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How to open a photography studio: a detailed business plan and recommendations. Photo studio business plan

The goal of the project is to organize an interior photo studio in Samara. Increasing interest in the services of photo studios in recent years on the part of the population is one of the key factors for the success of the project. Since the initiator of the project does not have the skills of artistic photography, it is assumed that appropriate specialists will be hired. Also, investment investments will be directed to the equipment of the premises, which includes two rooms for photography with four sites; for the purchase of the necessary professional photographic equipment, computer equipment and software.

The low level of competition, as well as the unique concept of the photo studio, are important factors in the success of the project. The main data on the project are given in Table. 1.

Table 1. Key performance indicators of the project

2. COMPANY AND INDUSTRY DESCRIPTION

Services of an interior photo studio belong to the market of photo services. Due to the specificity of the business, large-scale research of the photo services market, as a rule, is not carried out. The market can be divided into the following areas:

Interior art photography

street art photography

Documentary filming of events

Each direction for the most part works with various events: birthdays, weddings, corporate events, public holidays. Photo studio services involve artistic photography indoors in a certain, usually specific interior. It is this direction that experts call the most dynamically developing and promising. The target audience is individuals who want to capture certain moments of life in high quality photographs. In addition, interior photography services are used by novice photo models to create a portfolio, advertising agencies (advertising manufacturers). Depending on the region, city and the quality of the photo studio, the target audience may vary, however, experts consider the main consumer of such services to be girls under 30 who need high-quality photography for a portfolio or posting on social networks.

In itself, interior photography is a product known to the market and the consumer. It has a fairly long history, which begins in various photo studios in the USSR. For this reason, the consumer adequately and readily accepts the offer of services of this kind.

3. DESCRIPTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES

The main service of the project is interior photography on the territory of the studio, which is carried out by a professional photographer in accordance with the wishes of the client.

The studio has four permanently themed venues (see Section 2). By order of the client, shooting is carried out for a certain time. Necessary props and clothing are provided by the studio. The order also includes processing of photos after shooting with the help of a photo editor by a professional designer, recording the required number of copies of CDs with the design of the cover and box insert.

Interaction with the client is carried out in several stages:

Receiving an order and discussing with the client the possibility of implementation

Prepayment

Studio decoration (in case of non-standard order)

Photography

Photo processing

Coordination with the client

Refinement (if required)

Disc cover and box design

Payment of the remaining amount

Transfer of the finished material to the client

The cost of one hour of shooting is 1200 rubles, regardless of the location. When shooting in a studio, production costs are borne by the use of the premises (rent) and the use of interior items (depreciation). When shooting on location - the cost of travel, food, etc.

4. SALES AND MARKETING

Target audience of project services:

Educational content refers to publications on such topics as: “how to set up a professional camera correctly”, “how to set the light”, “how to process a photo”, etc.

Today in Samara there are 3 professional interior photo studios (direct key competitors), 4 studios at advertising agencies (indirect competitors) and about 10 semi-professional studios that are not, in fact, competitors of the project, since the quality of shooting and photo processing is significantly lower. lower level at a comparable price.

Ready-made ideas for your business

Prices of direct competitors range from 900 to 1300 rubles per hour of shooting. At the same time, competitors do not conduct an active marketing policy, focusing solely on customer recommendations.

Demand is highly seasonal. Peaks fall on New Year and Christmas, the beginning of the school year, as well as the wedding season - summer-autumn. The seasonality of demand is reflected in the production plan and the financial plan.

5. PRODUCTION PLAN

The photo studio is located in a rented premises on the territory of a former factory at a small distance from the city center - no more than 10 minutes by public transport. All communications are available. There is also car parking next to the building. The premises require cosmetic repairs, which is reflected in the investment costs (Table 2).

High-quality lighting equipment and cameras are acquired as property. Suppliers - large specialized retail chains providing initial training and warranty services. In addition, high-performance computer equipment and specialized software for photo processing are purchased.

Interior items are purchased in local furniture retail chains, building materials stores; some specific items are made to order from local carpenters. To give a unique look, all interior items are designed by one of the leading interior designers in Samara.

The rented premises provide an isolated room for storage of unused equipment and seasonal interior items. A room has also been allocated to accommodate the designer and the leader (initiator) of the project.

6. ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN

The project implementation process can be divided into two main parts: preparatory and working. At the preparation stage, the premises are redecorated, equipment is purchased, the premises are decorated and equipped, employees are hired, and an initial advertising campaign is carried out. The duration of the preparatory stage is 3 weeks. The working stage involves the implementation of operational activities.

