[JonsGottaDusta]

Hello Everyone,

I originally bought all of my equipment to print shirts for myself, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I have the business/Reseller ID end all sorted out, but I need some advice on how to properly price my jobs to be competitive. I'm in San Diego, and from my understanding, pricing greatly differs by region. I've looked at costs of local printers, but I cannot make the math work to be competitive with the idiots on craigslist. So here's the advice I'm looking for:

1. How much for setup costs?
2. How much mark up on a blank garment?
3. What should be my charge per color?
4. Cost for multiple print locations
5. Minimums?
6. Should I take a deposit up front or 100%?
7. Any resources for legal documents once I get a job to protect myself and the client?
8. What type of shirt should I offer for my "entry-level" pricing?

I've been printing for over a year, but the idea of pricing is somewhat new to me. I know my materials cost equates to about $0.35 a shirt, plus the garment. But I am trying to be competitive without going overboard (craigslist style).

Thanks for your time and let me know your thoughts.

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Greatzky]

all I can tell you is that you shouldn't try to develop your pricing off of the sales that Craigs list people run. Those are sale prices and they are probably loss leaders so people get in the door. then they probably try to upsell the crap out of them. That or they are using imperfect shirts and such.
I can't tell you much about how exactly to price out your jobs though. I've been battling with that for years now and I still don't have anything solid.

 

[BidGuru]

Bidding jobs is one of the most import part of screen printing.
If you don't bid job, you can't get the job.

Your questions are great, but answers are totally up to each company.
I've been bidding jobs for 28 years, and I think I've got a good handle on it.
But keep in mind, your costs are completely different from other companies.
A large shop that does 100 screens a day, printing 6000 shirts a shift will buy supplies at 1/2 your cost, and their equipment can print 10 times faster.
So your screen charges will be different, your hourly rates different, and they can buy shirts way cheaper than us mortal screen printers.

1. How much for setup costs?
I figured it cost me $15 to complete a screen, from clean screen to clean screen, i charge $25 for the 1st $20 for each additional

2. How much mark up on a blank garment?
Depending on how many shirts, my minimum order is 18 shirts, and I mark them up 100%, but for 500 shirts I mark them up only 15%

3. What should be my charge per color?
I want to make $80 an hour for production time. I can print 120 one color no flash shirts an hour, that's $.66 each for printing, but that does not include the layout and counting and re-boxing which takes longer than printing a one color shirt. I charge $40 an hour for production help.

4. Cost for multiple print locations
Treat each side as a different shirt, without the shirt cost, of course.

5. Minimums?
I will do one shirt but the last single shirt I did i charged $120 and the customer was super happy! Normally i have an 18 or 24 shirt minimum.
Anything less, it's hard to make money, or the shirts cost the customer $50 each for 2 shirts.
Most companies make NO money on low quantities of shirts so 18 or 24 would be a good minimum.

6. Should I take a deposit up front or 100%?
50% upfront is the norm, but if you ask for 100% you can get it lots of times. If you need it all upfront, give them a 1% discount, that works!

7. Any resources for legal documents once I get a job to protect myself and the client?
Not that I've ever seen, and your word should be good enough, but if the customer is unhappy, it's up to you to make them happy, even if it cost you.

8. What type of shirt should I offer for my "entry-level" pricing?
The shirts you can get at any of the suppliers are better and cheaper than anything you can get retail. Don't be cheap on shirts. That's why customers will come to you.

I've done lots of research on pricing and bidding, and there is a very wide range of prices screen printers charge.
The first goal of your pricing should be making a profit, you can work 80 hours a week and make no money if you undercharge.
Quality and service are more important to most customers than just price.
You should be getting 60 to 70% of the bids you send out. If you 100% you are charging too little and probably not making any money.
If you get less than 40% of the bids, you are charging too much, unless your shop is busy full time, than keep the prices and make more profit.

Hope this info helps.
Steve

 

[phatdaddy]

Hell Yea that helps...
I've been floundering .

Thanks, I'm finally going to go for it and start this crazy train. I've got a fine art degree and I've been Screen Printing for nearly fifteen years. I quit my job and am buying equipment. Picked up an M&M 912 graphic press for 500 bucks and am getting myself set-up to do decals(where the real money is...)

I know I can survive on shirts alone, so I want good textile equipment too. I've worked with some real junk and I can make anything work, but it sure makes a difference...

OFF TOPIC

What do you think about the M&R Kruzer Steve?

Thanks again.

Curtis

 

[mazor]

i enjoy reading guys..just to give me more ideas on putting up this business before i get into it..

 

[Greatzky]

OFF TOPIC

What do you think about the M&R Kruzer Steve?

Thanks again.

Curtis

I'm not Steve, but that is the press I am getting next. I got to print a few shirts with it at the ISS AC show and I had a rep from M&R come to my house to see if it would fit. I'm definitely excited about it. Now I just need to get approved for the loan I am looking for!

 

[BidGuru]

I've been a Hopkins fan from my beginning back in the 80's, that's 1880's not 1980's.
All the new commercial screen printing presses work great. Used press range alot.

The side bars that hold the screen will be real stable, but with aluminum screens, the screens don't need as much holding.
Also, a press that clamps on the back, not the sides, give you way more flexible in where you burn images on the screens.

I started my current business 5.5 years ago to mostly do flat work, there was no-one else in town that knew anything about anything but shirts, and most knew almost nothing about screen printing.
only about 30% of my work is flat, and that's not all flat, I've done everything, signs, art repro, stickers, even bike posts, (yes round bike posts).
But i print tons of shirts, the make lots of money.
Good luck.
Steve

 

[phatdaddy]

Yea, I think the problem with flat is you really have to hunt down the work and digital is so cheap for short runs... I have yet to see a good digital decal tho.

I'm going to offer 30% commission to anyone sending jobs my way... Can still make scads of cash.

C