Help needed with printers.

I'm not sure where to post or if there is an appropriate place on this forum for this question. I was thinking about possibly opening a small printing business. There is only one printing business in my area and they are very disorganized (I dropped off a project and they never even took my name!? Just my phone number on a loose piece of paper). We have many friends who are business owners who are either sick of them or get their printing done over an hour away. I know this is not something where you can just buy equipment and start printing, so it's not in the immediate future but I was just wondering if someone could advise the types of printers and other equipment (computer, operating system, programs, accessories) I would need for what would be required just starting out small from home.

The printing would be all small business related stuff such as invoice books (2 and 3-part carbonless), oil change stickers, safety books, possibly some engineering prints, ect)

Thanks in advance if anyone can help. Again I realize this is not something you can think up and just start. I plan on spending the time to research and learn the equipment, but first I need to get an idea of initial start up fees (small based at least for the beginning)

 

start from home? Igen might not be what youre looking for. its a big behemoth.

engineering prints...are generally large. and printed on a plotter, or wide format inkjet. think giant version of what you could get at home, and it prints on rolls. it wont do anything else you want.

oil change stickers...these are vinyl static cling. so require laser. Iv'e done these on igen...but it was no picnic.

do you have no experience in printing? I fear there may beso much to tell you and so many questions, we'd scare you off.

software: are you doing your own design work? or just getting work sent to you.... adobe, indesign.. if youre doing personalization.....about 20 other programs....

printer: i'm not sure where to begin. find a color laser printer that does all you need and buy it. do you need to scan or copy, or just print?

finishing equipment. folders,cutters,inserters,bookletmakers...

xerox makes some good ones. but youre looking for the startup prices...gonna be ALL over the map.

 

I know this isn't where this question belongs, but I can't seem to find a general discussion area? I've searched questions and find answers in a general discussion area but can't seem to find that area when clicking on forums (I am using an iPhone that has been acting up the last couple of days so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it)

I was hoping to get a list of specifics or examples of...
I do not want a gigantic printing press (again wrong place to be asking lol) but was more looking for something smaller that could do the small things I need it for but still handle larger quantities, if that makes sense.

So far I had worked out that I would need a wide format inkjet printer, a good quality laser printer to handle business cards booklets, ect (hoping the same machine would be able to do stickers), an impact printer (?), card cutter, binding machine and some kind of stapler. Oh and a new computer for this business only. I have currently have CS6.

At first I do not want to design anything but if this goes ok I am hoping to expand once all my kids are in school. I would eventually like to design and also offer company's custom clothing and accessory options, but this won't be for a long time.

I am having a hard time distinguishing between the printers that are meant for office use vs production use (aside from the printing press that are large and cost $100 000).

So I was hoping for a list of good quality laser printers that could handle this brand and model (I'm totally new but lots of info doesn't scare me)
Also if there's another option besides impact printers for invoice books or makes and models of good ones
Make and model of wide format printers.

Sorry this is so much, google gives me search results of tons of printers but other then the really high end ones or really low end ones, I can't distinguish what I would need.

 

My 2 cents worth comes from 40+ years....your best bet might be to go to the printer your using and see if you can get a job....even part time. Even if you learn NOT how to do something, it's still knowledge. You'll get a feel for the day to day and what equipment does what.
Like I said, I started in this industry right out of high school and while I'll never be rich, I have raised a family and continue to enjoy what I do.
Good luck

 

Thanks schweem, I have considered but this is a small business also, who are not hiring and I'm not sure I would be able to work there if they were. It would drive me absolutely insane.. No organization, no schedule, stuff being lost, customers calling and having no clue if where the order is, let alone if it's even been started... A week after being dropped off. Also only one person seems to be allowed to touch the equipment.
I know there is a lot to learn, which is why this isn't something that's going to happen immediately. I also have projects where I need printing done, so this would benefit me as well. It would just be nice to know where to start looking, what equipment could handle my needs and then go from there.

 

I like that. well said.

I stumbled into this by accident. Luckily it fit my personality. I carry MASSIVE amounts of printer information in my mental rolodex.

its A LOT to take in quickly. I have so much trouble training people.... time is THE best trainer for Print. especially since it changes often.

Aapoll. lets see if we can help you. what quantity are you looking, and do you need FULL color?

staplers, and all that....not sure I can help you unless the stick to a black and white printer

there are PLENTY of printer that can be both office and production, and many are used as such.