IP was chosen as the legal form of business. The taxation system (based on a comparison of several options) is the simplified tax system with the object of taxation "income minus expenses" (rate 15%).

The project initiator performs the functions of a project manager, as well as a number of related functions: a marketer, an analyst, and a sales specialist. To do this, he has the necessary experience: work in sales - 5 years, work in the service sector - 3 years, business experience - 2 years. In addition, the initiator of the project has the skills of graphic design (photo processing).

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The most important members of the project team are the photographers. Candidates for this position are subject to special requirements: the presence of a high-quality portfolio, work experience in a similar position for at least 3 years, the presence of artistic taste.

Accounting services are outsourced.

Table 3. Staffing and payroll

	Job title	Salary, rub.	Quantity, pers.	FOT, rub.
Administrative
	Accountant
Industrial
	Photographer
	Designer

	Total:				RUB 74,500.00
	Social Security contributions:				$22,350.00
	Total with deductions:				$96,850.00

7. FINANCIAL PLAN

The financial plan is designed for a five-year period. After this period, the project initiator will decide whether to continue or terminate its implementation based on an analysis of the market and economic conditions. The most likely scenario for today is further expansion of the business.

The financial plan takes into account all types of costs: investment and current. Operating costs are classified as fixed and variable. The volume of investment costs is 748,000 rubles (Table 2). The main item of expenditure is the purchase of equipment for photography. In addition, part of the funds is directed to the launch advertising campaign: promotion in social networks and contextual advertising in search engines. Own funds of the project initiator - 500,000 rubles, the deficit is planned to be covered with a bank loan. The loan repayment period is 24 months, the rate is 18% per annum, credit holidays are 3 months. Payment is made by annuity payments - 16,444 rubles per month.

Since it is rather problematic to accurately and unambiguously determine the amount of variable costs for the project, and the remuneration of personnel is made on a time basis, all costs are classified as fixed (Table 4). Fixed costs also take into account the depreciation of fixed assets and intangible assets. The useful life corresponds to the financial planning horizon and is 5 years. Depreciation charges are calculated using the straight-line method.

Table 4. Fixed costs

A detailed financial plan is given in App. 1.

8. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the project and its investment attractiveness is carried out on the basis of the analysis of the financial plan, cash flow, simple and integral performance indicators (Table 1).

Investment costs for the project are relatively low - 748,00 rubles. At the same time, the revenue of the first year of the project implementation is 5.9 million rubles, and the net profit (after taxation) is 2.6 million rubles. Revenue for subsequent years (annually) - 6.7 million rubles, net profit - 3.2 million rubles.

The discounted cash flow method is used to account for the time value of money. The discount rate is 12%, since the product is not innovative, it is known to the market and the consumer. The project risks are low, the acquired assets have high liquidity.

Simple and discounted payback period - 6 months. Net present value (NPV) - 980,851 rubles. Return on investment ratio (ARR) - 36%. Internal rate of return (IRR) – 22%. Profitability index (PI) - 1.31. All these indicators speak about the effectiveness and investment attractiveness of the project. Its profitability is relatively low, however, given the low investment costs, short payback period, self-employment of the project initiator and the availability of financial stability and guarantees for the return of borrowed funds, the project is really promising.

9. WARRANTIES AND RISKS

All risks associated with the implementation of the project can be divided into two main categories: internal and external. The main internal factor.

With the development and spread of technology, it would seem that photography services should have become a thing of the past. Now almost everyone has their own device for photo and video shooting, photo printing devices are available. In the wake of cheaper technology, a new genre of photography was even born - selfie. However, as practice shows, the services of a photo studio are still relevant.

And since services continue to be in demand, it makes sense to take a closer look at them, to calculate the possibilities of doing business.

To do this, you can take as a basis a ready-made business plan for opening a photo studio and make the necessary adjustments to it for a specific purpose. Or entrust its development to professionals.

Generally speaking, a business plan is needed for 2 purposes:

To understand the general course of things. In this case, there are no special requirements for the plan;
To receive investments, loans, or attract partners. In this case, it is desirable to execute the business plan in accordance with the recommended standards.

The description below can serve as a model for writing a well-developed business plan.

Download a ready-made photo studio business plan, current for 2019, you can from our trusted partners "Biplane". Download link.

