Photocopy and Printing Shop Business
फोटोकॉपी और प्रिंटिंग दुकान व्यवसाय · झेरॉक्स आणि प्रिंटिंग दुकान व्यवसाय
Run a photocopy, printing, scanning, lamination and binding counter near a college, court, office area or government office.
Investment
₹3.8 lakh
Profit a month*
₹16,000
- Space
- 120 sq ft
- Staff
- 1 + you
*Operating profit before the loan instalment in year 2, at the assumed sales level. Change the assumptions in the calculator below.
A photocopy shop makes copies and prints, scans documents, laminates, does spiral binding and often fills online forms and prints photos. It needs a small shop, one or two copier machines (usually refurbished), a computer and a few small machines. It suits someone who can sit at a counter for long hours and handle rush periods. Each page earns well under a rupee, so location decides everything: a shop beside a college, court, tehsil office, RTO or hospital stays busy. The profit shown assumes the owner works at the counter. The hard parts are machine breakdowns, falling demand as documents go digital, competitors cutting rates, and rent near good locations.
Skills needed: Basic computer skills, careful handling of customers' documents, and enough machine knowledge to clear jams and change toner.
Profit calculator
Change the numbers to match your town1,375 page/day: Photocopy or print, black and white (per page) · 22 job/day: Other jobs (lamination, binding, colour print, scan, online form)
Total investment
₹3.84 lakh
Your own money
₹38,388
Subsidy
—
Bank loan
₹3.45 lakh
Mudra Kishore
A typical month in year 2
| Sales | ₹76,505 |
| Raw material & packing | −₹31,889 |
| Electricity | −₹2,740 |
| Salaries | −₹10,500 |
| Rent | −₹10,500 |
| Other running costs | −₹4,410 |
| Operating profit | ₹16,466 |
| Loan instalment (EMI) | −₹8,056 |
| You keep each month | ₹8,410 |
After the loan is repaid, the EMI becomes your income too. Your own salary is not counted as a cost: the profit is your income.
Need this for a bank loan?
Turn these numbers into a full project report: cost of project, means of finance, 5-year profit and loss, balance sheet, repayment schedule, DSCR and break-even.
Make my project reportInvestment breakdown
| Machinery & equipment | Price |
|---|---|
| Refurbished multifunction copier (A3, mono)For example Canon IR or Kyocera class machines; check the meter reading and service support | ₹1,07,000₹45,000–₹1.15 lakh |
| Second, smaller refurbished copier as backup | ₹50,000₹45,000–₹65,000 |
| Colour inkjet (ink tank) printer | ₹18,000 |
| Computer with UPS | ₹40,000 |
| Lamination machine, spiral binding machine and paper cutter | ₹18,000 |
| Counter, racks and signboard | ₹40,000 |
| Inverter and battery | ₹25,000 |
| Colour laser multifunction printeradd-onFor colour copies and project printing | ₹1,50,000 |
| Machinery & equipment (without add-ons) | ₹2,98,000 |
| Rent deposit | ₹30,000 |
| Shop Act and other registrations | ₹2,000 |
| Electrical work and internet connection | ₹10,000 |
| Working capital 15 days of raw material, 2 days of credit to buyers, 1 month of expenses | ₹43,879 |
| Total project cost | ₹3,83,879 |
Typical market prices as of October 2026, from supplier listings. Prices vary by brand, capacity and city; always get 2–3 quotes.
Cost and margin per unit
| Photocopy or print, black and white (per page) (per page) | ₹ |
|---|---|
| A4 paper (about ₹225 a ream of 500) | 0.45 |
| Toner, drum and service per page | 0.25 |
| Material cost | 0.70 |
| Selling price | 1.50 |
| Margin before running costs | 0.80 (53%) |
Average rate across single copies and bulk jobs; bulk student notes are often done for under ₹1 a page.
| Other jobs (lamination, binding, colour print, scan, online form) (per job) | ₹ |
|---|---|
| Pouches, binding coils, covers, colour ink or photo paper | 12.00 |
| Material cost | 12.00 |
| Selling price | 40.00 |
| Margin before running costs | 28.00 (70%) |
Average per small job; check local rates.
Space, power and staff
120 sq ft
Rented shop · rent ≈ ₹10,000/month
Small-town rent for a small shop near a college, court or government office. Good spots cost more.
3 kW, single-phase
Bill ≈ ₹4,000/month at full capacity
1 staff + you
- 1 × Counter assistant: ₹10,000
Licences and registrations
Shop and Establishment registration
mandatoryWhen: Within the period your state sets after opening · Cost: Small fee; varies by state
Udyam registration
recommendedWhen: Before applying for a loan · Cost: Free
Apply only on udyamregistration.gov.in.
GST registration
if applicableWhen: When turnover crosses the registration limit · Cost: Free
Most single-counter shops stay below it. Confirm with a CA.
