Starting a sticker business can be exciting, but finding the right tools, especially a reliable and cost-effective printer, is crucial. If you’re on a budget and looking for the best printer to create high-quality stickers for your shop, you’re in the right place. I’m going to share my personal experiences with different printers and explain why the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 stands out as the top choice, especially when considering your return on investment and long-term savings.
My Personal Printer Journey: From Frustration to Finding the Best
Over the years, my experience with printers has been, to put it mildly, challenging. I’ve gone through numerous printers that seemed to give up on me prematurely. So, when I recommend a printer, know that it comes from a place of having tested and, frankly, “killed” quite a few in my pursuit of the perfect one for sticker making. Let’s dive into the printers I’ve used for my sticker business and why I landed on the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 as the winner.
Brother MFCJ497DW: Great Quality, But Costly and Slow
When I first launched my sticker shop, I opted for the Brother® International Compact MFC-J497DW Wireless Color Inkjet All-In-One Printer. Initially, I was thrilled with the print quality. It produced stickers that were genuinely some of the best I had seen, comparable to high-quality stickers from other shops.
Brother MFCJ497DW printer producing high quality stickers
However, the honeymoon phase didn’t last long due to some significant drawbacks:
- Ink Consumption: This printer was an ink guzzler, particularly when it came to yellow ink. My monthly ink cartridge expenses ranged from $30 to $50, even when my sticker production was still relatively low.
- Printing Speed: Despite the advertised color print speed of up to 3 pages per minute, it felt incredibly slow in real-world use.
- Durability for Business Needs: It became clear that this model was better suited for occasional home use, not for the demands of a growing sticker business with consistent printing needs.
Eventually, my Brother printer started having trouble feeding sticker paper, signaling the end of its life. I considered buying the same model again, hoping to avoid the hassle of switching to a new printer. Unfortunately, the replacement I received was a refurbished unit with the same paper feeding issue. It was time to explore other options.
Canon PIXMA G6020 All-in-One Supertank: Good, But Not for Matte Vinyl
The Canon PIXMA G6020 All-in-One Supertank came highly recommended by other sticker creators, and I was eager to try it. It’s not a bad printer by any means, but it wasn’t the ideal match for my preferred materials.
If you primarily use glossy printable vinyl, the Canon PIXMA G6020 might be a good option. However, like me, if you prefer matte printable vinyl and cardstock (AIVA Matte Printable Vinyl is my go-to), there are better alternatives.
- Print Quality Issues: Compared to the Brother printer, the print quality on the Canon felt grainy. Despite thorough setup and driver updates, the crispness I desired was missing.
- Compromise on Quality: I felt like I was trading print quality for the promise of cheaper ink.
- Color Vibrancy: I could achieve acceptable color vibrancy and saturation, close to the Brother, but the lack of print clarity remained a concern.
- Glossy Paper Performance: It performed better with glossy paper, but it left “pizza cutter marks” due to its paper feeding mechanism, which was undesirable.
Regrettably, I had to return the Canon PIXMA G6020. I was falling behind on orders and urgently needed a reliable printer.
Epson EcoTank ET2800: My Top Pick for Sticker Making
In a final attempt to find a solution, I decided to try the Epson EcoTank ET2800. I was hesitant after the Canon experience, but I was pleasantly surprised.
- Print Quality: The print quality of the Epson ET2800 is excellent, comparable to the Brother printer I initially loved. It met and even exceeded my expectations.
- Ink Efficiency and Cost: The ink efficiency is remarkable. My ink costs plummeted from $30-50 per month with the Brother to just about $60 per year with the Epson EcoTank. Yes, you read that right – per year!
- Vibrant Prints: With the correct settings, the prints are beautifully vibrant and perfect for stickers that pop.
- Minor Magenta Issue: My specific printer tends to print slightly magenta-heavy. However, this is easily corrected by adjusting the color settings slider to reduce magenta when needed.
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 printer with ink tanks showing ink levels
In January 2023, I invested $203 in the Epson ET2800, plus an additional $50 for a 4-year warranty (given my printer history!). If you find it for less, it’s an even better deal.
Why the Epson ET2800 is a Smart Investment for Your Sticker Business
I know the initial cost of the Epson ET2800 might seem significant, especially when you’re also investing in other sticker-making supplies. But, let’s break down the numbers to show you why this printer is a truly worthwhile investment for your sticker business.
To illustrate the cost-effectiveness, let’s look at my average production costs per sticker sheet:
- AIVA Matte Printable Vinyl: $0.56 per sheet
- Oracle 215 Glossy Laminate: $0.32 per sheet
- Total Material Cost: $0.88 per sheet
Rounding up to $0.90 per sheet to account for ink and simplify calculations, let’s consider the profitability of a standard 2×3 inch sticker:
- $0.10 Production Cost (average per 2×3″ sticker)
- $0.48 Packaging Materials (Envelope, Thank You Card, Backer, Cellophane Bag, Logo Sticker)
- $0.63 Domestic Shipping (Etsy’s calculated price)
- $0.20 Etsy Listing Fee (per sale and relisting)
- $0.26 Etsy Transaction Fee (on product sale)
- $0.06 Etsy Transaction Fee (on shipping)
- $0.40 Etsy Processing Fee
Total Cost per Sticker Order: $2.13
Now, let’s look at the revenue from a single sticker order without discounts:
- $4.00 Sticker Price
- $0.85 Shipping*
Total Revenue per Sticker Order: $4.85 (excluding taxes handled by Etsy)
Profit per Sticker Order: $2.72, which is approximately a 56.27% profit margin.
As detailed in my blog post about using Etsy promo codes to boost sales, multi-sticker orders yield even higher profit margins.
Quick Payback Period
Let’s assume you purchase the Epson ET2800 for $225 (an estimated average). Based on my cost analysis and profit per sticker, you would only need to sell around 83 stickers to completely recoup the printer’s cost. For a sticker business, that’s a very achievable number!
Even when I started selling stickers at just $3.00 each in my initial months, the Epson ET2800 would have almost paid for itself very quickly.
Remember those hefty monthly ink cartridge costs with the Brother printer? Imagine eliminating that expense. The savings alone make the Epson EcoTank ET2800 a smart financial decision, allowing for faster business growth and better income for you.
Inexpensive Ink: A Game Changer
Since switching to the Epson ET2800 on January 3, 2023, through October 14, 2023, I printed over 500 full-color, high-quality prints without needing to refill the initial ink that came with the printer! Replacing all four colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) with genuine Epson ink costs around $60.
This means the effective cost of the printer, after factoring in the included ink, is closer to $165. This is an incredible value, considering the long-term use and savings for your sticker business.
My recent ink purchase on October 14th was primarily for black ink, as it was running low. The color inks were still considerably full. I opted to buy the full set for convenience, but I could have just purchased the black ink for around $15.
Considering I was spending an average of $40 per month on ink for the Brother printer, totaling $480 annually, the ink savings with the Epson EcoTank are substantial. That’s enough to buy multiple new printers each year! The math clearly favors the Epson EcoTank ET2800.
Always use genuine Epson brand ink to maintain your printer warranty and ensure optimal performance. Purchasing directly from Epson or authorized retailers is recommended to guarantee authenticity and best pricing.
Ideal Rear Feed for Sticker Paper
An often-overlooked feature in printer discussions, but crucial for sticker making, is having a rear paper feed. Printers with bottom paper cassettes are prone to paper jams, especially with thicker sticker paper. Even some Epson models with bottom trays can have this issue.
The Epson EcoTank ET2800 handles printable vinyl exceptionally well thanks to its rear feed. There are even specialized matte printable vinyl options like Buttercrafts matte printable vinyl, designed to be anti-jam with Epson printers, which I’ve found to work very well.
Conclusion: Invest in the Epson EcoTank ET2800 for Sticker Success
The Epson ET2800 printer has truly transformed my sticker-making process. Its affordability, combined with its ability to produce beautiful stickers and drastically reduce ink costs, makes it the Best Printer For Making Stickers, particularly for those starting a sticker shop on a budget.
If you’re excited about the possibilities of the Epson ET2800 or have any questions about starting your own sticker business, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help you on your creative journey. Ask away, and let’s create some amazing stickers together!
