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Selecting Equipment and Supplier
After introducing myself, heres my first set of questions.
I’m looking to make numberplates with the option to make small signs, theres a company called uknumberplates selling a complete package for £1200, would i be better off buying items seperately or the complete package from them?
Was thinking about buying a oki printer from pc world or similar, then sourcing software and supplies after seperelty, good idea or no.
Can you recommend any equipment that would meet my needs?
thanks Paul -
68 Replies
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with new regulations now in place on what is/isnt allowed on numberplates, would a vinyl cutter not be more cost effective if your goal is to also offer signage?
i think the company you mention is the same one advertising on our homepage lower left of the screen. if so ask for Paul Morton he will keep you right on printers etc.
alternatively, for a numberplate setup and small cutter to assist you could speak to nigel at grafityp as they do both… advert on homepage also. top left of page.
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Looking at a few posts and selecting equipment and software feels a bit intimidating.
Yes i am new and have a limited budget £1500 tops but i cant decide what i need. At this stage anyone could rip me off.
I would ideally like to do number plates, small colour signs and small logo’s stickers. Would i be better off forgetting the small colour signs and get a plotter or go for a laser printer and small plotter (if at all poss).
Whats the price difference between a printer setup and a plotter setup? (?) -
Hi Paul.
I would recommend an OKI printer and LG Plates as the supplier. They have great back and support. You might consider a Robo Craft cutter which will cut small stickers and vinyl for you. This is not a real pro cutter but sells for only around £200.oo plus VAT but has loads of support in the UK from authorised dealers unlike most (not all) Chinese kit. You could get going for under a grand I figure if you are selective. Feel free to PM me and I will answer more questions for you. We are doing number plates with the OKI system and wouldn’t use anything else.
Cheers Peter
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Peter, how long have you been doing number plates with the OKi printer? Just curious as I read somewhere that there was a problem with them staring to fade after a year or so. I always thought that the printers were modified in some way to do this sort of work but someone else on the boards said that they were just a standard Oki printer with standard toner. I will have to try and contact LG Plates as if thats true then I could probably use my Oki printer to do a lot more than I currently use it for which is next to nothing!!!!!
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What do you guys think of this? (mod-edit)
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Paul
Welcome to the boards,I would stay away from number plates, unless you have an established customer base. most car accessory shops do them, as a supplement to their normal business and larger dealers do them in house.
so you will find it hard to make a living on plates alone.Just my opinion, dont want to dampen any enthusiasm.
BTW e bay links are not allowed on the boards, as it may be you selling the item. not the case with you, I’m sure, but it has been done before
Peter
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i agree with peter, not a lot of money in plates
the oki dose have problems with gassing off and bubbles
most plate only last a few years any way
not notice much fading though, been doing them of and on for a few years
ian -
oOPS, Sorry about the link, i’m sure the mods will delete if required. Ok so do you think my money is better spent on different equipment? Is a Robo craft and a oki not the right way to go. I dont want to be fitting large graphics as i want to be home based selling via the net and learning at my own pace. This is the field i wish to start up in but need your expertise on the most demanded products for a web based business. As always your help is much appreciated. I’ve just joined as well.
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can not go wrong with a camm1 pro and corel x3
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Paul,
sorry again I do not want to dampen any enthusiasm, but as a small start up business in signs or related products, and with a limited budget, the Internet is not the way to go, thousands sell £1 stickers on the net, most are busy fools though, so unless you have a unique product, steer clear.
I don’t know your circumstances, or why you want to get into the business,
But I would recommend you buy a reputable brand of plotter, and starter software. (do you have any design experience) Should be within your £1500 budget, as long as you afford the materials and all the bits and pieces to go with it.
go for a local market and offer van signage on a simple basis to start with, it should not be a problem working from home, many people here including me, do it quite successfully.
Peter
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I have purchased a complete number plate system from this person on Ebay, he’s been most helpful from the start and as for the Oki 5600 the only modification I have made is a couple of load shelves out of 4 mm ply, so the transparencies don’t curl-up
You will have to register with DVLA as number plate supplier if you intend to make road plates, it a one off payment of £40
I also purchased a Roland CX24 with Coreldraw and vinyl for £600 (ebay again), which works like new, so with a little luck and your maximum budget you can do both plates and vinyl
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I would have to agree with Peter, it is unlikely you are going to make any money selling number plates on the internet, especially if you have such a small budget to start with.