The difference between a photo studio and amateur photography

The photo studio provides a range of services:

Services of a professional photographer. Use of quality equipment. Field shooting in the studio and on location. Portfolio filled with professional photos. Artistic photography. Post-processing of images.
instant photo. And don't forget the well-established market for instant ID photos.
Printing and processing of the provided photographic material. Both printing of the client's own photos, and their various processing, including the possibility of posting on various resources.
Provision of studio and equipment for rent. Another direction, which is not yet sufficiently represented on the market, is the provision of professional equipment and studios for use.
Conducting training seminars, master classes. Photography, image processing, artistic photography, etc.
Additional services. Here you can offer services in preparation for a photo shoot: make-up artist, hairdresser.

In the amateur version, the quality of the obtained images is in most cases worse, and significant time spent on refining the images does not always lead to the desired results.

Market analysis

At the first stage, a market analysis must be included in the business plan for creating a photo studio.

We need to get an answer: how much the service is in demand, who will use it, the saturation of offers. Market analysis is carried out in several sections:

potential clients;
competition;
location.

Clients, depending on the planned implementation of the photo studio, can be:

companies ordering photo services to promote their products, or for technical support of events;
models for portfolio filling;
individuals to obtain quality photographs or other services.

Competition in the photography market is not uniform. First of all, by territory. The greatest competition is traditionally in Moscow, St. Petersburg and in major regional centers. In small towns, competition is much lower, but the demand for services is low, and some professional photography services may not be in demand at all.

The heterogeneity of the market also lies in the fact that the elite segments of the photo services market are quite densely occupied by a relatively small number of large players. The rest of the market is less saturated, especially with the growing demand for these services of enterprises, lovers of high-quality photos, etc.

Some consultants are inclined to believe that the placement of a photo studio near the center plays a significant role. But the Internet and advertising have largely leveled this significance. If a photo studio produces a quality product, then potential customers can ride a few extra kilometers for its services. And for outdoor photography, the location of the studio does not matter at all.

However, a studio located in a busy area is bound to be more in demand than a studio located on the outskirts of the city. This is especially true for the initial stage of work.

What you need to open a photo studio, costs

To draw up a business plan for a photo studio, it is necessary to calculate investments. Of course, at this stage, an approximate calculation of costs is made.

First you need to choose a place. For a full-fledged photo studio, you need a room of more than 60 square meters. meters, ceiling height not lower than 3 meters (this is required to accommodate spotlights). The range of prices here is quite large. You can buy a room or rent. The price largely depends on the location. Additionally, targeted re-equipment will be required if the premises were not previously specialized.

A minimum set of apparatus and equipment is required:

At the initial stage, you can not spend money on employees, provided that you yourself shoot. But if you are not a photographer, it is advisable to hire a professional. The profit will directly depend on the professional qualities of the photographer. Other staff is less important: administrator, technicians.

In some cases, it is advisable to conduct a full-fledged advertising campaign: street advertising, advertising in networks, on television, etc.

On average we get

From an organizational point of view, opening a photo studio is not difficult. It is enough to register as an individual entrepreneur. Licensing of activity is not required. If you plan to work with large clients, then IP is not always convenient, in such cases it is better to register an LLC, licensing is also not required.

Profit and payback

At the beginning of the work of the photo studio, you should not expect a large influx of customers. Even with a well-thought-out marketing policy, a tangible response from an advertising company can be from a month to two. Without an advertising company, the first time the flow of customers will be small. Therefore, if there are hired personnel, it makes sense to first draw up part-time or piecework contracts.

The average prices for photo studio services in Moscow are as follows:

1 hour of photography - 1,000 - 5,000 rubles.
wedding photo session, events - 30,000 - 50,000 rubles.

On average, we calculate approximately 2,000 rubles per hour.

Work in the first months is expected to be 2-3 hours a day, then the flow will increase. Those. about 5,000 rubles. in a day. Per month - 100,000 rubles.

As it is easy to see in the first months of work, the photo studio will bring losses. Approximately about 50,000 rubles. per month. You need to calculate your financial capabilities for a given period. With an increase in clients, within 2-3 months, the photo studio should reach the level of self-sufficiency.

Upon reaching an 8-hour workday, the monthly income will be from 200 to 400 tr.

Accordingly, profit - 50 - 100 tr. per month.

With this cash flow, the payback will be from 1 to 2 years, which is a good payback period for a business.

This article does not describe in detail how to open your own photo studio, this requires a more thorough study of the project for a specific purpose. The article provides only an indicative business plan.

With the development of digital technology, the market for photo services is expanding. Thematic photo shoots in nature and in the studio, family and individual, are becoming popular. Today, any creative person can open a photo studio and turn photography from a hobby into a business - it is enough to follow the developed plan.

