petesign
New Member
JWM, I wish you the best of luck, I really do. I don't want to see anyone fail in life, it just surprises me how many people think they are going to go into this business wrapping cars and succeed. I want you to take this word of advice I am giving you seriously, because I mean it from the heart.
I started my own company 2 years ago with enough capital to buy a new printer, laminator (bought a $2,000 job due to my ignorance and it was a TERRIBLE decision) and cutter, as well as computer, software, etc. I spent over $25,000 in equipment alone. I have one of the best production workers I ever saw, he has been working with vinyl over 15 years and can make it do things I doubt I will ever be able to do. My expertise (cough, cough) is sitting in the computer chair and making what I hope are things nice enough to entice people to move on the job when they see their mockups.
I EASILY work 60-70 hours a week, and struggle for every job I land. I am currently treading water, and my legs are getting tired. I have a baby on the way, and about 6 months to figure out how to either charge more for signs and wraps, etc... or make them a LOT faster. This business is not a get rich quick kind of business, it is a labor of love, and takes a long time to build up a good client base who will keep your cashflow moving through typical slow months like July and December. Your overhead doesn't stop during those months.. neither do payroll taxes, etc. I love what I do and sacrifice a lot for the dream of someday making a decent living at it.. so pardon me if I take a slight offense to someone coming in here with a "business model" and $6000 to buy a printer thinking he will be able to undercut all of the other idiots in his area who put up a sign and think people will flock to them for business.
I am a member of my chamber of commerce, network groups, etc. I also have a dedicated salesperson who attends these meetings and talks to general contractors who put up buildings. We have a bucket truck, we put up channel letters, gemini plaques, we never say no to a job... and let me tell you, NONE of it is easy.
I have been in business going after wraps for 2 years... want to know how many cars I have wrapped? Two... My bids are always too high... want to know why? Because they aren't worth the effort it takes to design them, print them, wait two days and laminate them.. take the cars halfway apart, wrap them, and put them back together .. etc... it stops everything in my shop for nearly a week just to wrap one car.. If someone wanted to rent my shop, my printer, and my people for a week, it would sure as heck cost them a lot more than the profit I make from wrapping one car.
Just food for thought. Go to work for a wrapping shop, watch how much labor is involved in wrapping one the right way, and make an educated decision... it's like me asking a contractor about which hammer to buy because i have $20 and want to build houses.
Best of luck to you, buy a 54" or larger printer.. and take good care of it.
I started my own company 2 years ago with enough capital to buy a new printer, laminator (bought a $2,000 job due to my ignorance and it was a TERRIBLE decision) and cutter, as well as computer, software, etc. I spent over $25,000 in equipment alone. I have one of the best production workers I ever saw, he has been working with vinyl over 15 years and can make it do things I doubt I will ever be able to do. My expertise (cough, cough) is sitting in the computer chair and making what I hope are things nice enough to entice people to move on the job when they see their mockups.
I EASILY work 60-70 hours a week, and struggle for every job I land. I am currently treading water, and my legs are getting tired. I have a baby on the way, and about 6 months to figure out how to either charge more for signs and wraps, etc... or make them a LOT faster. This business is not a get rich quick kind of business, it is a labor of love, and takes a long time to build up a good client base who will keep your cashflow moving through typical slow months like July and December. Your overhead doesn't stop during those months.. neither do payroll taxes, etc. I love what I do and sacrifice a lot for the dream of someday making a decent living at it.. so pardon me if I take a slight offense to someone coming in here with a "business model" and $6000 to buy a printer thinking he will be able to undercut all of the other idiots in his area who put up a sign and think people will flock to them for business.
I am a member of my chamber of commerce, network groups, etc. I also have a dedicated salesperson who attends these meetings and talks to general contractors who put up buildings. We have a bucket truck, we put up channel letters, gemini plaques, we never say no to a job... and let me tell you, NONE of it is easy.
I have been in business going after wraps for 2 years... want to know how many cars I have wrapped? Two... My bids are always too high... want to know why? Because they aren't worth the effort it takes to design them, print them, wait two days and laminate them.. take the cars halfway apart, wrap them, and put them back together .. etc... it stops everything in my shop for nearly a week just to wrap one car.. If someone wanted to rent my shop, my printer, and my people for a week, it would sure as heck cost them a lot more than the profit I make from wrapping one car.
Just food for thought. Go to work for a wrapping shop, watch how much labor is involved in wrapping one the right way, and make an educated decision... it's like me asking a contractor about which hammer to buy because i have $20 and want to build houses.
Best of luck to you, buy a 54" or larger printer.. and take good care of it.
