Ink refill business idea.

**Latinpreneur** · 06-21-2009 05:13 PM

Hello all, heres the deal im currently in college getting my degree in marketing, i got an idea for a ink refill business focusing primarly on business and institutions with huge printing needs.

The plan is to get a couple of clients from lets say hospitals, schools or regular business that go throught ink like water and offer a refill solution which would yield a couple of benefits, like a considerable reduction on printing cost, ecological cred, etc.

There are a couple of business that focus on this but not in town or near ( i belive), i know the market is there, we have a couple of businesses that OFFER ink refill but arent ink refill business, so a more focus company may serve clients better.

Any ideas suggestion? like how to approach potential clients, what i may need anything would be appreciated, im very interested in this venture, thanks.

**Mega B** · 06-21-2009 06:55 PM

I would have said that the ink refill market must be saturated but i could be wrong on that one,regarding what market to aim at i would have said the normal everyday household as these would be the ones that dont have much money to spare.I see the large users like hospitals not worried about cheaper alternatives as they require reliabilty when i have used cheaper non-brand refills the quality of primting is not the best so i dont use them any more.
This is just my opinion but good luck to you.

**Latinpreneur** · 06-21-2009 07:35 PM

Thanks, i would venture if the quality is top notch otherwise i dont see the point. Will check and analize the market, i belive its far from saturated where i live.

Anyway i believe the business market is a good one, as businesses are always looking for ways to cut cost and we all know how high printing and ink cost can escalate.

**Latinpreneur** · 06-27-2009 04:11 PM

Any more inputs?

**Ruman** · 06-27-2009 05:28 PM

Have you determined the potential margin of this business? I would determine how many cartridges you'd have to refill to make enough money to make you happy, and then see if that is feasible.

**pboychuk** · 06-27-2009 06:36 PM

It depends on what you are looking to get out of it.. As you are in college, maybe you just need a little extra income and experience.. However, I think the only real way to make money with ink is to scale the business, and maybe im wrong, but the market just doesn't seem to accept this.. I recently learned how cheap it is to refill ink myself.. I just don't think the awareness is out there.. Or maybe some people just don't use enough ink to even consider the extra effort.

Was there ever national commercials to sell ink refill kits?

**Latinpreneur** · 06-27-2009 10:29 PM

Well margins seem pretty good, the potential is there as company need and want to cut down cost and biz that go through alot of printing could benefit nicely from the reduced cost of refill vs new cartdriged, im aware that refill is pretty easy but most company dont have the time, knowledge or desire to do it them selve.

My main goal is to develop a solid business with good income, great for expirience and scale it up to a couple of big biz accounts around the area.

Would like something like smart cartdrige (the operate here but in the country but not near where i reside). Inkjet Cartridge Refill & Laser Toner Recycling : Smart Cartridge Recycling check it out if can.

**Ruman** · 06-27-2009 10:59 PM

Another interesting thought is that most network printers nowadays allow notifications to be sent, or can be accessed, to determine the level of ink. I just used a Dell printer the other day that can be setup to automatically email a particular email address when the ink gets low.

**Latinpreneur** · 06-28-2009 10:57 AM

Yes i am aware of that, and that would be a focal differentiation point, it would make it easier for the company as they wont even need to worry about the ink situation. Once it starts running low it would notify our company which would quickly send a team to get the job done.

**Bugman** · 06-28-2009 01:41 PM

There's a local business down the street with a location in a strip mall that sells refills. I bought several of them but only about half worked so I buy OEM again. Oh well, it was a good idea. They didn't have any problem taking back the duds but it was a hassle, especially since I only keep one backup.

**Latinpreneur** · 06-28-2009 03:44 PM

Ok, lets say i got the business up and running or whatever how would i go on getting clients? call calling and asking for a appointment to give then a pitch showing are product and the expected amount saved? any tips?

**lilg1989@gmail.com** · 06-28-2009 04:30 PM

Good idea .. a teacher of mines started an ink business refilling, wholesale etc... it should also be a customer need not only to business but good idea and good luck