| Combine a great location with walk by traffic, with | | | | the customers that come into the shop know all of the |
| quality equipment and a friendly staff for a successful | | | | services that you offer. You never know what they |
| copy shop. This combination makes for a profitable | | | | may need or whom they know. A simple services |
| copy shop that can be bought or started from scratch. | | | | card is all that is needed to inform the customers. |
| In either case, location is very important to the cash | | | | Faxing documents is another high profit service. Few |
| flow of the business. Many people need to make | | | | private individuals are set up to fax documents. Some |
| copies for all sorts of reasons. They will come to a | | | | businesses sometimes will need this service for |
| store that is an easy drive and the store must have | | | | various reasons. Their machine is being serviced. They |
| reasonable prices and solid equipment. These | | | | need to send an extended message or they just do |
| customers can be individuals or business people. It | | | | not fax very often. Whatever the case, the cost of |
| does not matter, as they both need good copies of an | | | | faxing is small and the profit is substantial per fax job. |
| image or a text document. These new color copiers | | | | Individuals will need to have something copied and then |
| have increased the possibilities for customers to use | | | | faxed. This makes the job per person even more |
| your shop. The new copiers have also reduced the | | | | profitable. Building up the business customers will make |
| price of full color copies. | | | | the store a high return on jobs and the individuals will |
| Buy or start a store | | | | come when they need something done or they will |
| This is one of the many decisions a new owner must | | | | refer their friends if they are well treated. The secret |
| come to grips with early in the process of acquiring a | | | | to this business is the repeat customer that comes |
| store. There are pluses and minuses to either way of | | | | back as needed. |
| becoming an owner. One of the quick ways to gain | | | | Mailing service or package service |
| knowledge is to contact a business broker. He will | | | | Both of these businesses fit well into the copy store |
| know stores that are for sale and he will also be able | | | | business. Take a hint from the franchise operations |
| to give you an idea of what it will cost to buy an | | | | that are doing the same thing as you can. All you need |
| existing store. The advantage to buying an operating | | | | to do is get set up to handle this extra service. Some |
| store is they have developed a clientele, which brings | | | | businesses can get by with some part time help at |
| in cash flow. Immediate cash flow is a consideration | | | | certain times of the day or night. Others may find they |
| for buying an existing store. The possible negative of | | | | need full time help. Every service that is offered has |
| this deal is the price you will need to pay to get the | | | | the chance to add customers for other services that |
| business. Most existing businesses will sell for more | | | | are offered. The customer is in the store and will take |
| than starting one from scratch. | | | | advantage of the convenience. |
| Another item or suggestion in this case is the age of | | | | Conclusions |
| the equipment and its condition. Modern copiers are | | | | Almost every adult is a possible customer for a copy |
| very efficient and turn out superior copies. The new | | | | store. Individual customers and businesses will all find |
| color copiers give fantastic color copies that are brilliant | | | | times they are in need of using most of the services |
| in color and appearance. If an existing store does not | | | | offered above. Since there is a universal need for |
| have one, you will need to get one immediately to | | | | these services, this means that either type of |
| draw in the traffic. | | | | customer will visit a well-located store during the |
| One other advantage of an existing store is you may | | | | business day |
| get some help from the current owner in the financing. | | | | Bindery and collating are not usual office practices |
| The old owner may be willing to take back some | | | | unless the business needs this done all of the time. |
| paper to make the deal. | | | | Most businesses will out source these jobs to a |
| Starting a store from scratch may cost less in upfront | | | | professional service. Large copy jobs are sent out just |
| money, but the owner will have to spend money to let | | | | to get them done faster and more efficiently. If there |
| the public know of the store is now open for business. | | | | are a number of pages per document set, this means |
| It the location is in a high traffic strip mall or center, the | | | | collating also and this is done faster and more |
| advertising may not have to be as extensive. Good | | | | accurately by the correct equipment. When printing is |
| signage is critical and will cost some very real money. | | | | needed on both sides of the document, a copy shop |
| Attracting businesses around your store is another | | | | with the right copiers can do this job with ease. |
| way to make the store grow. | | | | All of the mentioned services are found in many |
| Business copies, collating, reports and faxing | | | | franchises and they could be duplicated by a |
| Get businesses around you to use your multi-copy | | | | non-franchise store. Profitability is not in the name |
| service to improve the your way to make money. | | | | alone, but in the location and individual services the |
| Multi-page documents will need to be copied and | | | | store can offer to the customers. Friendly and helpful |
| collated for the customer. Some businesses will want | | | | staff is very important in this business. Not all |
| these reports to be bound with the spiral binding. All of | | | | customers know how to run the machines and may |
| these processes can be charged for and will add to | | | | need help. |
| the overall profit of the business. Make sure that all of | | | | |
