How profitable is a print and signage company? (2024)

The US graphics and sign industry was representedtotal sales of $17.5 billion by 2023.But how does this translate to individual print and signage companies within the industry?

How much annual turnover can a printing and sign company expect? And what are the costs associated with starting and running such a business?

This article offers a deep dive into the financial landscape of the print and signage market. We will explorethe average turnover of more than 3,500 printing companies and sign shops,the costs of setting up a business and the profitability figures that define the industry.

With data-driven insight, we offer a comprehensive insight into the economic dynamics of the print and sign sector in 2023.

Market overview of printing and signage

Such as via IBISThe United States print and signage market reached $17.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $20.3 billion by 2028.

Traditional and digital billboards and signs have the same share ($6.25 billion each), both of which are the largest, followed by other billboards and signs ($2.2 billion), other printing services ($952 million), pre-press printing services ($812 million ). )), printing plates and cylinders ($560 million) and post-press printing services ($476 million).

But with more than 31,000 printing companies and sign shops spread across the country, competition is also fierce.

How profitable is a print and signage company? (1)

How much turnover does a printing and sign company earn?

Using the same source previously, we can safely assume that the average revenue for a print and sign store is approximately $560,000. In fact, the U.S. print and sign industry will be worth $17.5 billion by 2023, and there are approximately 31,000 print and sign stores in the United States.

Based on data from more than 3,500 franchise storesa print and sign shop earns an average of $667,000 in gross revenue per year.This figure is the average gross income per store from 3,500 stores of the top 10 print and sign franchise companies in the US.

If it is a printing company,with an average price per print job of $88(1,000 copies), which is a total of approximately 7,500 print jobs per year. Assuming 250 working days per year,that is an average of 30 print jobs per day per Store.

If it's a sign shop,with an average price per signage at $2,500, that's a total of 267 signals per year. Assuming 250 working days per year,that is an average of 1 sign sale per day per Store.

However, not all printers and sign shops have the same annual turnover. Logically, some will earn more than others due to many factors such as location, services offered, customer satisfaction and efficiencymarketing strategies.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Printing and Signage Business?

You would have to invest somewhere between $153,000 and $330,000 on average to open a printing and signage business.

The initial investment covers costs such as rent, leasehold improvements, licenses and permits, printing equipment, tools and software, printing supplies, furniture and fixtures, insurance, utilities, marketing, etc.

  • Leasehold improvements (12%):costs associated with adapting or improving the leased space to the specific needs of the store.
  • Furniture and inventory (5%):costs for the necessary furnishings in the store.
  • Rental deposit (2%):deposit paid in advance to secure the rented space.
  • Printing equipment (42%):most of it covers the costs of printers and related machines.
  • Computer hardware and software (2%):costs of computers and software used for design and administrative purposes.
  • Signage (2%):expenses associated with creating and installing signage for the store.
  • Initial marketing (6%):funds allocated to the store's initial marketing efforts to attract customers.
  • Education expenditure (4%):costs associated with staff training.
  • Working capital(18%):capital set aside to cover daily operating costs for the first three months
  • André (7%):insurance, business permits and licenses, initial declaration, miscellaneous funds, etc.
How profitable is a print and signage company? (2)

How profitable is a print and signage company?

A printing and signage company has ~12%operating profitmarge(EBITDAmargin) after the cost of services andoperation costs(salary, maintenance, rent, etc.) has been made.

There are several recurring costs associated with running a printing and signage business. The largest expenses include costs for services and salaries:

  • Cost of services (~35% of revenue):This is the sum of the variable costs directly related to the provision of printing services. This may include the costs spent on paper and other production materials,
  • Salaries (~25% of turnover):This may include wages, bonuses and other taxes and benefits that you must pay to your employees.
  • Marketing (~1-5% of sales):These are the costs of implementing strategies and activities aimed at promoting the printing services you offer, creating brand awareness and attracting customers.
  • Other operating costs: (~20-25% of turnover):This includes rental costs, professional fees, licenses and permits, insurance, equipment maintenance costs, utilities and other administrative costs.
Profit and lossAmount (US$)% income
Total income$667.000100%
COGS$(233.450)35%
Gross profit$ 433.55065%
Working cost$(166.750)25%
Marketing$(20.010)3%
Further operating expenses$(166.750)25%
EBITDA$ 80.04012%
How profitable is a print and signage company? (2024)

FAQs

How profitable is a print and signage company? ›

A printing and signage business has a ~12% operating profit margin (EBITDA margin) after the cost of services and operating costs (salaries, maintenance, rent, etc.) have been incurred. There are various recurring costs involved in running a printing and signage business.