Like Peter I don’t want to be a kill joy or put you off starting your own business but like Peter I would have to ask what made you decide to go down this route?
Firstly you will need a web site which you can use to sell your products, unless you already know a lot about website optimisation your site may never get found, secondly you will need some sort of plate building software on your site so potential customers can build their own plates when ordering. This software I believe from past posts on the boards is expensive. Being based in England you would only be able to sell show plates over the internet as far as I am aware even if they were legal style I believe they have to be sold as show plates because to produce legal plates you have to see and record original documentation and I can’t see anyone sending that through the post to you. There are also moves to change the way show plates are manufactured which may well kill the market or at least reduce the size considerably.Like Peter has said there are plenty of signmakers working from home and if you don’t want to get into a particular area then you don’t have to. There is a signmaker close to me that doesn’t really do anything but vehicle graphics for local businesses, they could be a lot busier that they are but thats their choice.
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ok so spending the majority of my budget on a number plate system is not the way to go, how about getting a vinyl cutter that is beginner friendly for around the £500 mark, this will at least give me a taster for the market without making me bankrupt if all fail. The Robo Craft has been mentioned what peoples opinions on this unit>?
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……also can numberplates still be done with a vinyl cutter
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Paul, the craft robo is really a hobbyists machine and if you are serious about something like this then I would leave it alone.
I would say if your budget doesn’t stretch to a good new machine then look at buying a second user graphtec or summa machine, that way if you should decide that it’s not for you then you will be able to recoup pretty much what you paid for it. If you take the advice given by a lot of the members on these boards and are prepared to work hard then I doubt you will fail anyway. -
Paul,
I think you have received alot of sound advice in this thread from all our friends. Some I agree with some I do not but that is what it is all about. Asa mentioned, you will never run a succesful business selling just number plates. The graphic capabilities of the OKI are fine for number plates and small simple images. You will never duplicate the quality and longevity of a more sign orientated printer such as Roland etc.
It is not viable to attempt any volume of plates using a vinyl cutter as it is fiddly and the final product is not that great. I have never had plates fade in the two years of making them. Most are damaged or covered in mud within that time anyway. You can sell show signs legally to anyone who wishes to buy them. It is up to then if they use them on the road. Recently, there has been a slight relaxation in the way our friends in blue look at show signs used as show plates. If it can be viewed from 20.5 metres and the physical size of the plate is not too small (7 x 5 or bigger) then you will see the boys turn a blind eye.
You need to decide just where you want to take this. If you want to work from home and see how it goes then I feel a lower investment is required to test the water. The Robo is a small and non pro use cutter really, but for small decals and vinyl widths, it will do a job. It will not last long if you are putting metres of vinyl through it daily. I don’t think you are at that stage yet. The Oki is a basic laser with software from LG which enables it to print oversize for all the different sizes of plates. The software is the key to the system.
I would be happy to answer any questions if I can.In summary:
If you want to test the water, buy new equipment, and want to spend £1500 or less, the OKI and Robo will do to begin with. If it takes off, you will need to replace the Robo.
If you want to have more versatility then shell out money for a pukka printer. remember running and maintenance is always more with the bigger printer. I don’t see a versacamm in your box room though, do you?Many decisions to make.
Think long and hard about the next 12 months and where you want to be.
Talk to everyone you can and then make a decision.Good Luck!
Peter
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Paul,
I posted a topic on here a while ago mate on number plates and thought i’d be on a winner. I was very wrong. Most people want you to do the plates without bringing in their docs, then arguments start as they think we’re being awkward. You are not allowed to do showplates either so there’s most of the income gone there. It started off well though. I would suggest getting a vinyl cutter and a roller and not bother with all the fancy software. Then you can do any plates as they come in and keep the cutter going on more profitable jobs most of the time. -
Not sure if i done the right thing but bought a Roland Sticka just to test the water, what other things do i need to make plates?
