How much does it cost to start a printing business in Ghana?

Most small print shops near schools, universities, offices and government buildings make their money from photocopying, printing, laminating and binding. To offer all four you need:

• An office photocopier. An A3 black and white copier prints, copies and scans, and is built for thousands of pages a month. New ones start at GH₵11,475. Compare models in our photocopy machine price list.
• A colour printer, if customers will want colour prints. An ink tank printer is the cheapest way in: new ones start at GH₵2,100.
• A laminating machine, from GH₵299.
• A binding machine for reports and projects, from GH₵650.
• A paper cutter for trimming, from GH₵352.
• Paper. A ream of A4 is a constant cost, so check current A4 paper prices.

Add a computer for printing customers' files, a stabiliser or UPS to protect the machines from power surges, and a small stock of toner so you're never stopped mid-job.

Branded T-shirts, jerseys and uniforms are a busy trade, and DTF (direct-to-film) printing has become the usual way in because it works on almost any fabric colour. A basic setup needs:

• A DTF printer, which runs GH₵18,500 to GH₵68,000 new depending on size (A4, A3 or A2) and whether a powder shaker and dryer are included.
• A heat press to transfer the prints, from GH₵700.
• Running supplies: DTF film, ink and adhesive powder, which you buy continuously.
• A computer with design software to prepare customers' artwork.

Compare machines in our DTF printer price list. If you'd rather start smaller, sublimation printing onto mugs and polyester jerseys costs less to set up but only works on light-coloured polyester.

Banners, flex, stickers and vinyl for churches, events, shops and campaigns need a large format printer. New ones cost GH₵26,000 to GH₵105,000, depending on width (4ft, 6ft or wider) and print heads.

These machines need more space than a copier, steady power, and good ventilation if they use eco-solvent ink. Budget too for finishing tools such as eyelet punches and a cutting table. See current prices in our large format printer price list.

It can be, but profit depends far more on location and volume than on the machines. A shop opposite a university or a busy office block can run its copier all day; the same shop on a quiet street will struggle.

Work out your margin before you buy: what you'll charge per page, minus what each page costs you in toner and paper, times the pages you expect to sell each day. Our print shop profit calculator does the whole sum, including rent, power and staff, and shows your break-even and how fast a copier pays for itself. If the numbers only work at full capacity every day, start smaller.

A used copier can halve your starting cost, and plenty of Ghanaian print shops run on imported second-hand machines. The risk is buying a worn one that needs expensive parts within months. If you go used, follow our checklist for buying a used photocopier, check the page counter, and buy from a dealer who will service it.

For your main money-maker, the machine that runs all day, new or properly refurbished with a warranty is usually the safer choice.

• Choose machines whose toner is easy to find in Ghana. Popular Canon and HP models have toner in most shops; rare imports can leave you stuck.
• Compare cost per page, not just machine price. A cheap printer with expensive cartridges eats your margin.
• Protect your machines from power problems with a stabiliser or UPS.
• Keep a service contact for your copier before it breaks down, not after.
• Buy paper by the box rather than by the ream once you know your volume.