 

I'm not totally sure on numbers but I'm thinking really small to begin with. I would imagine a few hundred invoice books a month on 3-part ncr, some booklets every few months, a few batches of business cards, some static clings (not sure how often). Color would be nice though probably won't be used often. I also would like a wide format inkjet printer (mostly selfish reasons). I also would need to buy a new computer.

I was looking at xerox MFP's and liked the xerox workcentre 7500 series but am reading that those are not well suited for business card printing. Same with the phasers (?)

I am honestly just looking at doing some printing for friends and family who own small businesses, to gain some kind of experience and see if it's something I want to expand on further once my kids are in school. I do however have a sneaking suspicion that I might be a little but busier then I expect.

I just don't want to decide in a few months to go ahead with this and purchase printers, only to have them not be what I expected.

I really wish there was a way I could learn hands but that's just not doable.

 

If your budget can afford it I would start to look at the low end of production printers C75, 560/570, C60/70 etc. They are small foot print can run SRA3 and the quality is pretty good. There are options to add Finishers, trays at a later date. I used to service these and even tho I hated them they do produce a good output

If as you say you expect to be become busy these models will cope quite well with the volume whilst still producing good output

--
Mark

 

FOr reference we have a Konica Minolta "bizhub" 550, been using it for quite some time. It's used for color proofing for customer signoff. BUT. back when I was in the office, and sat by it...I was able to use it to get production out of a few tight spaces. Like special prints, super small runs. There was a pressure sensitive LABEL I did weekly for them, to save the trouble. It was the equivalent of 8pt coated cover and it was 12x18, and that little printer would just plug away. It had its moments(its a printer after all) but could usually count on it. I wouldn't say Id want to do hundreds of thousands on it, but hey whatever works!

Id say find the lowest of the production printers, OR a pretty beefy Office color printer like Mark D suggested...and it will get you through while you learn...and still be able to handle it for awhile if you grow.

Check this out....heres Xerox current offerings. they break them each down by what its designed for.. and you can check on the left what all specs you need.

OFFICE: they list prices, because you buy them without service contracts.

http://www.office.xerox.com/digital-printing-equipment/multifunction-printer/enus.html

Production: (these dont have prices because they murder you with service contracts. lol expected prints(impressions) is listed.

http://www.office.xerox.com/digital-printing-equipment/digital-press/enus.html

IM still shocked they're offering the highlight color docutech.

 

Thank you both for the info. Those printers are a little but larger then I had hoped, but they would suit my needs wonderfully. Only issue I have is the price tag (doesn't everyone lol). Being in canada the prices are slightly more steep. That's something only I can decide on. I guess I feel like if I'm going to spend $50, 000 to start up, I might as well go all in and get the bigger better equipment. Is it worth it to lease printers? What are the lease fees like? Are the sales reps commission based? I guess I'm trying to compare it to leasing a vehicle (same price range). Can someone explain this process to me.

I think I'm going to have to talk to the family/friends I would be printing for and get exact quantities.... If I'm gonna go big I need to have the work to warrant it.

 

i can only tell you from the big production side....

youll get a deal when buying, but the leases can be a fair chunk of $ when service is included. Call the sales rep, see if they can tell which would work best for you. If its too expensive, then find a used one. haha or a place that sells refurbs. we did that with some oce's.

but the best printers are only the best when the right people run them. the better you are at mechanics, the better you'll be. One of the printers I looked at when briefly looking advertised it did transparencies. thats what you need for oil change labels you mentioned..

 

Thanks, I will call someone for sure.
Are refurbished to be trusted? I did find a place that sells refurbished but I've always been leery of refurbished.

 

refurbs are fine, as long as you have GOOD service available. they will theoretically have problems, and be ready for weird ones since they dont have factory support.. like old parts...software updates etc.

Our OCE's lasted a long time. and they were very old.

Our biggest problem we had was connectivity. drivers...software.

they were quite old, one had its internal UI die in 2010 or so, and was still ran with windows 95. and it had a floppy drive only. so the search was on for a floppy disk with the UI software. which turned out to be a search for a PC in my company that still had a floppy drive-we only had one, then we saved the software to it. was a 3 day affair LOL.

I still have that pc and use it occasionally for data work.