Choice of business concept

For a photographer, a studio is a way to combine hobby and work, the ability to shoot regardless of weather conditions, to vary the surroundings for interior photo shoots. If you have achieved recognition as a photo artist, opening a photography studio will be a prospect for development.

When planning a business, take one of the existing concepts as a basis:

Interior photo studio. For productive work, you need to rent or purchase a room and decor items. In the absence of a stable request from clients for interior photography, the studio pays off only by leasing it to novice photographers and providing related services (stylist, hairdresser, make-up artist, and others).
Home photo studio. The possibilities of a photo lab created on the basis of an apartment are limited to portrait photography.
Photo salon. A small room with a minimum of equipment for making photographs for documents.
Children's photography room. The concept is designed for loving parents who want to capture their babies in professional pictures.

Photo gallery: types of studios

Create a list of services in accordance with the requests:

individuals (family and individual photo shoots, shooting events);
commercial companies (photos for printing on souvenirs, shooting goods for advertising catalogs, corporate events).

Additional sources of income:

cooperation with glossy magazines, shooting branded products;
photo shoots with novice models for portfolio;
artistic processing and retouching of the best shots;
services of a hairdresser and makeup artist;
instant photo;
release of souvenir products;
master classes and lectures on image processing;
hourly studio rental during downtime.

Souvenir products with a photo - an additional way to earn

At the beginning of your creative journey, form a set of additional services in accordance with the budget. Choose ideas that do not require huge costs and specific equipment.

Benefits and Risks

The cost of photo studio services varies from 3,000 to 10,000 rubles per hour, and additional costs are minimal. The profitability of a business is high if possible risks are prevented:

increased competition;
seasonality of demand (probable downtime);
low liquidity (impossibility to sell the studio in case of collapse).

In a competitive environment, do not overcharge for services. Look for an individual approach to customers - develop a discount system for regular customers, come up with bonus student programs. To minimize risks, provide professional services, collect and offer portfolios to clients. During downtime, host contests for free photo shoots and distribute gift certificates. Hire a team of qualified employees who can work in your absence, ensuring the stability of the company.

Step-by-step instructions for opening a photo studio from scratch

To open a photo studio from scratch, a novice entrepreneur needs to go through five stages:

Business registration.
Room selection.
Purchase of equipment.
Studio decor.
Personnel selection.

Business Registration Documents

You can register the activities of a photo studio in the form of a limited liability company (LLC) or an individual enterprise (IP). The advantages of an LLC are the possibility of expanding, creating a network of branches and attracting financing from external sources. The positive aspects of IP are a simplified registration process, no need to keep accounting records, the ability to spend the proceeds at your discretion.

Documents for registration of IP:

notarized application form No. Р21001;
certified copy of the passport (all pages);
receipt of payment of the state fee in the amount of 800 rubles.

By default, when registering an individual entrepreneur, a general taxation system (OSNO) is established. If you have chosen another type (simplified system or single tax on imputed income), file an application to change the tax system (notification form 26.2-1).

Documents for registration of LLC:

application form No. P11001 certified by a notary;
articles of association;
the minutes of the meeting or the sole decision of the founder on the establishment of the company;
certified copies of the identity cards of the founders;
receipt of payment of state duty 4000 rubles;
if necessary, an application for a change in the taxation system (notification 26.2-1).

The minimum authorized capital of a limited liability company is 10,000 rubles.

When registering a company, select the types of planned economic activity in accordance with the OKVED classifier. Possible options for a photo studio:

photography activities (74.81);
printing activities not included in other groups (22.22);
other publishing activities (22.15).

After sending the documents to the registration authority, proceed to the choice of premises.

Studio location and space requirements

The success of a photo studio depends on its location. When choosing a room for a future studio, analyze the factors:

remoteness from competing companies;
convenience of accommodation for clients, remoteness from public transport stops, availability of parking spaces;
the possibility of installing outdoor advertising structures near the building.

The minimum height of the room for the installation of lighting equipment and the podium is 3 m, the optimal one is 3.7 m. The width of the pavilion for shooting is from 5 m, it is necessary to place a paper background. The length is calculated as the width multiplied by two.

The gray background reflects the light evenly and softly without interfering with shooting

In addition to the stylized pavilion, the studio should have:

screen;
dressing room;
shower cabin;
foyer with reception desk;
technical room equipped for printing photos and providing related services.

If funds are available, additionally equip a relaxation room with a tea table and a vending machine with drinks.

