I just started a Printing company need some advice on building some clients and vendors?

I have been in screen printing for five years, i'm now venturing in to the printing side of the business. The business name is MPowered Inks and I would like to develope a store front much like Kinko's with the exact same set-up. How do I go about getting a loan or a investor?, What equipment would I need? and How much do you think it would cost me to open and run my business for 18 months? I presently have Pitney Bowes, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Familia Unida a non-profit organization for multiple scerolis, Mothers Day Radio non-profit organization, and a few surrounding high schools and business as clients. Thanks in advance.I just started a Printing company need some advice on building some clients and vendors?
You have asked many questions all packed into one submission. SCORE is indeed a good place to start. If you go to Small Business Administration, for anything other than a start up loan, you may be referred to SCORE to assist you in getting started. From your description about your current business, you have a sound start on the business world. However, you will still need to do a business plan outlining at minimum the following, in writing: What you want to do; what are your current accomplishments; what has been your bottom line (assets, income versus outlay); what research you have done and what location(s) you are looking at--demographics are important; what research have you done with regard to competition in your immediate and surrounding areas, and have you visited any to view their equipment and supplies; how you plan to obtain that equipment and establish relationships with suppliers, and finally, with potential customers. How will you advertise, how much will that cost you, how can you network with your current customers to gain additional referral business (often you have to ask your contacts to spread the word). A word of warning. Location is paramount. A storefront operation on a third side street may not get you a lot of walk in business. However, flip side of the coin, it does not matter where you locate if you deal with other businesses and do not depend on walk in customers. In the latter, you will have to determine some other factors, including delivery and costs of raw and finished materials, whether or not you will contract with someone else to get the materials where they need to go (direct mailers, UPS, DHL, etc.). Finally, what profit margin will you need to stay in business? Are you a one person operation or do you need to employ others. If you do you will need to know a lot about employer responsibilities--you can get that information from the various state offices and by talking, talking, talking to your established customers in your other business.


A SCORE mentor with the right background can assist. You can also concurrently work with SCORE via the internet , but keep both sides informed of where you are or split their responsibilities.


Hang in there. You have already shown you can run a business. This is just an extension of that experience. You may want to explore a market niche--specializing in one particular type of printing that is needed in your area right now.I just started a Printing company need some advice on building some clients and vendors?
Check out a networking group like BNI (www.bni.com). There are many business people who would instantly be your clients and help you find new clients.





Also, try www.SCORE.org. There are many retired professionals at SCORE who will give you free advice on how to do what you are looking for...you could even be matched up with someone who has already done it.





Hope this helps.