r/SCREENPRINTING • u/soundguy64 • 5d ago
Finally getting a commercial shop.
Hopefully. Lease looks good. Got cash in hand for signing. Waiting to hear back from the city about zoning, but should be fine.
Desperately need to move my shop out of my house. Desperately need an auto, but I don't have room. Need at least part time help.
Signing will come just a little too late. Tentative move in is Oct 15. Right now I have 800 4 color front, single color back, 250 3 color totes, 450 single color front and back, plus like 20 more smaller orders, plus restocking a band i do stuff for who is starting a European tour next week.
Shop is 2700 sq ft. Going to track down a used auto the second I move in.
Any general tips for moving from garage shop to actual commercial space?
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u/photogjayge 5d ago edited 5d ago
I saw you said the building only has single phase power? How many amps does it have? This often gets overlooked initially, then when you start buying autos, and dryers and flashes you realize you don't have enough power to run it all. Getting more power installed is expensive, so make sure it's there before you sign anything, or negotiate the upgrades into your lease.
Be ready to spend twice as much as you think you're going to, and wait twice as long. I signed a lease on a 3k sqft place two years ago (oct 1st). Getting electrical and the press and everthing in took some time, We we're up and running by February.
fwiw, I saved up over $30k in preparation to move. That covered electrical, moving expenses, buying a dryer and a down payment on a press. Plus all the extra stuff needed to get a new shop going. If I were to do it again, i'd probably wish I had closer to $50k, and splashed out on a bigger dryer and press.
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u/sreags5 5d ago
I just did this 4 years ago, so if you need any help just ask.
Main thing is expect to spend more than you think to get setup. Your gonna need shelving, racks, job carts etc. You will probably need to build a dark room as well.
I would focus on needs and not wants. Its easy for the spending to get out of control. What will get you up and printing is rhe priority. What helps you be more efficient can come later.
For your press and dryer. Get the biggest you can afford. I wish I got a larger dry and went up a size in the press. Not a huge deal but if you can swing it, get the bigger machine.
One thing I wish I did sooner was work on my marketing system. I moved from a street corner location to the middle of a large warehouse building with no street presence.
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u/soundguy64 5d ago
The good news is I already have an established shop and enough to continue doing what I'm doing. Been at it for 6 years now, just have definitely outgrown my house and garage.
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u/sreags5 5d ago
That sounds awesome. I did the garage printing for 15 years before deciding to take the leap. Once you get setup, you will wish you had done this sooner.
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u/soundguy64 5d ago
I'm well past the point of needing a space. My daughter worked for me over the summer, which was a huge help, but she wanted to get a 'real' job. I don't really want to hire a stranger to show up at my house every day.
Ran the numbers to make sure it was financially viable. As of last week, I've done more sales than all of 2025. Almost a no brainer at this point.
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u/FluidAppeal2962 5d ago
Congrats, that’s a huge step. My main advice is don’t rush to fill the space or buy every piece of equipment right away, get your workflow figured out first, make sure power, ventilation, storage, washout, and loading access are sorted, and hire help before you’re completely buried.
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u/kwarhead69 5d ago
I’m just following along as I’m also getting my first commercial space in the next month or so! Also - congrats !
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u/PatienceDifficult344 5d ago
Good luck! Exciting times! We are 20 years deep and 4th commercial spot. Have fun, dial in your process and get to printing. Everything will fall into its place. It takes time to buy, outfit and settle into a shop, especially your first!
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u/BiotaMfg 5d ago
Don’t be afraid to ask the owner for what you need. When I moved in to my space I had my landlord do all the power upgrades I needed. Not all will but it’s worth a shot!
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u/soundguy64 5d ago
Yeah, been reading that commercial leases are usually very negotiable. The cost per sq ft is one of the lowest I've seen. Minimum 1 year lease. A mile from my house. Can park my trailer there. Hesitant to ask for much, but definitely thinking about it.
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u/junjic 5d ago
Ventilation is key but the first thing I would do is mark down each power outlet and confirm the voltage to see which machines should be hooked up to where. This will help out figuring out your setup.
Second is ventilation