Testimonials
After setting up the Max Profit Estimator system for my print shop, I made over $800 additional dollars immediately simply by using the step by step process in the program.
The Max profit Estimator is one of the best tools that has helped my business maintain a balance and progress in sales.
Max Profit Estimator saved me over $15,000 with just one customer! It is so easy to use, my staff was up and quoting jobs in 30 minutes. If you are making any of the 7 mistakes I explained in the eBook, it is costing you big time. Try Max Profit Estimator and you will immediately begin saving and making more money in your printing business.
I’ve been in the printing business for over 20 years. Like many printers, I’ve seen some good years and some bad. Unfortunately, there were not as many good years as I would like. It’s so frustrating to work so hard and to see so little profit at the end of each month. The day finally came when I yelled in disgust, “enough is enough!” I had to face the facts. Something had to change because I was working myself to death. There HAD to be a better way . . .
I have a dear friend who also ran a printing business. But his was different. At the end of every month when I was stressed out because of the shortage of cash, he is positive and having a blast. What was he doing different? What does he know that I don’t? I had to find out!
That is when I invited him over to my print shop and he shared with me the 7 Costly Mistakes Most Printers Make. OMG . . . I was guilty of all seven!!
Costly Mistake #1
My friend had me pull a recent job. He asked me, “When was the last time you re-quoted this job?” I hung my head with embarrassment; it had been at least 5 or 6 years. “This is not good,” my friend told me in the nicest way possible. So we sat down and quoted this job. To my dismay, I had underbid the job by $600.00.
The problem got worse. We print this job about every 6 weeks. I thought, this can’t be right. I’m losing $600.00 every 6 weeks? We realized at this time the estimator was right and I was wrong. How much money have I left on the table? If you figured I could have adjusted the quote by $600 3 years earlier, I lost over $15,000 in pure profits. And that was with just one job. How many other jobs had I not re-quoted in years? I saw just by correcting this first mistake, most, if not all of my cash flow problems could be cured.
What was I going to do to correct this problem . . . and fast?!!
SOLUTION #1: RE-QUOTE JOBS ABOUT EVERY 60 – 90 DAYS.
ACTION #1: By following the simple steps built into the Max Profit Estimator program, it is super easy to review all of your print jobs you haven’t re-quoted within the last 90 days and MAKE SURE YOU RE-QUOTE them!
Costly Mistake #2
As we continued our conversation and the fact that I had lost about $15,000 in lost profits with just one job, I thought maybe I should listen to what else he had to say about the estimating software. He asked, “Who does your pricing and is it consistent from person to person?”
Again, I was in an awkward spot. We have three people quoting our jobs. They never came out to the same price. As my friend showed me the and how you set up the price structure for each machine, I was beginning to realize how price consistency plays a huge role in the end. I noticed that even if a customer needed 161 invitations, this program would estimate that odd quantity right down to the very sheet.
SOLUTION #2: CREATE CONSISTENT BIDS NO MATTER WHO ESTIMATES THE JOBS THROUGH USING A SYSTEMATIC PRICING APPROACH.
ACTION #2: By using the easy-to-follow step-by-step process the Max Profit Estimator provides, a printing company can be assured the estimating process will be consistent throughout the organization.
Costly Mistake #3
With almost every job, an odd number of pieces are usually printed. Most of the time, we just threw in the extra copies, because it was easier than quoting some strange quantity.
My friend noticed what I was doing then immediately asked, “What are you doing? Why don’t you charge for the odd quantities?” He was correct again. I know for a fact we were losing money with just about every print job. What a depressing thought. I’m starting to realize he is on to something here and I better listen.
SOLUTION #3: CHARGE FOR ALL OF THE PIECES PRINTED – DON’T LEAVE THAT MONEY ON THE TABLE.
ACTION #3: The Max Profit Estimator Printing Software is accurate even on odd quantities that are printed and ensures that every piece is included in the final invoice.
Costly Mistake #4
My friend continued to walk me through the 7 costly printing mistakes. To begin our discussion on the 4th mistake, he asked, “Do you charge a set up fee or is it make ready?” I told him I didn’t know what he was talking about and was curious why a printer would want to ask that question when creating the estimate.
My friend began to go into great detail about what a “make ready fee” is all about. He asked, “What is your minimum charge for each piece of equipment? In other words, what do you charge for a simple sheet to be folded or cut?”
When I began to figure out where he was going with this, I had another OMG moment. My company had NOT been charging minimum fees so he gave me simple solution. Example on my folder if I wanted to charge $20.00 per 1000 sheets, I should try this formula. $10.00 set up and .02 cents for each sheets of paper that we fold. I knew right then I was leaving 10 bucks on the table with this small order.
