PrintRigPRINT BUSINESS SYSTEMS

CALC / 02 · CAPITAL GATE

How many saleable orders repay the complete rig?

Model contribution—not revenue—and keep the downside case visible before you finance equipment.

Model reviewed July 29, 2026 · Edited by Truong Nguyen

YOUR INPUTS

Make the capital earn its way back.

Installed capital should include printer, RIP/computer, powder/cure, press, ventilation, electrical work, freight, training and starting working capital.

BASE + DOWNSIDE MODEL

CONTRIBUTION / ORDER$19.00
ORDERS TO RECOVER CAPITAL343
ORDERS / MONTH TO COVER FIXED14
BASE MONTHLY CASH AFTER FIXED$1,270
BASE PAYBACK5.1 months
DOWNSIDE MONTHLY CASH$568
DOWNSIDE PAYBACK11.4 months

The downside case stays cash-positive, but the payback window roughly doubles.

Excludes tax and financing unless entered in capital or fixed monthly cost.

Use contribution, not top-line sales

Every order must first repay garments, DTF transfer cost, payment fees, packaging, reprints and other truly variable costs. Only the remainder can cover new monthly overhead and recover setup capital.

Make the downside survivable

The downside case reduces order volume and increases variable cost. It still does not model a major service call, missed launch or financing interest. Add those to capital or monthly fixed cost and rerun the model.

Compare outsourcing before ownership

Buying a printer is easier to defend after outsourced transfers have proven order flow. Compare in-house contribution with outsourced contribution, then value faster turnaround and production control separately rather than treating them as guaranteed revenue.

Build the variable-cost input first

Use the DTF cost-per-print calculator and add the blank garment and any per-order fees. For machine-specific width, white-ink, warranty and service evidence, use the exact-machine comparison.