How much do you charge per sq foot.

[gabagoo]

I can understand the $50.00 that makes it worth while to print smaller sizes. I wouldn't consider it a setup fee, cause I would add that in on top of that. I actually like that charge, I am going to try that and see how it works.

[slangsc]

It's all about your customer's point of view. Just today, a prospective new customer balked at a $50.00 setup charge to reproduce his artwork from his business card, while an existing customer has no problem paying $350 for an aluminum panel to put up at a job site - something he just wants to try. His quote was "What's $350? No big deal!" Back up your pricing with quality and they will have no problem paying for it. We win bids over others who are low-balling just for that exact reason.

[John Miller]

A client of mine contacted me about some truck wraps. The trucks are older models & won't be in service too much longer so he asked me if there was an alternative to 3M control tack. I told him about the calandered EZ apply vinyls & we spoke of liquid lam all in an attempt to cut the costs down to the best spot we could be. The job was 600sf so there was some volume. I crunched some numbers & figured that we could do OK for $8.50psf. He was thrilled with the price & was waiting for a deposit from his customer. Then he heard of a person who was advertising cheap printing. 3M controltac with clear lam for $6.00. Long story short... when he told them it was 600sf, they immediatly lowered their price to $5.00. Go figure... they shot themselves in the foot & me too.

[almnd]

How is anybody making money?

Oracal 3951 RA is about 1.00 a sf and then 290 laminate is another .75 a sf
you have ink, time, installation, wear on your printer. do you double the square footage prices.

[cieje]

yea, I don't understand how people could charge as low as shown in this thread/poll. We hover around $15 sq/ft and that doesn't even seem like enough sometimes.

[eye4clr]

cieje you'd be out of business as fast as you can go through your savings in the So Cal market. I bet that would be true for Miami as well.

We don't all play on the same field. You have to adapt to your surrounding.

[SignsDen]

Hi John Miller, I agree with you... dont sell yourself cheap.

Whats your advise about my situation - i just started this month but I am getting Rich customers. I tried to charge big like $15 - $25/sf and i have been successful. However, I am in a dilemma now - I am beginning to see other printers selling cheap and these ppl might find out how cheap others could sell. I also want to lower my prices but again, these ppl might see my new prices and complain....

What is your advise? Thanks

[N_Design]

Hi John, thanks for the input.... im very new to all this and do it out of my living room (home). I got this same advice before and will heed to it firmly. I love reading all of you guys... its very hubling because it makes me realize how very little i know, how much more there is to learn and really hope to get as good as you all one day . Of course i want to make money doing so too

[slangsc]

Sell sheet from Magic Inkjet showing some fairly low "average" selling prices...

http://www.magicinkjet.com/client_da....092006.jr.pdf

[John Miller]

In response to the two above posts. There is more to our business than just the cheapest price per sqft. What would you rather have, a cheap sign that looks like crap, or a well designed sign that is compelling & professional? Design will always seperate you from others, & even your special style will attract clients when there are other good designers in your market. Consider how you run your business vs the cheap guy. Does he keep good records so that the client can re-order easilly? Is his work on time. Does he help his client remember small details that they may have overlooked when ordering. These are just a few "value added" aspects of our business that will set you apart from the slam-dunk printers. There are many customers who value that kind of attention to detail & who are willing to pay extra for it. Those clients are the ones who we all really want to do business with. Run your business in a way that justifies your higher prices, & you'll find that your clients will be of higher quality.