Is There Any Special Equipment Needed For An Invitation Business?

People who are considering starting their own wedding invitation business frequently ask, “Is there any special equipment needed for an invitation business?” In order to answer that question, you first need to decide what type of wedding invitation business you're going to be running. Will you be a manufacturer's agent? Will you sell bespoke? Or will you be selling combined wedding invitations?

No matter what business plan you intend to follow, you will need to be able to provide a portfolio of you work. I you decide to start off as a manufacturer's agent, you can ask the manufacturer that you'll be representing to supply you with one of their sample binders or catalogs. This may have a slight fee involved, but it will still be easier and less expensive then either of the other two business plans. If you chose to follow the bespoke model, or the combined model, you'll have to create your own portfolio and this will mean purchasing all of the necessary supplies, including a binder, yourself.

Another thing that you'll need, regardless of which business model you choose, is order forms and pricing information. Again, as an agent, these will be supplied by the manufacturer you chose to represent. The bespoke and combined business models require that you make these items yourself.

Now, as for assembly equipment, to begin your bespoke or combined business, you can get away with using an adhesive roller with double sided tape to assemble the invitations and the wedding program. But as your sales allow, it would be wise to invest in a saddle stapler. It will give you a more professional look for the program. This piece of equipment makes assembling your programs so much quicker and easier. I don't know we ever did without it. They normally run around $500, but you might be able to find one second hand. And you could check on eBay, too.

Another piece of equipment that you'll find very useful is the A4 Creasing Machine. It does exactly what it says it does, it creases your invitations. When you're creating bespoke, you put a lot of time and effort into making each individual invitation into a work of art. Paper, when creased by hand, tends to crinkle and look a little messy. This creasing machine takes care of neatly creasing your cards, quickly, for a much more professional look. These can be found for around $250. Again, check around and see if you can find one second hand or maybe on eBay.

The most expensive piece of equipment that we have is our Hot Foil Blocking Machine. Sounds scary doesn't it? Well, it's a very small machine that you use to add bits of gold or silver, or any color of foil to your invitations. It works by combining heat and pressure to seal the foil to the card or invitation. This machine is quite pricey. You might be able to find one second hand for around $500, and a brand new one will cost around $2000.00. Make sure, when you do buy this, that you get some special training along with it so you'll know how to use it.

What Are Wedding Invitation Business Start Up Costs?

The wedding invitation business start up costs are so minimal, and the profits level is so very high, it's a marvel everybody and their sibling doesn't offer for sale wedding invitations. And thank heavens they don't. That leaves more business for me!

When I first started researching the wedding invitation and stationery business I couldn't believe how low the start up costs were. I thought there was either some mistake or some kind of magic involved. Especially when I heard that there was virtually no risk at all of losing any of your own money and that everything you made after your initial set up costs was almost pure profit.

So I had to give it a go. I mean, who wouldn't? Almost zero start up costs and guaranteed profit? Sounds like a sure thing to me. Was it too good to be true? I was about to find out.

I first contacted several suppliers of ready made wedding invitations and stationery and asked them if they had a program that would allow me to be an agent for their company. I had read that this was the best way to start and that, for very little money, I would receive all the samples of their products as well as support materials, like ordering information and price sheets and training materials to help you with your selling process. And sure enough, 3 of them sent me kits right away. And for less than $100, too.

I also took their advice and consulted with an accountant, just to be on the safe side. For a one time consultation fee of only $20, I found out everything I needed to know about how to set up my business bookkeeping so Uncle Sam wouldn't come looking for me in a year or two. He also pointed me in the right direction for the license that I needed to be able to operate a business from home. And he told me how to go about getting a tax exempt number so I wouldn't have to pay sales tax on any business supplies I bought. At his suggestion, I also set up a free business checking account at the bank on the corner which is also something Uncle Sam looks for.

So for way less than $200 I was in business. And every time I took an order for wedding invitations, I also collected a non-refundable deposit from the client. I then used that deposit to order and pay for their invitations. And then, when I delivered them, I collected the balance and put it in my business checking account.

And even now, when I sell my more expensive bespoke invitations and stationery that I create myself, I'm still not risking any of my own money because I just ask for a deposit before I start and that covers the expense of any supplies I might need. So in answer to the question, “What are wedding invitation business start up costs?” I say, who cares?! They're too small to even notice!