SOLUTION #4: CHARGING “MAKE READY” FEES ARE A MUST! WITHOUT THEM, YOU HAVE A BIG HOLE DRAINING YOUR COMPANY’S PROFITS!!!!
ACTION #4: By using the Max Profit Print Estimating Software to create your print estimates, you will be sure to include make ready fees with every print job where it is applicable.
Costly Mistake #5
At this point, my world has been turned upside down. It was hard to pay attention to the next important lesson my friend wanted to show me because all I can see is dollar signs drifting out the front door.
He began talking about “Bindery” and how important it is to charge for everything you do – especially when it relates to bindery costs. Then he turned to me and asked, “Does anybody give you anything for free these days?” My body tensed up. Here we go again down the path of “I made another huge mistake that’s been draining my profits.”
“So what’s the big deal about bindery costs?” I asked. He explained the cost of casualness and how being nice to your customers does NOT mean you have to throw in what looks like little, insignificant costs for free in the estimate.
Wow. My eyes are now open to another mistake we make as printers and estimators in our industry. Giving away bindery services, cutting, folding, labeling, etc. quickly erodes the fair profits you should be earning.
SOLUTION #5: CHARGE FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO IN EACH JOB – PLEASE DO NOT BE CASUAL OR LOOSE WITH THE REAL VALUE YOU CREATE FOR YOUR CLIENTS.
ACTION #5: Make bindery-related costs a mandatory part of your estimating process by using the Max Profit Estimator – with this one feature alone, a printer can add $100 per day to his daily billings.
Costly Mistake #6
By this time, my head is spinning. I’m flushed with mixed emotions – angry on one hand because I’ve been so careless yet, on the other hand, super excited and hopeful about how these practical solutions will generate the profits I need to flourish.
What is the 6th mistake my friend is about to unveil?
We started walking towards my dock where we package and wrap the print jobs for delivery. He started asking a question. By this time, I knew what was coming so I completed the question for him, “OK, I’m catching on to your thought process – you wanted to ask me how much am I charging for the delivery aspects of the print job – the cost of the boxes, packaging and wrapping the jobs for delivery, correct?” “You got it,” my friend said smiling.
Again, this was something that we were not charging for. I had never really thought about how much money I was losing daily, monthly and yearly. Ouch! – The dollars lost annually made me cringe. I hear myself yelling inside my overwhelmed brain, “Enough is enough, I have to start using the Max Profit Estimator to price all of my print jobs – especially for how inexpensive it is!”
SOLUTION #6: CHARGE FOR ALL PACKAGING MATERIALS AND INCLUDE THESE COSTS IN YOUR ESTIMATE.
ACTION #6: When calculating all of your estimates using the Max Profit Estimator, you can be sure to include all of the packaging and delivery-rated costs in each print job.
Costly Mistake #7
Now for the final point my friend wanted to make to help me.
This time, it was not how I can charge more for each print job. He showed me how to gain new clients and provide better service to my current clients. How? Speed – how fast can you respond to a print job request with your estimate?
Using the Max Profit Print Estimating Software, he showed me how fast you can create quotes. He did a demo for me and we created a quote with 3 different quantities in 2 minutes flat. Yes, I experienced another OMG moment!
I have since trained my employees to use this program. We installed a computer on our front counter that allows us to do “on demand” print quotes very quickly. My current clients are pleased and new prospects checking us out are pleasantly surprised. Because we value speed of response to produce a sharp-looking quote, we gain their confidence and their business.
SOLUTION #7: RESPOND TO QUOTE REQUESTS IN A SPEEDY MANNER AND PROVIDE AN “ON DEMAND” QUOTING STATION AT YOUR FRONT DESK.
ACTION #7: By simply following the step by step process of the Max Profit Estimator, begin providing quote responses so quickly they pleasantly surprise your customers and prospects.
The Result
After I corrected my mistakes and began using the Max Profit Print Estimating Software program, my life has changed for the better. Just after 6 months of using the program we are up over $22,000 over last year with about the same number of jobs, same staff, no other changes. That means the $22,000 is pure profits and extra cash flow.
Avoid these costly seven mistakes at all costs. Start putting more money in your pocket today by using the Max Profit Print Estimating Software to quote all of your jobs. It’s so easy and quick to learn and very affordable.
Thanks to my friend AND to Max Profit Estimator for changing my life!
Patrick Thresher – Ink Images
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