Startup Costs for Launching a Hijab Printing Business

When starting a hijab printing business, you need to calculate your initial investment, operational costs, and marketing expenses.

These cost breakdowns are essential to help you determine your available budget, forecast spending, and estimate the total amount needed in the future.

According to a study by Clutch, in 2020, around 50% of small to medium business owners still struggled with budgeting.

This must be avoided as it can negatively affect your business performance.

This article will outline the cost calculations required to run your business.

Initial Costs in the Hijab Printing Business

Starting a hijab printing business requires a clear understanding of the initial capital needed

These calculations help you prepare an accurate budget before launching your business.

Initial Investment

Initial investment refers to the upfront capital required to start a business, typically used for long-term assets.

Starting this business requires upfront capital for several key components: a sublimation printer, a roller heater, and raw materials.

Let’s go through them one by one.

Equipment Purchase

To produce high-quality hijabs, you need to invest in the right printing equipment.

This includes a sublimation printer and a heat press machine.

1. One Sublimation Printer: A digital printer for transferring designs onto media.
2. One Roller Heater: A heat press machine that infuses ink onto the fabric.
3. One Computer for Sublimation Printer: Operated with specialized software.
4. One Computer for Design: Used to create product designs.

It’s recommended to purchase these as a package since all four components are essential to start sublimation production.

Here are the options for Sublimation Printers and Heat Press Machines*:

*Prices May Change Without Notice

Raw Materials

Materials needed for hijab printing include Texco Transfer Paper (minimum 70 gsm), CMYK sublimation ink, and fabric such as voal.

Standard hijab size: 1.2 m x 1.2 m.

Approximate costs:

1. Texco Transfer Paper, 70 gsm, 1.2 x 500: IDR 2,850 / meter
2. Hongsam CMYK Sublimation Ink: IDR 275,000 / liter (~IDR 3,500 per hijab)
3. Voal Fabric: IDR 10,000 – IDR 15,000 / meter (average)

Estimated raw material cost per hijab: IDR 20,000.

*Prices May Change Without Notice

Operational Costs

Operational costs are ongoing expenses to sustain production.

After setting up your equipment, operational costs become essential to keep your hijab printing business running.

This includes rent, electricity, and labor costs.

Rent

Start your business by renting a space that’s strategic and fits your requirements.

Cost varies depending on size and facilities.

For example, using one Fedar Sublimation Printer and one Texco 1232 Roller Heater:

1. Printer requires AC room of ~5×3 meters.
2. Roller Heater needs good ventilation, ~3×3 meters.

Estimated monthly rent for AC-equipped rooms: IDR 2,000,000 – IDR 3,500,000.

Costs vary by location—prime industrial areas may cost more.

Electricity & Security

Monthly utility costs depend on the machines used.

Example:

• Fedar Sublimation Printer: 2000 W
• ZH1232 Roller Heater: 7000 W
• Total power: 9000 W / day
• Operating 8 hours/day = 72 kWh/day
• Tariff: IDR 1,700 per kWh
• Daily: 72 x 1,700 = IDR 122,400
• Monthly: 122,400 x 30 = IDR 3,672,000

Costs vary based on equipment used—always confirm machine specs beforehand.

Disclaimer: Choose equipment that matches your business type.

Employee Salaries

You may choose monthly pay or per-piece payments.

Suggested team setup:

• 2 Machine Operators
• 1 Order Admin
• 1 Graphic Designer

If you don’t own a fabric cutting machine, use outsourcing services (IDR 5,000–6,000 / piece).

Average monthly wage:

*Prices May Change Without Notice

Disclaimer: Piecework pay varies based on daily output. For example, 50 hijabs/day at IDR 2,000 each = IDR 100,000/day.

Marketing Costs

Marketing expenses promote your product via online and offline platforms.

Online Marketing

Use social media and marketplaces to reach your audience and boost sales.

In addition to organic posting, try paid ads to reach your target audience faster.

Define your objective:

1. Reach & Engagement: Get likes, comments, and visibility.
2. Website Visits: Drive traffic and build trust.
3. Leads: Generate potential buyers.
4. Sales: Drive purchases via website or marketplace.

Meta Ads (Facebook)

Start from IDR 10,000/day (content boosting only), but effective campaigns typically cost IDR 50,000–100,000/day.

Build a landing page, target interests, and location.

Google Ads

Also starts at IDR 50,000–100,000/day.

Focus on relevant keywords like “Affordable Hijab Printing” or “Best Hijab Printing 2024.”

Costs calculated per click/view.

Marketplace Ads

Unlike other paid advertising platforms, each marketplace has its own set of regulations.

For example, Shopee provides advertising credits to sellers under the following categories:

1. Automatic Product Ads, which help maximize product sales by displaying them in the recommendation section.
2. Search Ads, which place your products at the top of search results.
3. Similar Product Ads, which target buyers interested in similar or related products.

Bundled at around IDR 100,000/month.

Offline Marketing

In addition to online marketing, you can also promote your products through offline marketing.

You can join exhibitions and bazaars to introduce your products directly to consumers.

The cost to participate in such events varies widely, ranging from free to several million rupiah.

If you’re just starting your hijab printing business, we recommend listing events first and grouping them based on your budget.

For example, Indonesia Muslim Fest charges around IDR 100,000 per booth.

Aside from bazaars, you can also print promotional banners and signage to place in strategic locations.

Custom printing prices on the market start at IDR 60,000 for flexy banners, while spanduk cost around IDR 280,000 for a 3×2 meter size.

*Prices May Change Without Notice

Startup Cost Summary for Hijab Printing Business

Initial Equipment Cost:

*Prices May Change Without Notice

This total covers the two essential long-term machines for hijab printing.

Monthly Operational & Marketing Cost:

*Prices May Change Without Notice

Monthly operational and marketing costs amount to IDR 24,812,000 to produce 250 hijabs.

Conclusion

To start a hijab printing business, you need to carefully calculate all associated costs.

This includes your initial investment, operational expenses, and marketing budget.

Initial equipment like sublimation printers and roller heaters will cost around IDR 237,000,000.

Operational and marketing costs for producing 250 hijabs per month will total around IDR 24,812,000.

These numbers may vary based on your business scale and needs.

Get a FREE BUSINESS CONSULTATION for more tailored and detailed cost estimates.

*Prices May Change Without Notice