Photo shoot equipment

Having chosen a room, proceed to the technical equipment of the studio. Install four or five light sources and attach softboxes to them. Additionally, purchase:

reflective umbrellas;
classic hard light reflectors;
racks for light sources;
portrait dish;
herons and holders;
flashmeter for measuring exposure;
nozzles in the form of curtains and honeycombs;
paper backgrounds with mount;
flash synchronizers;
interior items, props;
mirror and steamer in the dressing room;
computer and photo retouching software.

Photo gallery: equipment and props

If necessary, buy a SLR camera and a set of lenses. When choosing a camera, contact manufacturers specializing in the manufacture of photographic equipment - Canon and Nikon. Do not read advice on the forums - be guided by the technical parameters of the device and your own needs. List of important features of a professional camera:

matrix size;
matrix resolution - from 13 MP;
ISO matrix sensitivity - from 10 to 25,000;
the ability to manually change settings;
dimensions and weight.

Studio decoration

When designing a studio, consider the general requirements for the premises for filming. Paint the walls and ceiling in neutral gray, and lay hard-wearing matte linoleum of the same shade on the floor. If the studio has a window, install a curtain rod over it and hang blackout curtains.

Equip the pavilion with ventilation and air conditioning systems, consider the location of outlets that is convenient for moving equipment. There are three options for the design of the studio:

a simple gray room without decorations;
hall with colored backgrounds;
themed room.

Using the last design option, do not forget to change the scenery depending on the time of year. In winter, set up a Christmas tree, lay a fluffy carpet on the floor and scatter artificial snow. In summer, decorate the room with flowers or style according to the beach theme.

Studio decoration for the new year

In light pastel colors, design an area for shooting children and couples in love - it will be popular with studio tenants and clients, increasing the profitability of the business.

Recruitment

The photographer is the main "weapon" of the photo studio. If you have realized as a photo artist and plan to work independently, do not hire employees at first. Having successfully worked for two or three months and received the first income, invite an administrator to maintain a client base and a cleaner.

If you are opening a photo studio as a business, not doing photography, pay attention to the selection of a photographer. At first, it will be he who will form the image of the studio.

Having formed a client base and promoted the studio, hire specialists on a contractual basis to provide additional services:

make-up artist for applying makeup;
hairdresser to work on hairstyles;
stylist to create an image;
seller for the sale of related products.

The make-up artist forms the image of the model

A photographer, make-up artist and stylist can not only provide services directly, but also conduct master classes for beginners in shaping the image of a model, correct lighting or image processing.

Promotion and advertising of photo studio services

To attract customers, advertise the studio's services on available resources. Create a website or social media group and upload a portfolio of your best work. Think about how much your services will cost, place the price list in the public domain.

Sign contracts for the maintenance of large corporations - they will invite you to shoot their own events. Other advertising opportunities:

discount system;
Gift certificates;
promotions and sweepstakes;
installation of banners near the studio;
advertising on television and radio.

To form and maintain the image of the studio, participate in creative exhibitions of professionals.

Financial plan - expenses and projected income

When opening a photo studio, plan for one-time and monthly expenses and try to predict income. Approximate calculations are summarized in tables.

Table: calculation of initial investment

Table: monthly expenses

The average cost of a photographer's services is 1,000 rubles per hour. The average daily employment is 3–4 hours. The rest of the time the studio is rented out at a price of 900 rubles per hour on weekdays and 1200 rubles per hour on weekends. The average daily employment is 3 hours.

Table: projected monthly income

Is it profitable to open a photo studio: reviews of entrepreneurs

At first, you will work at a loss to yourself. But if you manage to develop the project and develop a customer base, ensuring the full loading of the premises, the photo studio will begin to make a profit. This is confirmed by the feedback from entrepreneurs from business forums.

A successful photo studio should have a “chip”. It should not be just a room where you can take pictures, but a stylized salon with a thoughtful interior design and interesting photo zones. Creating a creative space requires financial costs.

Alexandrof

I have been following photography business trends since 2011. There are more than 40 studios of various types in St. Petersburg, and 1-2 of them close or change direction every year. A studio is a good option for the established photographer who wants to save income during the winter months. If it is possible to attract 20-30 customers per month and rent out the premises, the studio will pay for itself.

http://www.biznet.ru/topic188946.html

In the work of a photo studio, a range of services can lead to success: photo for documents + on-site shooting + photo processing + sale of souvenirs. In other cases, it will be difficult to earn bread and butter.

http://www.penta-club.ru/forum/topic/87654-want-to-open-a-photo-studio-in-small-siberian/

Video: how to open your own photo studio

The business plan contains approximate figures that you can adjust depending on the region, your own needs and the request of the target audience. Before you open a photography studio, calculate your own business plan based on the proposed one and act in accordance with it.

