TLC,

Most small businesses fail early on, not because the owner doesn't know how to perform the skills needed, but the costs of living out pace the new business income & costs. That's why the ones that succeed mostly start our as a "second job"--think Apple, HP, & Microsoft! Assuming you start out you go full time, and this is a very optimistic assumption, that after you get ready to promote the business, you spend only 1/2 your time selling/soliciting business and the rest "producing product" that leaves +/- 1040 hours of billing time, less "compliance time (ie paperwork for the governments) per year; at $25.00/hr that's at most $26,000/year before taxes, fees and other cash outflows including health insurance . Can you live on that in FL? I doubt it, and it assumes you are going to work at home and not have to pay rent. Remember too that you should be paid for your time as well as the direct and indirect costs; I suspect you are seriously underpricing your labor value. If you decide to start this business, keep your day job and work a few hours in the evenings & weekends.

Next, and I'm trying to be honest not negative, but I suspect your customer base will not include "professional photographers"; there is a reason they don't farm out their PP, and it's not time or cost, but the fact that their name goes on the pictures/albums and their reputation, ie. future business rides on it; they want to control the presentation. Magazine publishers already have their photographic departments set up or have long standing relationships with someone who does the work for them. You would have to provide a much better reason than a bit lower cost to get them to switch; they have too much riding on the returned product.

Where I think there may be a good market is for restoring/repairing/copying old Family prints. Unless they are a semi-serious amateur or pro photographer, most people don't know anything about PP nor have the inclination or time to learn it just to recover a few old prints, and most all of us have boxes of old prints often going back several generations. Having someone who could do the work for a not outlandish price, may have some real attraction, especially down in FL where you have a huge senior population. Perhaps offer a package price: six recovered 5x7 prints for $100.00 with additional 5x7 copies @ $3.00 each (8x10's @ __?__)? That might have some real attraction and provide some extra income as a part time business (I didn't say under the table) and spread the word about your prowess and ability--us old timers like to talk! If it really takes off, you could expand beyond the local area to the point where you may be able to leave the day job, and may be able to get some teaching work at local schools as an Adult Education instructor.

Good Luck.

Well there are certainly a number of things to consider:

1) how much demand would there be (keeping in mind that the competition will be, as mentioned, everyone from Chinese outsourcers to post production departments of pro labs)

2) How much would customers be willing to pay - and would you give a quote before working on the image? If you assess it to be 3 hours worth, will the customer be willing to fork over $75? If it actually takes you 4 hours, will you eat the difference?

3) Jim and Sharpshooter make good points about most folks looking for this kind of work probably expecting high end prints as a result (otherwise what's the value - viewing on a computer screen makes for a lot of slop)

Perhaps approaching the Pro market with a book of your work and even taking on a couple of jobs gratis to prove your mettle would be the best approach - certainly if you are accepted in their world your reputation will build up and folks from elsewhere will be willing to give you a try.

In any event, you need to write a business plan if you're serious, and in that plan take into account your most realistic (not most optimistic) expectations as to how many hours a week you will need to bill out in order to maintain your lifestyle, and hat that would translate to in terms of work. Next is ascertaining if you need to upgrade your computer gear - calibration monitor? Drobo drive? more RAM? Then it's on to a marketing scheme - how to get the word out - again, offering (initially free) services to local pros might be a way to go. And if they are pleased with your work, then you can start thinking of doing it full time.

In other words, think about all the aspects. If you start an LLC, will you need a lawyer to create whatever forms (like NDAs) you might need? Don't forget about having to pay taxes on your income (as suing you breach that threshold, which of course you hope to do). But then again perhaps you could deduct the room in your home at tax time as it would be for business - unless you plan to open a storefront (and if so then add that cost into your calculations).

Just some things to ponder...

OK, OK, I've read the OP's post, and I've read the responses. Yes, I do think the OP is going to be charging a higher rate than many similar businesses. BUT I think TLC has a lot of advantages in the market place, including a background in CAD drafting, 3D modeling & photogrammetry. These are not the kinds of skills a hobbyist can generally claim. Even if they are listed just interests, being able to "talk the talk" is important in drawing clients. As a local, the OP probably has a fair number of contacts who can provide that ever-so-important mouth-to-mouthing advertising.

But what I believe can make TLC a success is that all important phrase, "complete satisfaction guarantee" and developing a business where that is a major objective. "Go to TLC; that is a business that gives a new meaning to customer satisfaction!" In this world of BS promises, if the OP can build a business based on that reputation and can bach it up with testimonials, the business has a large lead right out of the gate. Best of luck!

I hate to rain on a parade but I get a number of solicitations on line to outsource PP work to China. Their pricing appears to be under a $25/hour rate. I prefer to do my own PP so haven't had need to use their services.

Right now those emails go into my spam folder which I emptied (permanently deleted) a few days ago. The next one I get I'll send the URL to you so you can see what you are competing against.

Good luck!

I just Googled "Photoshop Services" and the top result was "Photoshop Experts $10/HR+-...." Hmmmm :-(

Here's one: http://www.retouching.info/

My gut says to me that this might be a very tough go, regardless of your talent. I think most people who seek out a professional level of post processing are doing so with the idea that they will end up with a top quality print. As such, I would expect that they would seek out print labs that offer custom PP synced to their printers as part of their service. I think few people will look for, or use a service that requires they go to a second business to get the print made.

I'm thinking your best bet will be to subcontract from the smaller labs you speak of.