Business Management Skills

Anyone who is interested in establishing an independently owned printing shop would be wise to think about buying pre-owned and reconditioned machinery. These machines offer the capacity to provide huge amounts of quality print output and will offer significant savings over brand new. It is feasible to obtain the essential prepress equipment and the CTP capabilities required for a mere fraction of the cost of new machinery and will be every bit as efficient. Huge orders demand printers that are in a-one shape and not likely to stop working abruptly that would cause problems meeting client deadlines so regularly scheduled maintenance particularly on used and refurbished gear is an absolute must. This guarantees predictable dependability when your printing work horses are needed the most. But, what are the signs that a company that provides maintenance on the machines will meet your high standards? Here are several things to look for before entering a maintenance contract:

1. What do their existing customers have to say about them? References should not only be supplied by a prospective provider but should definitely be followed up on. Other similar companies have nothing to gain by not revealing their satisfaction, or lack thereof with the service currently being offered and you might gain valuable insights on the company.

2. Are the maintenance workers totally educated in the upkeep and functionality of each of your machines? This is even more important when you have invested heavily in used and refurbished gear and the technology is older and possibly not familiar to a recently trained employee.

3. What is the policy regarding after hour machine breakdowns? Does the maintenance fee cover these costs or does the charge climb ridiculously if work is required on a weekend or even a holiday if you are forced to work extra hours to complete a client order? Emergencies usually do not occur frequently but they do occur and should be anticipated when considering the services of a maintenance company.

4. Will you be assigned a worker who will consistently visit your place of business and will be given the duty to talk over his work with you face to face every time he comes? This is a great way to follow up on a written assessment of the condition of your printing devices and will establish rapport for a more comfortable working relationship. It also will inform you of the present state of any given machine and will provide a heads up that its working life may be coming to an end and will have to be replaced soon.

5. Is there an established contact person in the experience of a genuine emergency such as a lightning strike or a fire at your business? Who is the authorized person to be comforting to an overextended business owner. Every business owner ought to have in black and white an emergency plan that includes names and phone numbers not only of all employees but also any service provider that could render assistance in an emergency.