Business At A Glance
Startup Costs: $10,000 – $50,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Online Operation? No
Business Overview
In spite of the increasing popularity ofdigital imaging, print or negative photography will be around for manyyears to come. A good income can still be earned by starting andoperating a one-hour photo lab.
Of course the resourceful entrepreneurwill also provide customers with digital imaging services in additionto traditional film development services. Like any retail business,location will be a major consideration.
Good operating locations for aone-hour photo lab include stand-alone kiosks in malls, smallstorefronts in strip plazas, and kiosks within existing retail storessuch as grocery stores and pharmacies.
One-hour photo lab equipment iseasy to operate and most distributors of this equipment will includesome training when new or used photo lab equipment is purchased.
Thetitle of the business suggests that all film developing is completed inone hour or less. However, this is inaccurate as it is best to givecustomers film development options.
The faster they want their filmdeveloped the higher the costs. There are also incentives that you canoffer to secure new and repeat business such as two prints for theprice of one, a free roll of film with each three rolls developed, anda free 8-inch by 10-inch blowup of one picture per roll of filmdeveloped.
Also to increase revenues, be sure to establish drop-off andpick-up satellite locations. Satellite locations simply mean thatcustomers can drop off their film at various locations throughout thecommunity and pick up their photos at a later date.
You simply drive tothese location daily and pick up the film to be developed and drop itoff the next day when you return to pick up film again.