Today, in the digital age, the world is experiencing a photography boom. However, there are few truly professional photographers, and photography is gradually changing its status: from a hobby, it is becoming a rather profitable business.

An increasing number of people get aesthetic pleasure from contemplating photographs of various genres: from ordinary portraits to postmodern landscapes. And if amateur photographers are quite able to capture a family picnic or a foreign tour themselves, then it is preferable to entrust the shooting of solemn events or artistic portraits to professionals. Let's try to prove by calculations the profitability and great prospects of the business in question.

The specifics of the photo business

The main features that distinguish a photo studio as a business project from others are low competition and, at the same time, the demand for its services. This is probably due to the fact that the business plan of the photo studio involves the provision by the company not only of professional shooting services for various events, but also the creation of a portfolio and advertising photographs, as well as the leasing of the studio itself and equipment. Some entrepreneurs along the way are engaged in making photos for documents, as well as printing photos from media and selling related products (photo frames, albums, etc.).

In almost all major cities, even in Moscow, establishments that provide all these services in one place can literally be "counted on the fingers." And such a low level of competition is by no means due to a lack of demand, but due to the fact that today it is difficult to assemble a truly highly professional team of photographers and photo designers. In addition, the initial investment in the case under consideration exceeds 2 million rubles, which is also a deterrent.

At the same time, with a well-designed business plan and the correct distribution of start-up capital, the profitability of the project will be 75-77% monthly. Let's try to prove it.

Overview of the costs of opening a photography studio

The first and most important item for evaluating profitability is the lease of the premises and the need to spend on its repair. It is important not to miscalculate here. The fact is that more than half of the trips to the photo studio, according to experts, are spontaneous. Accordingly, the premises of the photo salon are especially in dire need of being “discovered”, noticed. And this can happen, for example, when the studio is located next to the flower department in a hypermarket or in a separate building in a completely “random” neighborhood with a travel store. The problem is that you need to feel that very advantageous location, which may not be on the busiest street.

Next is the determination of the salary for the team, which will not have to be recruited quickly and, possibly, on the recommendations of good friends. An administrator, two professional photographers, a designer, an operator technician - these are the people who will make a name for your photo studio. Therefore, they should not only perfectly master their business, but also receive decent piecework wages.

When starting a photography business, you should remember that you may not have clients for a whole day, especially at first.

But this is not a reason to reduce the wages agreed with the hired workers. It is wiser to take on the difficulties of this period, and only then the team of masters, well-known in the city, will bring profit to you.

Up to a million rubles can cost professional equipment, scenery and accessories. Moreover, this includes not only cameras, lenses and tripods, but also special lighting devices, as well as equipment for the dressing room and installations for photo shoots. High-quality consumables are also expensive: up to 20 thousand rubles.

As for the direct "shooting tools" there are two fundamental points. First. Photo business experts believe that it is not worth buying a lot of expensive professional cameras at once, since a cool photographer will most likely come with his own camera, which he is used to and knows like the back of his hand.

The second noteworthy statement concerns the fact that more complex and expensive equipment should be purchased as you get involved in the business, the number and complexity of orders increase. So one of the principles of "lean production" will be observed, according to which the tool that required large purchase costs will not be idle.

Finally, advertising and administration costs, including the creation and maintenance of a good selling site. The key to a good profitability of a photo studio is a comprehensive and accessible portfolio for many to see, which is most convenient to place on the site. As for the position of administrator, it should be occupied by a creative person, able to advise the client something, to interest him in acquiring a particular service.

In general, the costs of organizing a photo studio and the costs of maintaining its performance during the first three months are presented in the table:

Cost item	Nature of expenses	Amount, in rubles
Room rental + utilities	monthly	50000
Designer renovation	lump sum	100000
Administrative expenses (opening an individual entrepreneur, permits)	lump sum	10000
Basic equipment (photographic equipment, lenses, tripods, apparatus for processing and printing photos, etc.)	lump sum	750000
Auxiliary equipment (lighting, scenery, photography backdrop, etc.)	lump sum	150000
Furniture, equipment of personnel workplaces	lump sum	100000
Consumables	monthly	12000
Advertising, including the creation and development of the site	monthly	15000
Salary and deductions in the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the team of the photo studio	monthly	190000
Income taxes (6%)	monthly	32700

In total, it will take about 1.37 million rubles to start a business, and then every month it will be necessary to cut out about 300 thousand rubles from the profit for current expenses.

