Welcome to the PrintFam Podcast, where we talk real business, no fluff. I’m Daron, joined by Daniel Pentecost, and together we dive into the ups, downs, and in-betweens of running print, promo, and laser businesses.
We share what’s actually working for us (and what isn’t), have honest conversations with other shop owners, and pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build something that lasts.
If you’re growing a shop, starting one, or just trying to make sense of this wild industry, you’ll fit right in.
0014 - The Hard Truth About Time, Pricing, and Burnout
This episode is a hard and honest conversation about burnout, boundaries, and why I’m stepping back.I talk openly about the real cost of running a business, building a community, and giving away too much time for too long. Not just financially, but emotionally. This is why I moved everything back to Patreon, why I’m pulling back in some areas, and why valuing your time and pricing correctly matters more than most people want to admit.If you’re feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or stuck working nonstop without getting ahead, this episode is for you. There is hope, but it starts with valuing your time.✨Helpful Links:Patreon: https://dtnay.com/supportFacebook group: https://dtnay.com/fbgroupWebsite: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
14 Jan 2026
0013 - Outsourcing, Equipment, and Long-Term Growth
In this episode, I sit down with David from B5 Creative to talk through something almost everyone in print and promotional products wrestles with at some point: equipment. When to buy it, when to outsource, and how those decisions actually affect the business long term. We get into what it’s really like balancing a full-time job while running a print business, why owning every machine isn’t always the answer, and how our thinking around equipment has changed over time.We also talk about education, relationships, and why being a problem-solver for your customers matters more than having the latest gear. A lot of this conversation comes back to playing the long game, building trust, and focusing on sustainable growth instead of chasing every new opportunity or shiny machine. It’s not a sales pitch or a highlight reel, just an honest conversation between people actually in it.Video Sponsor: FireSprintNeed a wholesale supplier for yard signs, stickers, or foamcore? FireSprint.com offers free shipping on their most popular products. Join their nationwide network of resellers at https://dtnay.com/firesprint. Use my coupon code DNSCURE to get 10% off your first order up to $500. FireSprint.com is a trade-only supplier.✨Helpful Links:Patreon: https://dtnay.com/supportFacebook group: https://dtnay.com/fbgroupWebsite: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
7 Jan 2026
0012 - Answer the Phone: The Simplest Business Lesson I Ignored Too Long
Phones are one of the most overlooked parts of running a small business, and for a long time, mine was a problem. In this episode of the PrintFam Podcast, Daniel from CLT Geek and I talk through why I hate answering the phone, how spam calls and interruptions kill focus, and why not answering calls absolutely costs you real business.We break down a simple, affordable phone setup using GoHighLevel, a cordless analog phone, and an ATA adapter, plus when it makes sense to use a live answering service instead of hiring in-house. The takeaway is simple: just answering the phone can win you business you never expected. We also talk about automation, text options, and how to stop the owner from being the bottleneck.GoHighLevel (CRM + phone system) - https://dtnay.com/ghlATA adapter (analog telephone adapter) - https://dtnay.com/ataCLT Geek (Daniel’s company) - https://www.cltgeek.com/#7✨Helpful Links:Website: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
31 Dec 2025
0011 - Profit, People, and Simplifying Everything
In this end-of-year episode of the PrintFam Podcast, I’m joined by my co-host Daniel Pentecost for an honest wrap-up of the year. We talk about exiting a business arrangement, resetting goals, what it really means to be profitable, and why paying yourself actually matters. Revenue didn’t hit a million, but the business stayed in the black, the team got stronger, and the direction is clearer than ever.We also dig into simplifying operations, selling equipment, building a team that cares, launching fulfillment services, growing the Time to Make Something community, and navigating the mental side of running a business in public. If you’re building something, struggling through a transition, or trying to figure out what “success” actually looks like, this one’s for you.✨Helpful Links:Website: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
24 Dec 2025
0010 - How Small Promo Shops Beat Big Online Sellers
Big online promo companies can afford loss leaders, massive marketing budgets, and misleading “starting at” pricing. Small businesses can’t, and shouldn’t try to compete that way.In this episode of the PrintFam Podcast, I’m joined by Daniel Pentecost from CLT Geek to break down how small promo businesses actually win: selling value instead of price, educating customers, saying no to bad-fit jobs, and becoming a trusted advisor instead of an order taker. We also talk about using buying groups like WePromo, leveraging online competitors to your advantage, and why cheap promo often does more harm than good.Join WePromo for Free - https://dtnay.com/wepromo✨Helpful Links:Website: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
17 Dec 2025
0009 - Stop Chasing Shiny Objects
In this episode, Gene from FireSprint breaks down the real side of web-to-print, why most shops don’t need it, and how chasing new equipment can quietly kill profitability. We talk bottlenecks, their vector feeder setup, shutting down screen print, and why doubling down on what already works matters more than the “next big thing.”