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Paul, Like I said you would need to buy a roller to apply the vinyls to the plates. The plotter you’ve bought is ideal for what you are going to use it for.
Karl.
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As said in other thread. You probably won’t get dedicated number plate software for this plotter. You will have to cut vinyl via a graphic program to create the numbers. Additionally, you will need a very good set of rollers to apply the letters and numbers and the covering acetate. You will get air gaps around the numbers which the customer wont like. Loads of re-dos. Good Luck!!! 😮
Peter
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quote paulcornwall:Not sure if i done the right thing but bought a Roland Sticka just to test the water, what other things do i need to make plates?
sorry, havent been following this thread but…
paul, not the right move mate! 😕 not sure who you bought it from but ide suggest canceling or upgrading before its shipped.
for numberplates it will work…. very slow etc but will make it happen. however, in my view, this is NOT signmakers bit of kit. a toy is best way to discribe it.
sorry to be neagtive but ide rather you spent a few hundred quid more and wont need to worry about your cutter for a couple of years as opposed to clawing your hair out in ten minutes time. 😕 -
Rob, sorry i dont think i worded it right. I understand the Sticka wont be much use for the number plates, i bought this to introduce me to the world of vinyl cutting, i’m afraid some of the larger pro machines may baffle me.
I’m still considering the OKI as i see quite a few sellers on ebay dont do to badly from it. Please understand i’m not looking for full time money out of this but more as a extra earner.
My only concern with the OKI is the price of the software, the OKI is around £400 alone but more than double with the software, on some other post i see people are using other software with the OKI instead. I guess the ease of use is what i’m paying for. -
paul,
dont be in a rush to buy anything, listen to the advice being given here.
then decide which route you want to go down, that will determine the equipment you need to invest in.
professional good quality machines are just as, if not easier to set up and use than cheap/hobby suffPeter
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Paul, I agree with Peter and Rob completely. If you haven’t actually ordered the plotter. DON’T.
You really need to consider more before making this decision. I am not as accomplished a signmaker as many here, but I am getting better. I do however, understand the market for number plates and the additional elements of business that can be generated by offering them. Unless you get the right kit, you will be unable to address not only the potential in the number plate and affiliated markets but you will also fall short in the sign side of things also. To spend up to and and perhaps over £1000.00 without proper research would be a waste in my opinion.I have offered further advice on a number of occasions and the offer still exists. I am sure everyone will be happy to assist you further. But be careful how you spend your money. It could be the kit you buy now will be for sale next month on THAT auction site as it is not good enough for you.
Peter
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Paul, like the others have said not sure why you bought the stika it’s not really suited to doing number plates although you can do them with it and I don’t believe it has any sort of optical registration system so you are not really going to be able to do stickers with it either. Like Peter has said it may well end up back on an auction site in the near future because it’s not really suitable for what you want to do.
Peter I would be interested in hearing more of your views, you said in a previous post that you didn’t agree with some of the advice given and I for one would be interested in hearing your views on what you don’t agree with, as you said it’s all about different people having different views but sometimes the advice that I may give would be different if I understood different markets better.
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Guys as i said i have’nt bought the Sticka for number plates but for small vinyl stickers etc. I paid £250 for it so not the end of the world if its not what i’m looking for I can easily sell it on at the same price.
I am still looking at a number plate setup and so far a standard laser printer using a custom template in Office might be sufficent, i cant see why the software is so expensive.
Regarding a "proper" vinyl cutter i’m keeping a eye out for one but using the sticka to "play" with in the mean time. -
im probably missing something here….
anyway…
if money is tight, ide still say try and buy something like the lower end cutters available from grafityp along with the plate rollers etc. the cutter comes with stand and software so you are ready to venture into signs, but also kitted out to make number plates. i say grafityp because you will get everything under one roof, your a uksg member so get discounts also…
colour printing of the bagdes on reg plates isnt a necessity. you can buy these in pre-made for buttons… cut the text, add the image and roll the plat, job done.personally i wouldnt go the ebay route, but thats your call…
ide rather profit from one van a week than try and make money from that place. -
Good luck with it all Paul.