Are signage companies profitable? ›

With low start-up capital, you can start small and scale your business based on the demands. This makes the sign business an avenue of entrepreneurship and self-employment, where you can determine how much you want to earn from it. The sign business is an industry that is not only growing but also profitable.

How profitable is the printing business? ›

Yes, the printing business is a lucrative industry! Today, the global printing industry is worth more than 800 billion U.S. dollars, and T-shirt printing is by far the most popular and common activity.

Is print-on-demand actually profitable? ›

Yes, print-on-demand can be profitable if you choose the right on-demand company, craft unique, high-quality designs, and create persuasive marketing strategies. At the end of the day, print-on-demand is just a fulfillment method, and it does not determine how successful you may become.

What's a good profit margin for print-on-demand? ›

Here are some examples from Gelato and Printful. 👉 As a general rule of thumb, a 10% net profit margin is considered average, a 20% margin is considered good, and a 30% margin is considered high. This could fluctuate depending on the product quality, cost price, demand, where you sell them, and marketing efforts.

What is the profit margin for signage? ›

A printing and signage business has a ~12% operating profit margin (EBITDA margin) after the cost of services and operating costs (salaries, maintenance, rent, etc.) have been incurred. There are various recurring costs involved in running a printing and signage business.

What is signage income? ›

Revenue from renting space for public and private signs (for example, advertising on taxies, buses, subways and billboards).

Is it good to start a printing business? ›

Printing business is profitable, no doubt! But if you want to start one, there are various factors such as a printer or type of printing services you need to consider. These factors would then sum up the cost.

What is the average income for print-on-demand? ›

Work From Home Print On Demand Salary
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$96,000$46
75th Percentile$69,500$33
Average$55,675$27
25th Percentile$32,500$16

Is printing a good side hustle? ›

There's no better time than now to dive into the lucrative world of print-on-demand merch! In 2024, this thriving industry is not just a trend; it's a game-changer for anyone seeking a hassle-free and profitable side hustle.

Can you become a millionaire from print-on-demand? ›

Print-on-demand cannot make you a millionaire or bring you profits without creativity, meticulousness, and great patience. Don't rush and expect that the print-on-demand store will give you a high profit after a short time. You may encounter troubles when setting up your store or launching the first campaign.

How much can you make monthly with print-on-demand? ›

Some sellers on Shopify have shown that they can earn $14,000 a month with print on demand sales. After purchasing the goods, they were able to make a profit of $10,400. But saying that, every business is different. It is very dependent on your market, prices and marketing.

What is the success rate of print-on-demand? ›

Thus, this means that print on demand success rate is around 24%.

What item has the highest profit margin? ›

The products with the highest profit margins are those in which the cost to make something is significantly less than the price customers are willing to pay for it. Specialty products that speak to a niche market, children's products, and candles are known to have the potential for high margins.

Is at shirt business profitable in 2024? ›

T-shirts are a staple around the world, with global apparel sales reaching $1.79 trillion in 2024. Creating an online t-shirt business can be profitable thanks to low startup costs compared to other business opportunities.

Is print-on-demand profitable on Etsy? ›

Before starting a new online business, you might want to know—is Etsy print-on-demand profitable? The short answer is yes. The global marketplace reached 90M active buyers in 2023—the size of California and Texas populations combined!

How much is the signage industry worth? ›

In 2022, the global digital signage market was valued at $24.86 billion. And the forecast looks good for growth, with studies suggesting an 8% compound annual growth rate bringing the estimated value to around $40 billion by 2030.

Is digital signage a good business? ›

Digital signage is filled with features that push customers further down the sales funnel and motivate them to make a purchase. From getting their attention to allowing them to interact with the display to make a purchasing decision, a digital sign can be a profitable investment for businesses.

Is digital signage profitable? ›

Digital signage has revolutionised the way businesses engage with their customers, driving sales and profitability through dynamic and targeted content. The impact of digital signage on sales is significant, with businesses reporting remarkable increases in customer engagement and sales volume.

How big is the signage industry? ›

The signage market was valued at US$ 32.5 billion in 2019. The demand for signage solutions expanded at a rate of 2.1% from 2019 to 2023. The market value was US$ 37.4 billion in 2023.

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