How to Calculate Printing Cost Per Job with GST Billing Guide

Wrong pricing leads to loss. Many print shops guess prices or copy competitors. This reduces profit and creates confusion.

You need a clear method to calculate cost per job and apply GST correctly.

Why accurate cost calculation matters

Prevent underpricing

Maintain consistent profit

Quote faster

Build customer trust

Without proper costing, you cannot scale your business.

Step 1. Identify all cost components

Every print job has four main costs.

1. Material cost

Paper, flex, vinyl

Ink or toner

Lamination or finishing

Example:

Paper ₹20 per sheet × 100 sheets = ₹2,000

2. Labour cost

Designer time

Machine operator

Finishing staff

Example:

2 hours work × ₹150 per hour = ₹300

3. Machine cost

Include:

Electricity

Machine depreciation

Maintenance

Example:

Machine cost per job = ₹200

4. Overhead cost

Include:

Rent

Internet

Admin expenses

Allocate per job.

Example:

₹100 per job

Step 2. Calculate total cost

Add all components:

Material + Labour + Machine + Overhead

Example:

Material = ₹2,000

Labour = ₹300

Machine = ₹200

Overhead = ₹100

Total cost = ₹2,600

Step 3. Add profit margin

You must add margin to stay profitable.

Typical margin:

Small jobs: 20% to 40%

Bulk jobs: 10% to 20%

Example:

₹2,600 + 30% margin = ₹3,380 selling price

Step 4. Apply GST correctly

Printing business GST depends on type of work.

Common GST scenarios in India

Printing with customer content, service → 18% GST

Sale of printed goods → 12% or 18% depending on product

You must check your category.

GST calculation example

Selling price = ₹3,380

GST at 18% = ₹608.40

Final invoice value = ₹3,988.40

Step 5. Create GST invoice

Your invoice must include:

Business name and GST number

Customer details

Invoice number and date

Description of job

Taxable value

GST rate

GST amount

Total amount

Use standard format to avoid compliance issues.

Step 6. Track job profitability

After completing the job, compare:

Estimated cost

Actual cost

Final profit

This helps improve future pricing.

Common mistakes to avoid

Ignoring labour cost

Not including overhead

Copying competitor pricing

Wrong GST classification

Not tracking profit per job

Fix these to improve margins.

Simple formula to follow

Cost per job =

Material + Labour + Machine + Overhead

Selling price =

Cost + Profit margin

Final invoice =

Selling price + GST

How software helps

Manual calculation works at small scale. As orders increase, errors increase.

Use a system to:

Calculate cost automatically

Save pricing templates

Convert estimate to invoice

Apply GST automatically

Track profit per job

This improves speed and accuracy.

Example real scenario

A print shop priced jobs based on guess. After using structured costing:

Pricing became consistent

Profit increased by 15%

Quotation time reduced

Clear system gives better results.

Final takeaway

Accurate cost calculation is essential for growth.

Focus on:

All cost components

Correct margin

Proper GST billing

Profit tracking