Peter
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quote KARL WILLIAMS:you would need to buy a roller to apply the vinyls to the plates.No you don’t. 😀
You go down to your local tip, slip the attendant a couple of quid and come away with an old mangle.
Not only is it better for number plates, because you can get more pressure than with a dedicated number plate roller, but you can also use it on bigger signs, up to about 500mm wide or thereabouts.
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John, I couldn’t agree more. Someone mentioned it on the boards a few years ago and it sounded like a great idea. Trouble is they are becoming harder to find these days.
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Trust you to come up with that John yer tight git! 😉
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quote martin:Someone mentioned it on the boards a few years ago and it sounded like a great idea.
It might have been me Martin. We’ve been using one for years. 😀
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quote :you will never run a succesful business selling just number plates.Oh Peter ! you will…..we do and we advise many others "how to" as well 🙂
Ok you won;t do it from a "shop" to many overheads etc, but internet/ebay/markets/shows etc are all ways to earn a decent living. Maybe never a millionare !! but hey ho..if we were one of them we wouldn;t be here in the 1st place…lol
The only money to be made from number plates is in "show plates" and associated signs – picture plates etc. The volume market for standard plates – garages/mot centres etc – forget it – they can buy plates cheaper than you can make them generally !
With regards to software/printers – the oki has been fully tested with the new media’s available and is the only laser i would reccomend. The new 5600 someone said is not as good as the one’s previous…….!!! granted if you are not using dedicated software to "run it" settings are altered to maximise the print quality.
As an "add on" to normal sign business it can be profitable but sometimes a "pain" dealing with customers for £20 odd…… but it is a good door-opener sometimes. Also the Oki has capabilities to produce loads more than just number plates…….so as a "starter" system for someone looking to make a few £’s it’s an ideal investment. I would say that wouldn;t i ! but i believe it with all my heart.
The only time in over 3 years that i’ve known anyone not to have a "pay back" from there intial investment is probably twice…..and these guys thought that the world would be beating down there door once they bought a system…….forgot that as with all things……you have to sell and market yourself properly.
RIGHT PRODUCT AT THE RIGHT PRICE AT THE RIGHT TIME……oh and location location location ( whether this is internet/ebay/markets/shows/shop or knocking on doors ! )
If your not prepared to put in the effort, – buy nothing ! because as sure as eggs are eggs…..you’ll sell nothing.
Regards
Paul
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Ok then, you say you can make good money from showplates, and you can sell them from a shop. So if we sold showplates, which are illegal no matter which way you look at it in DVLAs eyes, and get a fine or lose our licence, you are saying breaking the law is ok. Do you yourself sell showplates. If so please educate us on how you manage to dodge the law and get away with it.
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Karl,
Show plates/number plates made and sent via Jersey is not Illegal !
In fact already been visited and cleared by Trading Standards 🙂
You can sell via a link to our site ?
Can;t advertise here, but link on front page takes you to our main site
pm me for more info
Or if you make them yourself – add a border and instead of BSAU145d marking – add – "Show Plate" in 8 point font or smaller
Never make show plates with BSAU145d marking it;s against trade description act if they don;t conform to regulation layout format etc.
or move to Scotland………still not adopted the English Law….even with a prime minister that;s Scots ! lol
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Sorry Paul,
So what you are telling me is that if you sell a plate without the BS number but replace it with show plate this is legal. 😕 -
Karl almost right mate. We have had many discussions with the local authorities. We sell show signs not show plates. Sometimes they look similar to number plates but that is purely coincidental. Whatever the client does with the show sign is up to them and they sign a waiver to confirm this. It is NOT illegal to sell a sign yet.
Peter
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quote KARL WILLIAMS:Sorry Paul,
So what you are telling me is that if you sell a plate without the BS number but replace it with show plate this is legal. 😕Depends on your point of view ! i have been told by a DVLA officer that if i wanted to sell "show plates" that;s what i must do ? – But bet he wouldn’t;t stand up in court for me !
by removing or not printing BSAU145d you cannot be judged that you are "passing off" the plate as a genuine road legal article.
Never been tested in a court of law thou !?
Loads of lads want "show plates" for the reason that they "show their car" santa pod etc etc…… it;s a sign really- We ask them to sign a disclaimer – Show purposes only etc.
