Business funding for commercial printing companies
Print shops carry two heavy costs: the press itself, which is expensive and long-lived, and paper or substrate stock bought up front for a job that a business client will not pay for until 30 days after delivery. Funding usually splits along those two lines.
- One application, several lenders
- No credit pull to see your options
- No fee to you, ever
Common funding needs
- Financing a new or replacement press, cutter or bindery equipment
- Buying paper and substrate stock for a large job before the client pays
- Bridging payroll while a corporate client's net-30 invoice is outstanding
- Covering a slow season between large print runs
What usually fits
Products that usually fit
- Equipment financing for presses and bindery equipment; the machine secures the loan.
- Invoice factoring for outstanding invoices to business clients on net terms.
- Line of credit for stock and payroll between jobs.
- Term loan for a shop expansion.
Compare term loans, lines of credit, cash advances and equipment financing side by side →
Illustrative example
A worked example
A shop finances $150,000 for a used offset press over 6 years at an illustrative 8–18% a year. Payments come to about $2,630–$3,421 per month, or $189,359–$246,324 in total.
Shops usually compare that payment with the added print volume the press makes possible before committing.
Illustrative example only, not an offer or a quote. Rates, fees and terms are set by each lender and depend on your business. Fees are not included unless stated.
Underwriting
What lenders look at
- Age, make and condition of existing equipment (for financing a new press)
- Client mix: business accounts on terms versus walk-in or retail work
- Monthly deposits and existing equipment payments
- Backlog or signed print orders
- Owner credit and time in business
Honestly
Who this is not for
- A shop financing equipment with no plan for how added capacity pays for the payment
- Factoring invoices from walk-in retail customers who pay at pickup: there is no timing gap to solve
- A brand-new shop with no operating history, for most equipment lenders
If borrowing does not make sense, we will say so.
Are you a match?
Lender network minimums
Close but not quite there? Apply anyway and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
*Best available terms from lenders in our network. Every lender sets its own criteria; approval, amount and funding time are decided by the lender and not guaranteed.
| Time in business | 1 year+ |
|---|---|
| Monthly bank deposits | $20,000+ |
| Credit score | 500+ |
| Bank account | Business |
| Fee to you | $0 |
| Credit pull to start | None |
FAQ
Printing & commercial print funding questions
Can I finance a used press?
Some equipment lenders finance used presses and bindery equipment, often with limits on age. Tell us the make, model and age.
Does factoring work for print shops?
Yes, for invoices billed to business clients on net terms. Retail or walk-in work paid at pickup does not need factoring.
Can I finance paper stock for a big job?
Not as its own product, but a line of credit can cover stock purchases for a job before the client pays.
What if I'm buying equipment from a private seller, not a dealer?
Some lenders will still finance it, sometimes with a larger down payment or an inspection requirement. Tell us the details.
Guides
Guides for printing & commercial print
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Where we work: all US states · all Canadian provinces
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