What sort of Mark up should i charge for sorting out the printing for a client?

[AndrewR27]

Hi everyone,
I am new here, i have set up a graphic design business and in a bit of a dilemma in how much to charge my clients when i have to arrange their printing?

Should i charge a standard fee? or a percentage of the total printing cost?

Hope someone can help?

[PrintDriver]

A percentage. The larger the order the higher the risk.
As for how much, while we can't discuss pricing on this forum, you need to be very careful you don't price yourself out of the market. You need to make arrangements with your print vendors for wholesale pricing, and to do that you need a resale certificate to charge sales tax if applicable in your state. That way you can stay somewhat competitive. Don't forget that arranging printing is a 'value added ' service. Not only should your markup cover profit, if the client kicks, ask them how much THEIR time is worth to do the print running themselves...

[AndrewR27]

Thanks for the advice,

I thought that it would be a good idea to have a set standard charge for arranging printing until the cost of printing cost exceeds a certain amount and then the percentage rule will take place.

Not sure... need to get some clients first!!

[PrintDriver]

Well, ya, you might have a point. A percentage on 500 business cards may not net you the time of day...

[BJMRGTIVR6]

I do a percentage.
most of the time, the biz cards don't take too long to set up for the printer as a brochure, or larger order might. well, larger print runs don't take longer but a larger piece.

[vtwin_gary]

i add X amount to any order then a % as well. that way i still make what i need to on a small job.

[LeftBrain Artist]

Depends - how much do they got?