CSC or other authorised-centre registration
if applicableWhen: If you want to offer government online services · Cost: Varies
Aadhaar, PAN and similar services can be offered only through the authorised channels for each.
How it works
- Take the document and confirm copies, sides and paper size.
- Copy or print; check the first page before running bulk.
- Bind, laminate or staple as asked.
- Return every original, count pages and bill.
- Log meter readings daily to track paper and toner use.
Loan route
Mudra loan (Kishore)
Own money ₹38,388 · Loan ₹3.45 lakh · EMI ≈ ₹8,056
No collateral, no subsidy.
How Mudra worksPMEGP (new units)
Subsidy ₹57,582 (general, urban) to ₹1.34 lakh (special category, rural). EMI ≈ ₹6,713–₹5,370.
Own money 5–10%. Subsidy is held as a 3-year deposit, then adjusted against the loan.
How PMEGP worksAssumes 10.5% interest, 5 years including a 6-month moratorium. PMEGP was approved up to FY 2025-26. Check on the KVIC PMEGP portal that applications are open before you plan around the subsidy.
No collateral and no third-party guarantee (covered by the Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units).
Who buys and how to sell
Buyers
- Students and coaching classes
- Lawyers, typists and court visitors
- Government-office and bank visitors
- Nearby shops and small offices
- Schools (question papers and notes)
Ways to sell
- A visible shop next to the footfall source
- Bulk-rate tie-ups with coaching classes and offices
- WhatsApp or email print orders for pick-up
Season: Peaks around admissions, exams, results and government form deadlines; quiet in vacations.
Competition: Usually several shops side by side near any busy office. Speed, working machines at all times and extra services decide who gets the queue.
Risks and how to handle them
The main copier breaks down on a busy day
Keep a backup machine and a technician on call; buy refurbished machines only from a dealer who services them.
Copy volumes fall as forms and notes go digital
Add printing from phones, online form filling, photos, binding and stationery.
Rate cutting by neighbouring shops
Know your true cost per page, and compete on speed and extra services rather than below-cost rates.
Misuse of customers' ID documents left on the computer
Delete customers' files daily and never keep spare copies of ID documents.
Tips from the trade
- Count the footfall at the location for a few days before signing the rent agreement.
- A refurbished copier's meter reading and drum condition matter more than its age.
- Stationery, pens, files and passport photos add sales from the same customers.
Questions people ask
Should I buy a new or refurbished copier?+
Most shops start with refurbished office copiers because new ones cost several times more. Buy from a dealer who gives a warranty and local service, and check the page meter.
Can I rent a copier instead of buying?+
Yes. Dealers rent machines for a monthly fee or a per-page charge that includes toner and service. It lowers the starting investment but raises the cost per page.
How much investment is needed to start a photocopy and printing shop business?+
About ₹3.84 lakh for a small unit: ₹2.98 lakh for machinery and equipment, ₹42,000 for set-up costs and ₹43,879 as working capital (stock, credit to buyers and one month of expenses). Prices as of October 2026.
How much profit can a photocopy and printing shop business make per month?+
At 55% of capacity, sales are about ₹76,505 a month and operating profit about ₹16,466 before the loan instalment. After an EMI of about ₹8,056, the owner keeps about ₹8,410 a month until the loan is repaid. These are estimates; your prices, rent and sales decide the real figure.
Which machines are needed for photocopy and printing shop?+
Refurbished multifunction copier (A3, mono) (₹45,000–₹1.15 lakh); Second, smaller refurbished copier as backup (₹45,000–₹65,000).
Can I get a Mudra loan or PMEGP subsidy for photocopy and printing shop?+
With a project cost of about ₹3.84 lakh, the bank loan of about ₹3.45 lakh falls under Mudra Kishore. Mudra has no subsidy. As a new unit you may instead apply under PMEGP, where the subsidy is 15–35% of the project cost (up to about ₹1.34 lakh here for a special-category applicant in a rural area). PMEGP was approved up to FY 2025-26. Check on the KVIC PMEGP portal that applications are open before you plan around the subsidy.
What licences are required for photocopy and printing shop?+
Mandatory: Shop and Establishment registration. Depending on your set-up you may also need: Udyam registration, GST registration, CSC or other authorised-centre registration.
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Sources
- IndiaMART: Gorayan Enterprises (refurbished copiers)
- IndiaMART: Alpha Office Solutions multifunction printers
- IndiaMART: second-hand xerox machines (Bengaluru)
- IndiaMART: copier paper listings
Prices as of October 2026. Prices here come from online listings and published guides and have not yet been confirmed with local suppliers. Profit figures are estimates from the assumptions above, not a promise of income.
Spotted an outdated price? Tell us. Data for this page: HowIndiaEarns.