What is profit made up of?

Calculations of approximate profit during the first three months of the work of the photo studio (the period when the full load of production facilities and staff will not exceed 3-3.5 hours a day) are presented in the table. It is assumed that to generate such income, the studio works six days a week for a month.

The total income in the first three months of work will be approximately 455 thousand rubles per month. Net profit in this case will be 455-300 = 155 thousand rubles per month. Accordingly, the invested funds will fully pay off in about 11-12 months. By that time, with the right advertising campaign and a good set of circumstances, studio employees will be able to work almost at full capacity, and monthly profits can increase to 200-220 thousand rubles. In this situation, it makes sense to refuse to work with "third-party" orders and trade in paraphernalia, and then focus on more profitable income items.

Conclusion: owning a photo studio is a fairly highly profitable business, which, with the right approach to business and dedication to it, can pay off very quickly and then bring a good, stable income.

In a city of over 1,000,000 people, opening a photography studio can be a great investment. The photo studio has several significant advantages: high demand from customers, a simple threshold for entering the business, and the absence of strict requirements for the location. Below is an example of a ready-made business plan for a photo studio with calculations.

Brief Summary

Characteristics of a photo studio business plan with calculations made for the city of Samara:

Initial investment - 706,500 rubles;
Payback period - from 11 months;
Break-even point (projected) - 3-4 months.

The business plan of a photo studio involves two parallel areas of activity - renting a studio and its own staff of photographers. Although the high margin of the second direction attracts most entrepreneurs, at the initial stage it is better to concentrate on renting out premises to photographers. This will allow you to get by with one or two professional photographers on staff and avoid unnecessary staff costs.

Project description

Enterprise characteristics

In this photo studio business plan, the photo studio provides the following list of services:

Studio photography (own employees) - 1300 - 5000 rubles per 1 hour;
Studio for rent - 1000 - 2500 rubles for 2 hours.

Studio photography can have the following options:

Photographing objects;
Artistic shooting;
Photographs in the style of "Nude" (naked body);
Portrait shooting;
At the request of the client.

Some of the aforementioned services require special supplies or equipment (props, decor, macro lens, etc.) which may increase the initial cost.

Niche in the market

The target audience

This column of the photo studio business plan determines the stylistic design of the premises for conducting activities.

The target audience can be divided into the following demographic groups:

Men and women 18-36 years old. For this group, modern interior solutions in the loft style, or the style of antiquity - vintage, rustic style "country" or "shabby chic" with forged fittings, an abundance of textiles in light colors, are suitable;
Married couples 28 - 46 years. Popular styles for this category are modern, provence or classic. You will need fittings in a cozy family style, a soft sofa, possibly a fireplace (artificial), or a solid table with dishes and decor for a family dinner.

Important! Divide the work area into several "islands" with different designs - this way you can satisfy the demand of both groups of the target audience.

Competitive Analysis

In the regional market, competition in the field of professional photo services is not yet too high. At the time of writing the business plan, there are about 20 professional photo studios in Samara. Such a small number of competitors allows you to physically visit each one and evaluate its advantages / disadvantages.

Marketing strategy

The main emphasis in marketing should be on branding in order to distinguish the company from many others.

To do this, you can do the following:

Corporate style development. Creation of a logo and corporate colors of the company, POS-materials (business cards, flyers, catalog, etc.).
Creation of a personal website. In website development, emphasis should be placed on creative design. For example, users will appreciate the 3D tour of the premises and the voluminous portfolio. .
Publications. You should create information noise around the photo studio. For this, groups on social networks, print publications of Samara and thematic communities are suitable.
SMM promotion. Social networks work very well in this niche. The reason is simple: the main customers of photo studios are young girls who spend a lot of time online.

Production plan

In this case, the most convenient form of business is IP. The required OKVED codes are indicated in the "Project Characteristics" section.

If even during the first start it is planned only to rent a photo studio, add the code 74.81 “Photography activities” in advance.

Room selection

When choosing a room, it should be borne in mind that in a photo studio, in addition to the photo zones themselves, there must be:

dressing room
wardrobe or space for clients' personal belongings
bathroom
administrator workplace.

You can reduce your initial rental costs by choosing a building in an industrial area. The only requirement is the proximity of public transport and the possibility of parking a private car. The ideal option would be studio rooms with high ceilings.