We don;t condone illegal plate making – cloning etc etc but making plates for the "lads" to style their motors is hardly crime of the century.
We always take documents – if trading within the Uk – but don;t need to from Jersey at all………
as i said…Location..location..location 🙂
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quote Dazzel:Karl,
Show plates/number plates made and sent via Jersey is not Illegal !
In fact already been visited and cleared by Trading Standards 🙂
You can sell via a link to our site ?
Can;t advertise here, but link on front page takes you to our main site
pm me for more info
Or if you make them yourself – add a border and instead of BSAU145d marking – add – “Show Plate” in 8 point font or smaller
Never make show plates with BSAU145d marking it;s against trade description act if they don;t conform to regulation layout format etc.
or move to Scotland………still not adopted the English Law….even with a prime minister that;s Scots ! lol
Sorry but I think you are doing just that?
Peter
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Peter, my apologies if you consider i am.
I will be careful with my words in future. Just trying to help peeps out !
regards
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I appreciate you giving advice, no problem with that at all.
Call me a sceptical old fart, but I am always wary of companies that sell a product, and then the wherewithal and equipment to potential competitors. Can I ask the justification?
Its a bit like the "I am a millionaire, and I will sell you my secret" type product. Please dont take this the wrong way, I know you run a successfull business, but how big is the show plate market, and how many competitors can you share the market with.
I’m only asking so Paul has a better insight.
BTW arn’t advertisers on the site supposed to be classed as suppliers?
Peter
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Not arguing here, I just want to go back to a conversation I had with with the gestapo er DVLA. They say if you make a showplate, as you term it, no matter what goes on it YOU ARE selling it as a plate for a vehicle.
It’s a touchy subject with many opinions. I’m not throwing back your advice. If you are allowed them then yes I would be making them cos there is no money in my opinion in normal plates. Sorry to babble! -
Karl,
Via my motorcycling training contacts and friends on the job, I can assure you that I have had no problem whatsoever selling show signs. I get the client to sign a waiver stating that the sign is for off road use only. This seems to work and I have had no comeback whatsoever in the last 4 years of making show signs. I have a market selling number plates which are all marked correctly with the BS logo etc and I ALWAYS take down the correct details as required. I have also anecdotal evidence from many that as long as the show signs are not purposely trying to hide numbers or letters they are often looked upon in a fairer light than some that are.
e.g. If a bike for example has a 7 x 5 number plate with letters that are legible from 20.5 metres then it is likely that a blind eye will be turned. If the plate is 6 x 3 with small letters, then that is a different matter.As long as the bearer is not taking the P1ss then all may be well.
Naturally this is unofficial un quotable information but I believe my source to be correct and accurate 😉
Peter
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I understand what you mean Peter. I’ll see how it goes.
Cheers mate. 😉 -
Karl
you can always PM me or I can PM my number over if you wish to chat mate.Cheers Peter
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I can’t pm mate. Pm your number I’ll call you now.
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Got your message.Speak tomorrow Pete. Cheers.
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This is how it goes, the government have set down a standard for a number plate. if you make anything different than the standard, then it is not a number plate, just a bit of plastic, so if you get taken to court, how can you be accused of making a number plate, unless it meets the standard already set? If you produce a numberplate that meets the standards, and dont have a lisence to do so, then you get done.
now anybody who wants to challenge the government, needs a few quid.
In this case the law has not yet been challenged, as far as I know.All of this is in fact irelevant, the question still is "Can a profit be made from number plates?"
My answer, yes, but not enough to give up the day job..
and certainly not as a start up business.just my opinion
peter
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Agree with Peter M – as above, but all information received to date is "off the cuff" and not supported by official sources. It is a question for the individual to choose how to proceed.
One point – there are hardly ANY LEGAL plates made in the United Kingdom anyway –
Point – BSAU145d ( Legal Plate )
As to markings allowable – REG Number, border, Legal layout flag, Bs marking and name/location of supplying outlet – "No other markings are allowed" –
How is it then that main dealers have "logo;s" on plates (not allowed under above requirements ) and/or web sites/telephone numbers ! ( also not allowed under above requirements.
