Shopify Options for Print Shops — Business Cards, Flyers, Brochures Setup

Print shop option matrix

Option	Typical values
Paper stock	14pt / 16pt / 100lb / 130lb / 32pt (business cards) — or Gloss / Matte / Uncoated
Finish	Matte / Gloss / Silk / Soft-touch / Foil (add-on)
Size	Standard sizes per product (business card: 3.5×2, postcard: 4×6 or 5×7, flyer: 8.5×11)

Quantity is not a variant — it's the order quantity, priced via tier structure.

Quantity-driven pricing structure

Print shop economics: setup cost is fixed; per-unit cost drops with scale. Standard business card pricing:

Quantity	Per-card cost	Total	Per-card retail	Total retail
100	$0.30	$30 cost	$0.50	$50
250	$0.20	$50 cost	$0.32	$80
500	$0.15	$75 cost	$0.20	$100
1,000	$0.10	$100 cost	$0.15	$150
2,500	$0.07	$175 cost	$0.10	$250
5,000	$0.05	$250 cost	$0.07	$350

Structure via Cart Transform tiered quantity pricing. Or predefined quantity dropdowns (100/250/500/1000/2500/5000) — easier for customer but less flexibility than continuous quantity input.

Artwork upload with bleed validation

Print files need bleed area (color extends past the trim line). Standard bleed:

• Business cards: 0.125" (3mm) bleed
• Postcards: 0.125" bleed
• Flyers 8.5×11: 0.125" bleed
• Posters 24×36: 0.25" (6mm) bleed
• Book covers, banners: variable

Customer uploads PDF/AI/EPS. Personalizer validates:

1. File is print-ready format (PDF, AI, EPS — reject Word, PowerPoint)
2. Bleed area present (measure PDF dimensions vs advertised trim size)
3. DPI adequate (300 DPI at print size for raster elements)
4. Color profile appropriate (CMYK preferred for print shops; convert sRGB if needed)
5. Fonts embedded (prevent font substitution at print stage)

Show validation results to customer: "Bleed detected: 3mm ✓ / DPI: 300 ✓ / CMYK: ✓ / Fonts embedded: ✓" or specific errors ("Bleed missing — please add 0.125" bleed area").

Design services option (upsell)

Many customers don't have print-ready files. Offer design services:

• Add "I need a designer" checkbox at product level
• Design service: $50-150 fee for basic design (business card, postcard)
• $200-500 for complex design (brochure, catalog page)
• Customer emails brief; designer produces file; customer approves proof
• 2-3 revision rounds included

Structured as separate product ("Business Card Design Service") or as line-item-property upsell on the print product itself.

Proof approval workflow (non-negotiable)

Never print 1000+ business cards without customer approval. Proof workflow:

1. Customer places order + uploads artwork
2. Print It My Way generates proof PDF (customer's artwork positioned on your template with crop marks)
3. Email proof to customer with "Approve" or "Request changes" buttons
4. Customer approves → order enters production
5. Customer requests changes → merchant edits (or customer re-uploads) → new proof
6. Multi-round approval possible before production

Adds 1-2 days to fulfillment but eliminates costly reprints from typos or file issues.

Finish + coating options

Finish	Look/feel	Add-on cost
Matte	Non-reflective; premium feel	Included or +$0.02/card
Gloss	Shiny; vibrant colors	Included
Silk / Soft-touch	Velvety texture	+$0.05-0.10/card
UV coating	High gloss protection	+$0.05-0.15/card
Foil stamping (spot foil)	Metallic accents	+$0.20-0.50/card
Embossing / debossing	Raised/pressed design	+$0.30-0.80/card
Die-cut shape	Non-rectangular cards	+$0.15-0.40/card + setup fee

Standard matte/gloss as variants; premium finishes as checkbox add-ons with Cart Transform fees.

Turnaround time as variant or option

• Standard (3-5 business days): base price
• Rush (2 business days): +25% surcharge
• Same-day (in-house shops): +50-100% surcharge, cutoff time enforced

Cart Transform based on selected turnaround. Show cutoff time explicitly ("Order by 12 PM ET for same-day").

Common print shop products + suggested setup

Business cards

Variants: Paper stock (14pt / 16pt / 32pt / silk / uncoated) + Finish (Matte / Gloss). Personalization: PDF upload with bleed validation. Quantity tiers: 100/250/500/1000/2500/5000.

Postcards + flyers

Variants: Size (4×6 / 5×7 / 8.5×11) + Paper stock. Same-day option for local pickup.

Brochures

Variants: Size + Fold type (bi-fold / tri-fold / z-fold / gate-fold) + Paper stock. Higher complexity = designer services upsell more relevant.

Posters + banners

Variants: Size (18×24 / 24×36 / 36×48 for posters; 2×4 / 3×6 / 4×8 for banners) + Material (Paper / Vinyl / Fabric). Grommets for banners as add-on.

Stationery (letterhead, envelopes)

Variants: Paper stock + Envelope type. Matching business card + letterhead bundle discounts.

15-minute end-to-end setup

1. Install Print It My Way Pro ($13.99/mo — proof approval + file upload require Pro)
2. Products → New product → "Business Cards" with Paper Stock + Finish variants
3. Personalizer → File Upload field (PDF/AI/EPS accepted, bleed validation enabled)
4. Cart Transform → Tiered quantity pricing
5. Enable proof approval workflow
6. Configure finish add-ons as checkboxes (UV coating, foil, embossing) with Cart Transform fees
7. Attach personalizer to product
8. Test with sample PDF (verify bleed detected + proof PDF generated + email to customer)

Common issues + fixes

Issue	Cause	Fix
Customer's PDF has no bleed	Design software didn't add bleed at export	Auto-reject with clear message + link to "How to add bleed" guide
Colors don't match on print	sRGB vs CMYK profile mismatch	Convert to CMYK server-side; warn customer if colors may shift
Text illegible after print	Fonts too small (below 6pt) or thin strokes	Validate min font size at file check; warn if issues detected
Reprint requested — customer typo	No proof approval workflow	Enforce proof workflow for orders 100+ units
Quantity discount not applied	Cart Transform not reading quantity correctly	Verify Cart Transform reads cart quantity + applies tier per product

Frequently asked questions

Related setup guides

• Tier-Based Option Pricing
• File Upload Setup
• Best Personalizer for Print Shops