How the Epson SureColor P8570D Can Pay for Itself in the First Year

When print centers consider adding a wide-format printer, the real question isn’t whether the machine produces high-quality prints, as almost all do now-a-day, it’s whether that printer can realistically pay for itself using the kinds of jobs customers already ask for every month.

The Epson SureColor P8570D 44-Inch Dual Roll Printer is a strong example of how a properly matched printer and media combination can turn everyday print orders into predictable, repeatable revenue. Rather than relying on specialty products or one-off projects, the value of this printer shows up in standard retail items that move consistently throughout the year.

The Epson SureColor P8570D is designed to be an efficient, space-conscious production printer for retail environments. Its compact footprint is smaller than many other printers in the 42 to 44-inch wide class, making it easier to fit into small print shop without giving up valuable floor space. The printer’s ink system requires fewer cartridges than comparable wide-format models, helping reduce operating costs and simplifying day-to-day ink management. The Epson P8570D is capable of producing a wide range of applications from a single platform, including photos and posters, outdoor banners, window and wall graphics, mounted signage, fine art, canvas, and more. The Epson P-series printers are also the only aqueous large format printer that will print directly to Midwest Inkjet posterboard!

To understand how this works in practice, it helps to look at two of the most common products printed in retail environments: 24×30 posters and 36×72 vinyl banners.

POSTERS: A standard 24×30 poster printed on Midwest Inkjet Production Satin Poster Paper 200g typically sells at retail for around $24.99. The media cost for that size comes in at approximately $2.75, with ink and general production overhead adding another $1.50. That puts the total production cost at roughly $4.25 per poster, leaving a gross profit of about $20.75 on each sale. This isn’t a specialty item or a premium upsell—it’s an everyday poster size that customers regularly request for events, promotions, graduations, and local advertising.

BANNERS: Outdoor vinyl banners follow a similar pattern. A 36×72 banner printed on Midwest Inkjet 15mil Durable Scrim Vinyl Banner commonly sells for about $89.00 at retail. The media cost for that banner is approximately $18.00, with ink and overhead accounting for another $6.00, bringing the total production cost to roughly $24.00. That results in a gross profit of about $65.00 per banner. Again, this reflects standard pricing for a staple product that retail customers already expect.

With those margins in mind, the printer itself becomes easier to evaluate. At a purchase price of $5,475.00 for the month of January, the Epson SureColor P8570D does not require high volume or aggressive pricing to justify the investment. If a store were to rely solely on poster sales, it would take about 300 posters to cover the cost of the printer. Spread over a year, that’s roughly 25 posters per month—less than one poster per day. If banner sales alone were used to recover the cost, it would take approximately 96 banners, or about eight banners per month, which works out to two banners per week.

In real-world retail environments, most stores sell a mix of both products rather than focusing on just one. A modest and very attainable monthly combination—such as 15 posters and six banners—would generate approximately $701 in gross profit each month. At that pace, the printer pays for itself in under eight months, and that timeline often shortens during seasonal spikes when demand for posters and banners increases - like in the spring for graduations, weddings, outdoor events, etc.

What makes this approach practical is that it does not depend on changing how a store operates. These are not new products that need to be introduced or explained to customers. They are familiar, in-demand print items that many retail locations already outsource. Bringing that work in-house allows stores to capture margin that would otherwise be left on the table, while also improving turnaround time and control over quality.

Ultimately, the Epson SureColor P8570D is not about printing larger graphics for the sake of capability, although the size does open more doors and create larger profits. It is about creating a reliable, in-house production option that turns routine print requests into steady monthly revenue. When paired with Midwest Inkjet media designed to run consistently on Epson aqueous printers, the printer becomes a predictable business tool rather than a speculative purchase.

For print centers looking ahead to the year, this kind of investment is less about equipment and more about positioning. Adding a printer that can realistically pay for itself through everyday poster and banner sales, not to mention all of the other applications it can handle, is one of the most straightforward ways to set a store up for a more profitable year.

For more information on the Epson P8570D printer, or any of the other printers we offer, don't hesitate to call us at (952) 222-0299 or email us at info@midwestinkjet.com.