So You Want to Start a CD Duplication Service, Huh?

Why would anyone want to go and start a CD duplication service?  After all, everything’s moving to iPods and smartphones, right?  Think again.  Most music is still listened to on a good old CD.  So if you thought CDs were on their way out, don’t count on it just yet.  But aren’t CD duplication services just for folks who need thousands of discs...I can’t handle that many CDs!  Not necessarily.  In fact, the big companies often focus on mass production—often at a fairly high cost.  That leaves the door open for you.  I mean sure, you may not make a million dollars a year, but you can bring home a respectable profit if you work at it.

Software vendors, music artists, and companies who need to secure their data all need a place to turn to for CD duplication needs.  It’s time for you to be that person.  You may already have most of the equipment necessary for production.  First, you’ll need CDs (no kidding, heh).  Next, you’ll need a computer (either a desktop or a laptop should do the trick) that comes with CD burning capabilites.  Third, you’ll need the software to actually burn CDs.  Finally, you’ll need the most important thing...the customers, silly!  Even if you don’t have the equipment, it’s not hard to obtain.  Most computer companies and general merchandise outlets (Sears, Wal-Mart, etc.) offer computers and software of all sorts.  And the cost isn’t out of this world, either.

Now, back to those customers...who should you go after.  Find out what local bands are in the area.  Where?  Check MySpace or Facebook.  If you’re attending school or college (or have a friend or relative who is), ask around there.  Bands are looking for someone quick and easy to get their music mass produced.  They maybe can’t afford a professional company, but you might be just what they’re looking for.  Another target is a small business.  You’d think someone in the company would handle it, wouldn’t you?  But you’d be surprised at the number of companies who don’t have the time or computer knowledge to handle their own data backup.  Usually when that’s the case, they simply decide to do without the backup.  As we both know, that’s a bad idea!

My suggestion is to go online and see what the “big wigs” charge, then use that as a template to figuring out how much you’ll want to charge.  If you set a sensible price, nice turnaround time, and superior disks, you’ll not only have customers coming back, word-of-mouth will really get you jump started.  So if you’re interested in starting your own CD duplication service, now is the time!