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Equipment Gambling: Payback Method, Part II

January 17, 2018

Last article we reviewed developing the total costs in payback of an equipment purchase as well being able to consider the change in income because of the purchase. Now, let’s pickup on identifying the change in costs that go along with it. Here we go. Change in Costs Using Payback There are three elements of […]



Equipment Gambling: Payback Method, Part I

January 17, 2018

Let’s consider the math for justifying equipment purchases using the payback method. It’s straightforward as there are only four steps. Calculate the total cost of the purchase. Figure the marginal contribution (change in your checkbook). Use that change to calculate the payback time. Then, choose among alternatives. It’s as straightforward as that. Here’s an example. […]



Equipment Gambling: Can You Afford It?

November 21, 2017

Is it really gambling if you know you’re going to win? One printer asked me that and, well, yes, it is. Fact is most gamble with significant financial decisions instead of investing. What’s the difference? In an investment, you can only lose the investment. In a gamble, you may lose the business, the house, the […]



Five Tips for Prepress by John Giles

November 9, 2017

The following five tips can turn a prepress department into a money maker if owners pay attention to details. 5 Tips for Prepress 1. Price prepress and design differently: Don’t fall into the trap of charging one price for everything you do in the prepress department. For instance, prepress tasks to fix customer files or […]



What to do with the building in business transition?

July 24, 2017

I’ve written before on the transition issues involved in leaving a small business to several siblings, meaning it doesn’t turn out well because of competing interests. That’s especially true if some don’t work in the business and especially when in-laws are involved. Now here’s a variation on that theme. Leave, or better sell the shop […]



Creating Project Time for Yourself

May 30, 2017

We need to create Project Time. “Last In, First Out” is the way most treat demands on our time. That’s why we never really get time to do our important projects. Here’s a thought to correct that. Make time. Don’t try to find it. Let me explain. We deal with the important things like we […]