subject: The Guide For Digital Sign Making Start Ups [print this page] Your business will start as an ideaYour business will start as an idea. Most of us have millions of ideas in a lifetime that we do not take any further. However a business idea takes some deeping thinking. Firstly is this a business that will excite and motivate you? If there is any doubt then do not do it.
A new business takes an emormous of dedication and hard work. Of course you may be an experience sign maker already working for someone else. Remember though that is you start your business you have to run it. This takes up a lot of time and some of it, for example paperwork can be a little tedious and boring.
Chasing payment from customer can be an awkward task for many, and if you do not think you can do this regularly then again I would suggest not to bother starting your own business.
If you think through your idea and try to imagine how it would work on a day to day level and can still enthuse about it then we can happily move onto the next stage.
You will definately need to produce a business plan. In the UK you can download a free template from business link. You will need to make some financial calculations and projections which basically work out how much you are going to make in profit.
In specific regards to sign making you will need a vinyl cutter, a computer with signmaking software alongside a reliable and established supplier to sign makers and a printer. The printer type is known as wide format, and solvent, eco-solvent printer.
If you buy your hardware over a three to five year period then you will find minimal cash required to get you going. An important consideration is a well ventilated room. Maybe you have a spare room, or access to a friends spare room to begin with. With interest rates being low you are sure to find a great deal with discount and a low rate of interest.
There is freeware and shareware which you can try first until you find the software package that you like best. The vinyl cutter normally comes with its own software. You can use it to design images or import files designed software or on specially developed websites.
Suppliers are availble who can provide the whole digital vinyl media printing starter kit. If you take this route then can organise to receive tutorials and may be offered telephone support. This depends on how much sign making knowledge you already have. The overall price may be higher than buying components seperately.
You will also need of course your materials. These include rolls of digital vinyl, premask, and squeegee to prepare the vinyl for application.
You will require substrates for the finished vinyl signs. This can be any solid, non-porous surface. A glass door, a car, or primed and painted wood even scaffolding. Whatever your client is requiring.
Precut manufactured substrates known as blanks are available for everything from retail signs to license plates. Corrugated plastic in nice bright colours is often used.
There is plenty of help on the internet about how to do various aspects of the sign making. With the advent of video jug and you tube, there are videos on the web which will show you how its done visually by established digital sign makers.
When I started my own business, I cashed in my shares, emptied my savings accounts and had enough cash in reserve to live off for three months. I therefore had a three month plan to win new customers, do the actual work won, and ultimatley the fourth month was make or break. Fortunately for me it was success.
Due to financial planning and living within my reduced means with my family, I was able to thoroughly enjoy the sales process rather than worrying and feeling under immense pressure. I had a great website, promoted myself on the web, did some cold calling and attended networking events.
Personally I hated the cold calling an loved the networking events. The latter brought me enough business in one day to triple the size of my business rather than close down the business. One of the golden rules is to know your unique selling points. If you have a competitor at the same event you can easily appear to be a much better sign maker than the competition.
You will need to contact the tax office and register your business. I would strongly recommend registering as soon as you set up. The reason being that they can take eight to ten weeks to send through your tax number and you may need this for the family tax credits that you may be relying on.
You need to do your book keeping from day one. Look out for special free offer on easy to use book keeping software as it will make life easier. It will quickly produce balance sheets and profit and loss statements. The tax office will send you your pack in advance explaining how to do self assessment and when they need it by.
Obviously you need to keep receipts for everything from petrol, materials, to car expenses.
One of the latest developments in the digital printing sign making market is the use of ncompatible inks rather than branded inks. They can be a small percentage of the price of branded inks. The problem was however that some of the manufacturers say that their printers warranties are voided if you do not use their inks.
Fear not - smart suppliers will sell mega cheap good compatible inks with their own warranties for your digital sign making printer. This means there are huge savings for you in respect of day to day material costs.
Good skill - it may be the smartest move you ever make in your life.