So my defence is that "no -one" makes a LEGAL PLATE
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Peter N – depends upon your level of expected income !
Average wage c £400 a week ! you can earn that from "show plates" quite easily – say 4 pairs odd a day. i would say this is a business ? as it;s better than driving a bus or digging holes 🙂 but then again Peter it does depend on your "day-job" ? – could pay then rent on a shop thou ?
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As a start up business can anyone tell me where you can start a business for c. 1k investment and have a target market of c.23 million + customers
————————————–I’m not into MLM – and I’ll tell you my secret to get famous/rich 🙂 i am in a very competitive market – why is that ? it’s because the volume is there…and the demand ! WHY try and re-invent the wheel… easiest way into business is find something that "works" and add your special something to make you different…better…….. in my opinion that normally = HARD WORK 🙂
Cheers
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I have no doubt that a living can be made from number plates providing you have the sustainable volume, I also doubt that a start up business is going to get to that point for a long time.
Is it worth it? well only you can decide but personally I would say number plates is an add on to a sign business, not the other way round.
Alan D -
quote Alan Drury:I have no doubt that a living can be made from number plates providing you have the sustainable volume, I also doubt that a start up business is going to get to that point for a long time.
Is it worth it? well only you can decide but personally I would say number plates is an add on to a sign business, not the other way round.
Alan DI agree 🙂
But depends upon your Target Income 🙂 and the resources you have available for investment and premises etc.
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ok well my 2 pennies worth now lol
first let me say we do show plates legal plates and all sorts of other plates for prams bikes ect
we use the oki system
we use corel draw and photoshop
we use ebay
we use our web site
we use the market 50 miles away from our vannow that said we do agood a profit we do plates mainly and buisness is good withthem and to the guy who started this thread mate you go for it
its well worth it and far better than like some one said digging holes and other jobswe turn over plates for £10 each with any thing u like on it
cost to us is around £2.50
proffit £7.50at 10 plates a week u made a clear proffit of 75 quid not to be sniffed at
how ever we do around 40 sets a week
any way theres loads to be made from it so u go for it
we started with an oki c3200 now we have 2 and a c5600
all good machines andcost around the 300 quid markas for lg there a load of rip offs
modified printers my arse
mine came from shop oki direct the first one second from pc world 3rd from ebayas for ebay do it its a good way to reach hundreds of folk with out leaving ur house
dont compete just make urs better than any 1 elses
sales pitch is everything on there lots of nice photos and online designer ectand its a good way to get ur web site in to loads of folks minds
wat u need to do plates, a roller jig from grafytyp £200 ish
blanks from victory or lgonlineshop or tennants
printer from shopoki
ur looking at 600 to start up leaving u 900 budget to advertise and web sites ectif u need a numberplate showplate website with designer ect or any thing we can help you with really contact us were happy to help any 1 here
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Go on then Dazzel, lets have a look at your site. What is the link? 😉
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modified printers my ( oh i swore )
New 5600 is not modified at all…….. it;s the modifications in the software that enable a change to printer drivers and makes the most out the new colour profiles available from the printer. You can print thru word if you like ! but it won;t be the same result onto MODIFIED media 🙂
agree with everything else Carla says 🙂
Can’t display my www site as it’s advertising and i have been accused of doing this earlier ! but if you go to front page we do have a link.
You can buy your materials/printers wherever you want 🙂 like most things thou….how much support would an ebay seller give you ? or in fact oki – they just want a printer sale !! 🙂
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quote KARL WILLIAMS:Go on then Dazzel, lets have a look at your site. What is the link? 😉
Karl, links to members websites are visible to paid up members. Dazzel has a link on his posts. one of the benefits of subscribing.
Peter
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AAAAHHHHH!!!!!! 😉
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It’s pretty obvious from the way this thread has developed that there is a lot more money in this than I had thought but like any business it must take time to develop, even selling on ebay and from a website must take a far bit of time and money to establish. If I buy from ebay I look for a seller who is established and has a good track record for what I want so may not buy from someone new at all, there are loads of websites advertising this sort of thing so again getting your site ranked and actually producing sales must take time and money. Hard work alone is never enough in my opinion.
