Wrong pricing is one of the biggest reasons print shops lose money.
Many shop owners guess prices or copy competitors. This leads to losses, especially on bulk jobs.
You need a clear formula to calculate your cost per print.
Basic Screen Printing Cost Formula
Use this simple formula:
Cost per Print = (Setup Cost + Material Cost + Labour Cost + Overheads) ÷ Quantity + Profit Margin
Break this into parts.
1. Setup Cost
This is a one-time cost per design.
Includes:
- Screen preparation
- Artwork setup
- Machine setup
Example:
- Screen making = ₹300
- Setup time cost = ₹200
Total setup cost = ₹500
2. Material Cost
This depends on each print.
Includes:
- Ink
- Fabric or paper
- Chemicals
Example per piece:
- Ink = ₹5
- Material = ₹20
Material cost per piece = ₹25
3. Labour Cost
Cost of workers per job.
Example:
- Worker cost per hour = ₹200
- Time for 100 prints = 2 hours
Total labour = ₹400
Labour per piece = ₹400 ÷ 100 = ₹4
4. Overhead Cost
Indirect costs:
- Rent
- Electricity
- Machine maintenance
Example:
- Monthly overhead = ₹50,000
- Monthly production = 10,000 prints
Overhead per print = ₹5
5. Final Calculation Example
Order:
100 prints
Now calculate:
- Setup = ₹500
- Material = ₹25 × 100 = ₹2500
- Labour = ₹400
- Overhead = ₹5 × 100 = ₹500
Total cost = ₹500 + ₹2500 + ₹400 + ₹500 = ₹3900
Cost per print = ₹3900 ÷ 100 = ₹39
Add profit margin:
- Profit = ₹11
Final price = ₹50 per print
Why Most Print Shops Get This Wrong
- Ignore setup cost
- Do not track labour properly
- Do not include overheads
- No fixed formula
This leads to underpricing.
Smart Pricing Tip
For small quantity:
- Increase setup recovery
For large quantity:
- Reduce per unit cost
This keeps pricing competitive and profitable.
Use a Simple Cost Structure
Create a standard template:
- Fixed setup cost
- Per unit material cost
- Per unit labour cost
- Overhead per unit
This removes guesswork.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Same price for all quantities
- Ignoring machine time
- Not tracking wastage
- Not updating costs regularly
How Software Helps
Manual calculation takes time and leads to errors.
A system can:
- Auto calculate cost
- Save pricing templates
- Convert estimate to order
- Track profit per job
This improves accuracy and speed.
Real Business Impact
A small print shop improved pricing accuracy and increased profit by 20 percent after using a structured formula instead of guessing.
Free Tool Recommendation
Use a print cost calculator to:
- Enter job details
- Get instant cost
- Save estimates
- Convert to order
Final Takeaway
You should never guess printing prices.
Follow a clear formula:
- Setup
- Material
- Labour
- Overhead
- Profit
This ensures every job is profitable.