Home-Based invitation and stationery printer

Engaged couples, parents planning birthdays and showers, small event planners and local businesses hosting events.

Price per set of invitations (often by quantity, paper type and finishing), plus extras like envelopes, addressing, design time and rush orders.

• Basic graphic design
• Eye for detail and color
• Customer service and patience with changes
• Deadline management

• Check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit, and whether your HOA or lease allows home businesses
• Register with your state for sales tax if invitations are taxable where you live, and check how it applies to design services
• Fonts, images and artwork must have commercial licenses; check the terms before selling printed products
• Home printer ink and paper costs can eat margins, so calculate your cost per set before pricing
• Consider general liability insurance and a clear policy for proofing and typos

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your printer, paper cutter and finishing tools. Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $2,500, depending on how many orders you take. Calculate cost per set, since ink and paper can eat margins.

Check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit, and whether your HOA or lease allows home businesses. Also check state sales tax registration and how it applies to design services, and commercial licenses for fonts and images.

Estimates start at around 6 hours a week, depending on orders. Helpful skills include basic graphic design, an eye for detail and color, customer service and deadline management. Consider a clear proofing policy to catch typos.