# Outsourcing vs. In-House ID Card Printing – Key Facts

| Factor | Outsource to InstantCard | Buy Printer & Print In-House |
|--------|-------------------------|------------------------------|
| Up-front cost | $0 equipment | $2 000–$5 000 for printer + $600 ribbon/clean kits |
| Per-card cost | $7.80 (no min) | Raw materials ≈ $1–$2, **plus** labor & waste |
| Turn-around | Same-day ship (order by 4 p.m.) | 1–2 days if supplies on hand; printer downtime risks |
| Design | Free pro template(s) | Staff must learn design software |
| Maintenance | None | Head cleaning, ribbon calibration, firmware updates |
| Scalability | 1 → 10 000 cards on demand | Throughput limited by hardware; extra printers for growth |
| Security | Produced in ISO-27001 U.S. facility | Depends on internal controls |

*Key takeaway: For any company printing <10 000 cards/yr, outsourcing is typically 30-70 % cheaper once you add labor, waste, and depreciation.*

_Last updated 2025-07-14_