of employed personnel, the size and price of renting premises, etc. You can enter this business with a minimum amount.

If we talk about a more solid copy center, then the following costs are assumed.

Also, always remember about the regular costs of maintaining activities. Be sure to include them in the business plan of the copy center with calculations, since it largely depends on what the net profit will be.

If you hire employees, then fixed costs will increase by the amount of wages and social benefits for each person in the state. But at first, in order to save money, it is better to perform all the functions yourself.

The amount of income is much more difficult to calculate, since the profit will depend on many factors - the number of customers, competition, established prices, services offered, etc. Approximately in the first months, about 300 thousand rubles of income is expected from a small center located near the educational institution. Even with such figures, one can expect that in 4-6 months all investments will fully pay off.

In general, the project profitability is estimated by experts at 30-35%, which is a very good indicator. But a lot also depends on how much money was initially spent. To organize a solid business, large investments are needed, which will return to the owner only after a year. If we limit ourselves to one device, then the investment will pay off in 1-2 months.

Video: how to open a copy center?

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