The cost of arranging the premises:
Ordering a room design - from 28,000 rubles;
Repair and building materials - from 90,000 rubles;
Decorations and props - from 100,000 rubles (bought second-hand).

The total amount will be within 218,000 rubles.

Minimum set of equipment:
Lighting equipment;
Octobox;
Monochromatic paper backgrounds;
Background mounts;
Light reflector;
Portrait plate;
Smoke generator;
Fan;
Sound equipment;
Cooler with water.

organizational plan

The staff will consist of the following categories:

Administrators - employees responsible for the functioning of the photo studio. In their competence - domestic setup of the equipment of the organization, processing of clients, receipt of payment. A minimum of two people is required. Work schedule: from 9:00 to 19:00 seven days a week, shift 2/2. Receives a fixed payment of 18,000 rubles and a bonus of up to 2,000 rubles.
Photographers are employees who are paid according to the fact of their work. The number can be any, depending on the possibilities of the premises of the photo studio. Be sure to have your own equipment for work (camera and laptop). Work schedule: from 10:00-19:00 seven days a week (conditionally free schedule, does not require hiring), 2/2 shift. Payment of interest on each transaction (30% from photography in the studio and 45% from outdoors).
Manager - an employee (often the owner) who makes management decisions. He is engaged in marketing of the company, the financial part and is responsible for the implementation of the planned plans for the development of the company. Payment and work schedule are negotiated individually.
Technical staff for repairs and cleaning of the premises

Financial plan

The photo studio business plan requires an initial investment of 706,500 rubles. Most of this amount will be allocated for the repair and improvement of the photo studio premises. To purchase equipment, you need to allocate from 100,000 rubles.

I Initial investment in the project
Item of expenses	Cost, rub.)
1. Registration of an enterprise
Registration in state bodies and tax. Opening a bank account	2 000
2. Marketing
Website development	120 000
Creation of design and production of POS-materials	3 000
Internet Marketing	30 000
3. Room preparation
Room design	28 000
Repair and building materials	90 000
Decorations and props	100 000
Furniture	40 000
4. Equipment
The entire list of required equipment	108 500
5. Operating expenses
Premises for rent	30 000
Depreciation	6 500
Income tax	0
Marketing	15 000
Individual entrepreneur contributions to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (quarterly)	7 000
FSS contributions (monthly)	500
FOT	94 000
	17 000
	15 000
TOTAL	706 500

Cashflow companies

Name	1m	2 m	3m	4 m	5 m	6 m
Photo studio rental per month (in hours)	72	74	80	90	100	100
Average rent check	1350	1350	1350	1350	1350	1350
Number of photo shoots per month (in hours)	20	30	40	50	50	60
Average bill of an hour of work	2500	2500	2500	2500	2500	2500
Income per project	147200	174900	208000	246500	260000	285000
General income	161920	192390	228800	271150	286000	313500
General expenses	194715	201543	215728	237269	231160	244810
Premises for rent	30000	30000	30000	30000	30000	30000
Utility payments, communications and the Internet	17000	17000	17000	17000	17000	17000
FOT (salary and percentage of the order)	94000	106000	118000	130000	130000	142000
taxes	9715	11543	13728	16269	17160	18810
Contributions to the FSS	500	500	500	500	500	500
Contributions to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation and the MHIF	7000	0	0	7000	0	0
Marketing	15000	15000	15000	15000	15000	15000
Miscellaneous and contingencies	15000	15000	15000	15000	15000	15000
Depreciation	6500	6500	6500	6500	6500	6500
Net income + taxes + depreciation (EBITDA)	-16580	8890	33300	56650	78500	94000
Net income + taxes (EBIT)	-23080	2390	26800	50150	72000	87500
Net profit	-32795	-9153	13072	33881	54840	68690
Increased cash flow	-739295	-748448	-735376	-701495	-646655	-577965

The project reaches the break-even point in the third month of operation. The payback period of the project is 10 - 11 months.

Risk management

The danger for such a business is the negative reputation of the brand, due to the unprofessionalism of employees. The risk can be reduced by hiring only qualified photographers on staff and dealing with negative reviews in the media and social networks.

	NAME	AMOUNT, rub.
Real estate
	Cosmetic repair of the premises
Equipment
	Professional camera
	Lighting equipment
	Interior details
Intangible assets


working capital
	working capital

	Total:	748 000 ₽
	Own funds:	RUB 500,000.00
	Required borrowings:	248 000 ₽
	Bid:	18,00%
	Term, months: