Guide to Printing Franchise Opportunities

Printing franchise opportunities can satisfy your desire to own a business and simultaneously offer you built-in assistance, guidance and training to help ensure success. Owning a printing franchise puts you in a market set up for success, because so many businesses outsource printing tasks like hard copies of presentations, invitations, booklets, pamphlets, postcards and lengthy written reports intended for distribution. Besides other businesses, your customers will include volunteer groups, nonprofit organizations, clubs and individuals. You will never lack customers for your copy shop franchise or printing franchise.

Most copy or print shop franchises contain multiple revenue streams like signs or banners, print/copy/fax, document finishing, graphics design and pack/ship. Some franchises only offer 1 or 2 of these services; others offer all of them. As you research starting a printing business, keep the following in mind:

1. You must commit to working harder than you probably did in your last job if you want to be a successful printing franchise owner.

2. Protect yourself by hiring a franchise lawyer to review contracts/agreements for available print or copier franchises.

3. Learn about the costs involved in buying a copy shop franchise before leaping in to the franchise fray.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Exercise due diligence when deciding among printing franchise opportunities

If you don't want to fail when starting a copy and/or printing business, you must fully accomplish due diligence to protect yourself and to avoid wasting unnecessary time and money on a franchise that's not right for you. Read all you can find on copy shop franchises and print shop franchises. Talk to current owners of printing franchises that interest you, and talk to their customers as well. Act as your own secret shopper to collect information on a particular franchise.

I recommend: Start your research with the Franchise Aptitude Quiz at Francorp Connect. You can always seek professional guidance in your search for the right printing franchise opportunities. Contact The Franchise Builders for information about consulting services and specific franchise opportunities. Register for free consultation services at FranChoice.

Understand the financial resources required for starting a printing business

Buying a copy shop franchise requires liquid capital, so you need to understand your own current financial situation, all fees and costs associated with buying and owning a franchise and different avenues available for financing your print shop franchise.

I recommend: If you want to get at quick glimpse at the liquid capital required to start specific printing franchises, go to Franchise Gator. Consider the free franchise financial analysis available at FranchiseGiant.com. For increased understanding about finance and accounting issues, register for and take one of the SBA's free online courses.

Consider some of the more popular copy and print shop franchises

As you begin your search for the copy or printing franchise opportunity that best suits your needs, finances and personality, check out some of the more popular ones to start.

I recommend: Visit Minuteman Press to learn more about their philosophy, training, support, required liquid assets, marketing information and more. For a franchise with instant nationwide name recognition, learn more about The UPS Store franchise opportunity that provides copy and document services in addition to pack-and-ship services. Check out the steps to getting an Allegra Network printing franchise. You can also request a free franchise information kit for AlphaGraphics, a business center that provides graphics design, copy and printing services, document finishing and mailing services.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• In addition to small business loans available through or guaranteed by the SBA and other sources, some copy shop franchises and printing business opportunities offer financial assistance as well.
• Adequate and appropriate training by the franchisor will greatly contribute to your success as a copier franchise owner. Make sure you review the training provided in each franchise's Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC). Among other things, the UFOC spells out what and how much training and support the franchisor will provide you.

The official source of Printing Franchise Opportunities is
the Printing Franchise Opportunities page at Business.com