Community print newspaper

Local businesses buying ads, residents paying for subscriptions or copies, and sometimes organizations placing notices or inserts.

Mainly display and classified ad sales, plus paid subscriptions, single-copy sales at local stores, and sponsored sections or special editions.

• Writing and editing
• Selling ads to local businesses
• Page layout and basic design
• Meeting deadlines every issue

• Libel and defamation risk: ask about media liability insurance, not just general liability
• Rules on public and legal notices differ by state, check whether your paper could qualify and what it takes
• Check with USPS about periodical mailing rules if you plan to mail copies
• Check with your state about sales tax on ads or subscriptions
• Ad income can be uneven, so keep printing costs low until sales are steady
• Check copyright and permission before using photos or content from others

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on printing and setup. Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much advertising and how many subscriptions you sell.

Ask about media liability insurance, not just general liability, because of libel and defamation risk. Check your state's public and legal notice rules, USPS periodical mailing rules if you mail copies, state sales tax on ads or subscriptions, and copyright permission for others' content.

Writing and editing, selling ads to local businesses, basic page layout and meeting deadlines every issue are key. Estimates suggest at least about 20 hours a week. Ad income can be uneven, so keep printing costs low until sales are steady.