The Goal by E Goldratt - https://dtnay.com/thegoal✨Helpful Links:Website: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
10 Dec 2025
0008 - Koozie Group Deep Dive: Mergers, Made In USA, And Better Promo Gear
In this episode of the Print Fam podcast, Daron sits down with Harold Wood, Director of Sales Operations at Koozie Group, along with co-host Daniel Pentecost from CLTGeek, to unpack what is actually happening inside Koozie Group right now and what it means for distributors.Harold explains how Norwood, Bic Graphic, Garyline, Imagine Brands, Skinner & Kennedy, and Garyline are coming together under the Koozie Group banner, what changes on January 2, 2026, and what will stay the same for existing customers. They talk about Koozie’s US manufacturing footprint, on-time performance, and why tariffs are pushing more buyers toward lower priced, but still smart, promo items.Sign up for WePromo - https://dtnay.com/wepromo✨Helpful Links:Website: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
3 Dec 2025
0007 - Add Promo Without New Equipment With WePromo
Sign up for WePromo - https://dtnay.com/wepromoJoin me, Daniel Pentecost from CLTGeek, and Marty Hartman from WePromo / Universal Unilink as we talk about how a free buying group can help small printers and promo distributors compete with the big players without buying more equipment.Marty breaks down exactly how WePromo works, why it is free to join, and how they negotiate EQP or better pricing with top suppliers, so you can keep more margin on the same jobs. We also dig into how they vet suppliers, when they step in as your advocate, and why reputation matters so much in promo.If you are a print shop, sign shop, or small promotional products distributor who wants to grow promo sales without a big capital spend, this is a good place to start.Download “50 Questions To Ask For More Business”: https://wepromo.net/50✨Helpful Links:Website: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
26 Nov 2025
0006 - Practical Accounting Advice For Print Shops
In this Print Fam podcast I talk with my accountant, Josh Pyne from Paramount Tax and Accounting. We walk through when it makes sense to stop doing your own books and hand them to a pro.We cover the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant, CPA, and EA, what they actually do, and who you really need. We also talk about being behind on reconciliations, using your books to make decisions, and how to avoid expensive cleanup work at tax time.We also get into receipts, mileage, home office, mixing personal and business, sales tax, and when someone should be a W2 employee versus a 1099 contractor.Get a free consultation to see if Josh and his team can help you.Josh Pyne385-529-0814jpyne@paramount.tax✨Helpful Links:Website: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
12 Nov 2025
0005 - Crafting Meets Print: Real DTF Talk, Lasers, and 2026 Plans
Angie Holden and Cori George join Daniel Pentecost and me to compare the crafting world with print after Printing United. We talk about where DTF and UV DTF are improving, what still isn’t ready for every shop, why buying transfers can beat home maintenance, how to pick the right laser tier, the Heat Press Roadmap mindset for smarter gear buys, and the basics that actually move the needle for 2026 like overhead in pricing, branding, and building an email list.• https://craftingcamps.com• Angie Holden - https://youtube.com/@AngieHolden • Cori George - https://youtube.com/@HeyLetsMakeStuff • Heat Press Roadmap - https://dtnay.com/hpmap✨Helpful Links:Website: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
5 Nov 2025
0004 - Stop Selling Cheap Swag: Print Fam Podcast at Printing United
Welcome to the Print Fam podcast, recorded live at Printing United. Daniel Pentecost and I talk promo without the fluff: why I built https://Pen.City for trade-only wholesale pens, why we refuse cheap swag, and how switching from a 24-up rotary to an automated conveyor laser changed throughput from “babysit the machine” to 250–500 pens/hour on single-side runs.We cover artwork that actually engraves, which colors pop, minimums and price breaks, coded pricing, shipping realities, and how I stock inventory so distributors can say yes to 4,000-piece orders without panic. If you’re building a print, promo, or apparel business, this one’s for you.Chapters00:00 Printing United and the “We Do Exist” moment03:02 Why Pen.City exists and who it’s for09:10 Rotary vs automated laser throughput14:30 Artwork rules that won’t bite you later18:45 Inventory, colors that sell, and real minimums24:10 Coded pricing and how to quote29:00 Shipping trade-offs and rush oddities33:40 Quality is greater than quantity in promo38:10 Fulfillment, multi-ship, and big orders42:00 Your questions for future promo episodes✨Helpful Links:Website: https://timetomakesomething.comPayment Processor: https://dtnay.com/paymentsMy CRM: https://dtnay.com/ghlAmazon Store: https://dtnay.com/amazonSome links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
29 Oct 2025
0003 - This Business Was an Accident (But It Worked)
Why does https://BulkLaser.com exist? In this episode, I share how a failed laser experiment accidentally turned into a full business.We cover:• How I started BulkLaser.com• Why I sell pens, journals, and blanks for laser engravers• The real margins behind a “six-figure” business• How I balance inventory, family, and growing a side businessWhether you’re into printing, promotional products, or laser engraving — this is the behind-the-scenes story of building a business from the ground up.👉 Visit: https://BulkLaser.com
22 Oct 2025
0002 - Box Makers, Bottlenecks, and Big Goals: FireSprint’s Road to $21 Million
FireSprint has big plans, tripling revenue to $21 million.In this PrintFam Podcast episode, Daron sits down with Gene Hamzhie, CEO of FireSprint, and Daniel Pentecost from CLT Geek to talk about what it really takes to grow a trade-only print shop.We cover:• Why FireSprint invested in a $5,000/month custom box maker• How they’re tackling production bottlenecks and packaging challenges• Transitioning to Odoo for workflow automation• Building systems and people for scalable growth• Why firing people (the right way) can actually help them grow• Balancing equipment upgrades with team developmentFireSprint has been a long-time supporter of the PrintFam community, and they’re proving that growth isn’t just about machines, it’s about people, systems, and vision.👉 Get 10% off your first FireSprint order with coupon code DNSCUREVisit https://firesprint.com
13 Oct 2025
0001 - Pilot episode - Printing United, Storage, and Promo
Buy laser blanks https://bulklaser.com
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