Home-Based print and design service

Small businesses, start-ups, clubs and charities that want one reliable person to manage their print rather than dealing with printers themselves.

You add a margin to the trade printer's price and can charge extra for design, artwork checks and delivery.

• Basic design software
• Knowing paper, sizes and finishes
• Sales and networking
• Organising deadlines

• Mistakes on proofs can be costly, so always get written customer sign-off before printing
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance are worth checking
• Check whether working from home needs permission from your landlord or mortgage lender
• Margins can be thin if you compete only on price

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on the design software, any small desktop printer and the marketing you do. These are estimates, so start with what you need for your first customers.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £3,000, depending on how many business customers you win and the size of their jobs. That is revenue, not profit, and margins can be thin if you compete only on price.

Always get written customer sign-off on proofs, as mistakes can be costly. Also check public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and whether working from home needs permission from your landlord or mortgage lender.