Beginner’s Guide on Starting a Print Shop Business in the United Kingdom

The quick print industry, formerly known as copy shops, have been around in the industry for many years. However, with society’s steady incline towards technology-oriented services, you’d think that they would go out of shape. Think otherwise since the sector is, in fact, worth in excess of £1 billion and is still growing.

But how is it able to do this in the era of almost paperless markets? Well, If you want to know more, let 3E Accounting walk you through the process of starting your own print shop business!

 

What is Print Shop Business?

Print shops, which used to be called copy shops, offer a wide range of services. Keeping up with modern trends, the industry flourished and later advanced to offering both traditional and digital printing, as well as colour copying, presentations, binding and collating, and even reworking designs.

 

What is The Situation of the Printing Industry in the UK?

The industry has an adequate level of international trade. The coronavirus outbreaks heavily disrupted global supply chains, however. According to IBISWorld, the industry’s level of exports and imports contracted notably over 2020-2021.

Despite such accounts, its revenue is expected to grow in the current year, accompanying the wave of a projected economic recovery. The printing industry might be facing numerous challenges for now, but given the popularity of online shopping, for example, more opportunities for print shops that offer printed packaging goods and services are expected to increase in demand.

Moreover, printing is moving towards the business sector and away from the high street. Franchises of such markets have also been widely adopted. It is wise to find a good corporate service provider in UK for these things.

 

Why Invest in The Print Shop Business?

There are different types of sub-sectors in the printing industry, and firms often opt to focus on a certain sector of services such as book or journal printing, carton printing, packaging work and more. Certain businesses that utilize letterheads, invoices, compliment slips, business cards, brochures and other kinds of printing work depend on this kind of industry.

 

What Are The Steps to Starting a Print Shop Business?

Step 1: Get to Know the Printing Industry

These would include the basic knowledge of running a Print Shop. It is not necessary to be “hands-on” with the technical side of the business, such that hiring an effective manager can be one of the wisest decisions early on.

Step 2: Prepare your Business Plan

Costs, your target market, anticipated income, future investments, all these should be planned early on also. Your customer base will depend on which sector of the market you are targeting and which services you propose to provide. Your customers might include local businesses and organisations other printers for whom you do outwork.

Step 3: Know About the Business Registration Process

And before you can officially start your own print shop business, you would need to register it first. First, you’d have to secure a unique name for it. Afterwards you would have to decide if your UK company registration will be a sole proprietorship, partnership, or joint venture, and a proper business address is essential too.

There are also many documents to be submitted for this, which includes certain permits and licenses. That’s why we, in 3E Accounting, offer to help you with these tedious steps. We can help you with your business registration.

 

Permits and Licenses You Need to Prepare

In case you have already decided to explore the print shop business, preparing the necessary permits becomes crucial. You need to acquire these required documents to ensure that your business will operate smoothly and legally.

For the majority of small businesses, setting up an account with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is a primary concern. HMRC is a non-ministerial department in the UK, and it is assigned to oversee tax payments. Because a print shop generates revenue, it should be listed in HMRC and should pay the appropriate amount of taxes.

Another license that may apply to a print shop business is the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) license. This license from CLA is useful if your printing shop aims to make copies of extracts from books, magazines, or journals. Printing out copyright-protected materials becomes valid so long as your business has the CLA license.

Just so you can be sure if your area requires other specific licenses, you may contact your local authorities. They usually give small businesses more relaxed requirements compared to bigger companies. But still, you cannot be too careful when dealing with business permits, so you should ask for assistance when possible.

 

Start Printing With 3E Accounting!

It cannot be mistaken, though, that there is still a long way to go before you can truly establish your own company. All this emphasizes the importance of a friend to help you along the way, and 3E Accounting is the perfect one for that! We take pride in helping clients with our company incorporation services.

We’d help you make your dreams into reality, so please don’t hesitate to contact us!