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It’s turned out quite interesting on this one. 😀
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Karl, I have to agree with you on that, it has made a very interesting read. Changes to the law if they happen could almost completely kill this industry if they happen but for now it looks like there is more money to be made than I thought.
Like the new picture by the way.
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quote martin:for now it looks like there is more money to be made than I thought.
I’m not convinced yet Martin. I’d like to know….
Cost of the equipment
Cost of materials
Time required to make a plate
Time required to deal with paperwork and admin -
John when I had my unit I use to make show plates for some of the boy racers using a plotter and vinyl. I had a board outside the unit advertising plates and a local car accessory shop used to send a few lads to see me. I wouldn’t say it made me very much money at all and I didn’t make that many of them.
It is time consuming using a plotter and a printer would be a much quicker way to produce them although I disagree with Peters comments about air bubbles round the letters, I never had a problem at all.Because I hardly sold any I didn’t really take it to seriously and I could have done a much better job of marketing than I did. Working by myself I could make more money with the time I had available sticking to vehicle graphics and shops.
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quote John Childs:quote martin:for now it looks like there is more money to be made than I thought.
I’m not convinced yet Martin. I’d like to know….
no 1 forget the plotter unless you are doing the "odd one or two" – takes far too much time…….
Cost of the equipment –
Cost of materialsyou can download price list from our site. – around £2.50 to make a plate…
Time required to make a plate – under 2 mins
Time required to deal with paperwork and admin
—– ah ha,, got me there…..got someone else to do it 🙂 – pre format forms work best !
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Why is it that suppliers will never give you an answer that is really honest, just like Politicians really.
£2.50 to make a plate doesn’t include any overheads like the cost of equipment, software and any maintenance required on the printer.
Under 2 mins to make a plate again is not really true as it will probably take longer than that to deal with the customer.
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Martin cost of plates about £2.50. Time to make two about 5 minutes.
Retail £10.00 each minimum. Profit approximately £15.00 before overheads etc. I have my fabricator / layer upper(?) making the signs at £5.50 / hour. We did 25 sets today.It is only possible using the right kit (Oki a must) right software ( LG a must) and right materials. ( Various suppliers).
Believe me. with the spin offs with graphics and other things, there is money in it.
Peter
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quote Peter Mindham:Martin cost of plates about £2.50. Time to make two about 5 minutes.
Retail £10.00 each minimum. Profit approximately £15.00 before overheads etc. I have my fabricator / layer upper(?) making the signs at £5.50 / hour. We did 25 sets today.It is only possible using the right kit (Oki a must) right software ( LG a must) and right materials. ( Various suppliers).
Believe me. with the spin offs with graphics and other things, there is money in it.
Peter
thanks peter,,, i am uncertain of the level of info i can provide without sounding like i’m advertising !! sorry if i’m vague i don;t mean to be 🙂
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Peter I don’t doubt there is money to be made, you don’t seem the type of guy to make stuff up or hype up the market for your own good, as I said in an earlier post there is obviously a lot more money in this than I originally thought.
I think you said you started with stuff like plates and the signmaking side was just a progression from that. What were you doing before you started making plates, did you have a market for them already through what you did for a living?Sorry for being so nosy, that’s just the way I am, best way to learn about something you don’t know that much about is to speak to someone that knows a lot more about it in my opinion. If it is something you would rather not discuss on the forum you can always send me a PM if that’s better or maybe you just don’t want to talk to me at all, hope that isn’t the case.
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To make and sell "pukka" number plates, I think, you have to be registered or something. Each plate has to be made to strict guidelines. The DVLA website should have regulations on there somewhere.
As for show plates, these usually do not follow these guidelines making them illegal. As long as you state you are selling plates that are "not for road use" then you’re ok. A friend of mine has a motorcycle business and sells "pukka" plates but he also sells show plates, which are smaller or use a different font. -
Martin
it all started via the motorcycle shop I own. We started making graphics for bikes and scooters which continued to plates and then onto signs. We have now split the sign business on its own and this is how we got started. I prefer the sign business every day as the people are much nicer and the whole process much more enjoyable.Peter
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