If you’ve been interested in exploring your entrepreneurial side, you may consider taking on a screen printing business. While this can be an exciting and rewarding venture, it’s still important to do your research and get prepared before fully jumping in.
Here are four things you need to know before starting a screen printing business.
1. Figure Out Who Your Audience Is
To get started with your screen printing venture, you should first identify who your target market is. This will help guide the rest of the decisions you make about your business, including the types of screen-printed products you’ll sell, what designs you’ll use, the types of promotional activities you should consider, and more.
Figure out what your screen printing store will do better than any other business that’s already out there in the market, which will help you find your edge and discover who your ideal customers will be.
You may be tempted to just sell your screen-printed goods to anyone who will buy them. However, narrowing in on a niche will help you build your credibility and a loyal customer base.
2. Master Your Screen Printing Skills
You don’t have to be a complete expert before you start your business as you’ll hone your skills a lot more through practice. However, you should be confident enough in your screen printing skills before you start selling your goods to customers.
After all, the quality of your initial sales will determine whether your buyers turn into repeat customers or are left disappointed.
So, make sure you understand the basics of screen printing and test out different inks, designs, and materials before you launch your store so you can feel good about the products you’re selling.
3. Get the Right Equipment
Screen printing can be pretty labor-intensive, so you can make the job much more efficient and seamless when you’re relying on the proper tools and equipment.
Go for a digitally-made pre-burned screen. This cuts down on the work you’ll need to do and doesn’t require you to utilize any light exposure, chemical cleaning, washout, or emulsions when making your prints.
Additionally, you will need some other essentials like squeegees, inks, and a well-ventilated and spacious workspace where you can make the prints. You may need additional equipment depending on the size and complexity of the jobs you’ll be doing, so keep this in mind as you’re factoring in how much it will cost to get started.
4. Understand the Business Side
Lastly, starting a screen printing business is more than just printing shirts–it’s also about running a business. With this in mind, it can be worthwhile to develop a business plan with details like your marketing strategy, pricing structure, and financial forecasts.
There are some administrative tasks you’ll need to also take care of like registering your business, obtaining any necessary permits and licenses, and getting set up in an accounting system that tracks your income and expenses.
Above all, one of the most important aspects of running a successful screen printing business is building and maintaining relationships with your customers. This means providing excellent customer service, meeting deadlines, and producing high-quality prints that meet or exceed their expectations.
In sum, there’s a lot to be excited about when you first start your business but don’t overlook some of these key factors that can help you be successful from the jump.
