The photocopying and printing bureaus are one of the businesses that was feared could be wiped out by the emergence of the digital era which was poised to do away with paperwork but a walk in the busy streets of Nairobi, for example, you will realize that the decades-old business is still viable.
Leave alone the
busy Nairobi
CBD where the business can be spotted in multiple numbers in
almost every building, it has also continued to pop up in every area countrywide
due to its easy-to-start nature and limited barrier to set up.
However, its
simplicity to start should not lead you to invest blindly. Always strive to
know a few basics that will lead you to run a thriving business.
Below is a list of the
major costs incurred in starting such a business
Licensing
License is one of the
most important things to think of before any other step in starting a business
as it keeps you at peace with authorities.
- Single Business Permit: Here, you need the local authority
license which is a requirement for all businesses. The cost varies from
county to county with the average cost: Ksh. 2,500
- Kopiken License: This refers to the copyright licensing
- For a 3 in 1 small office printer- 1500 Kenyan
Shillings.
- 1 to 2 normal size copiers- 3500 Kenyan
shillings.
- For 3 to 5 normal size copiers- 5000
Kenyan shillings.
- For 6 to 10 normal size copiers- 7000
Kenyan shillings.
Most photocopying
businesses lack the kopiken licensing yet is required under law and lack of
attracts penalties hence it is better to be safe than sorry.
3. Safety License:
i.e. Fire License: Ksh. 2,500
Premises
Just like in every
other business, a photocopy business needs strategic positioning.
Places experiencing
high human traffic such as buildings and highways can be ideal. You should
also consider surrounding facilities such as campus or technical institutions
targeting students who are the most consumers in this area of business.
- Rent : Appx 10,000 Kshs/month
- Renovation & Remodeling: Appx 15,000/=
Kshs
Equipment
In such a venture, it
is necessary to plan/forecast the scale of business one is expecting to
encounter. From small low traffic to a high traffic business location will
help determine the number, types, and specifications of the required equipment.
- Photocopier, Printers,
Scanner: Nowadays it’s
advisable to acquire a 3 in 1 multifunctional
printer which comes with print, copy & scan
functionalities. Several factors affect the price of such units i.e speed,
paper size, make/model Avg Cost: 40,000/= Kshs
- Computer: Any standard one should be able to connect with your copy-printer
and do the job. It is advisable to go for good processing speeds,
depending on the other services you may offer. Avg Cost: 25,000/=
Kshs
- Laminator: A laminator is
another required thing. Most people will come to laminate A4 papers but if
you can buy a laminator which can do A3s the better. A standard laminator
in Kenya goes for an Avg Cost: 4,000 – 8,000/= Kshs
- Binding Machine: You also need a binding
machine which is purchased based on how many pages it can
bind at go. Most colleges only need to bind 50 to 70 pages at a go. Avg
Cost: 10,000/= Kshs
- Stationery: And finally on the equipment, you
need supporting
tools that include stationery, staplers, spiral binders,
flash drives, etc.
If you are purchasing
a refurbished
machine, make sure to get it from a trusted dealer and when
choosing the brand, consider the availability of spares and maintenance in your
area.
There are plenty of
reasons why you’d want the best digital copier your budget will allow. Modern
offices will find plenty of reasons to use a fast and dependable photocopier,
and on this page, we have listed the best standalone digital
copiers, as well as affordable and convenient multifunction printers (MFPs)
in Nairobi, which combine printing and scanning functionality in one device and slash the cost of producing printouts using inkjet or laser technologies.