Copy, Printing and Sign Franchise Opportunities in the United States of America

Despite major technological advances in many sectors, the printing and signage industry continues to experience substantial growth. This is partly driven by the fact that direct mail as a traditional marketing method still works. In fact, the US Postal Service estimates that 98% of people check their mail daily, while between 80% and 90% of this mail is actually opened. This is in stark contrast to emails, with an average open rate of 20% for email campaigns.

In addition to this, the Direct Mail Association estimates that 66% of people have purchased a product or service as a result of direct mail, while 70% have re-established relationships due to a direct mail offer.

Research also points to the fact that, on average, advertisers spend $167 per person on direct mail, with a return on investment of 1,300%, resulting in sales valued at $2,095. And to further solidify the market’s stance, there are approximately 27 million business cards printed per day in the US, valued at $800 million in revenue.

The copy, printing, and signage industry is recognizing that paperless communication is a rising trend. However, many printing services can’t be duplicated and printed materials will continue to play a major role. Some of the key markets that are spurring on the growth of the industry apart from direct mail include labels and wrappers, packaging and specialty packaging, point of purchase, and signage.

Other important components of the industry include:

• The value of the print market in 2017 was estimated at $85 billion.
• Digital printing just a year earlier, was valued at $34.7 billion.
• The sign and banner franchise industry was estimated at $32 million in 2018.
• A bit closer to our current times, the market size for the industry in 2024 is valued at around $33.43 billion. This amount is expected to reach $45.93 billion by 2029 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.56%.
• The largest global market for this industry is North America.
• The US printers and copiers market generated revenue of $1.4 billion this year.
• The volume of printers and copers is expected to reach 10.9 million pieces by 2029.
• Printing, copying, and signage businesses serve both individual and commercial clients. Examples include wedding invitations, party banners, and student materials. As for commercial clients, printing companies can help with banners, flags, electric signs, trade show exhibits, point-of-sale displays, building signs, and branded apparel and goods.
• Printing can revolve around many different products and materials and the global digital printing market is generally segmented by printing processes (electrophotography, inkjet), application (books), commercial printing (screen, flexographic, lithographic, and gravure printing), packaging — labels, corrugated packaging, cartons, flexible packaging, rigid plastic packaging, metal packaging, etc.
• Printing will continue to remain a critical component of many industries, including education, healthcare, and legal services.
• The sector employs around 357,000 employees and there are around 20,361 businesses in this industry in the US.
• Major printing companies are typically located near population-dense hubs and mainly around urban population centers with New York, California, and Texas holding the highest mass of these industry locations.

Copy, Printing and Signage Industry Trends in 2024

Some key trends worth keeping an eye out for in the copy, printing, and signage industry include the following:

• There have been major reductions in waste, especially due to improvements in print manufacturing efficiency, time-efficient production, and supply chain management. The latter has been spurred on by better demand forecasting.
• Advanced technologies in the industry include the use of mild solvents and less-harmful chemicals, strengthening the focus on green printing accompanied by cost-effective production.
• Cloud-based solutions are emerging, driving greater efficiencies.
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, data analytics and other technological advancements are facilitating superiority in print personalization for large-volume orders.
• The packaging industry is expected to see an impetus to implement digital printing methods as more and more ecommerce companies seek to create an amazing unboxing experience when they ship packages to their customers.
• Applications are making it easier for users to easily access printer functions from their computers and mobile devices.
• There is a growing demand for smaller, versatile printers which fulfill office-related functions, as more employees begin to work remotely or in a hybrid environment.

Why you should consider investing in a printing franchise opportunity

If you are considering investing in printing franchise opportunities and sign franchise opportunities, you may be wondering what’s in it for you. Some of the benefits of owning this type of franchise include:

• Working on the basis of a proven and profitable business model that is shown to be recession-resistant.
• Access to the franchisor’s experience in planning, location, setup, and marketing.
• The name recognition that comes with an established national sign franchise signals to potential clients that they can count on your business due to its reputation.
• You can also expand your sign business franchise or printing franchise offering to buffer against business slowdowns by offering an array of related services that help you increase revenue.
• Many sign franchises offer you an opportunity to work within your local communities, meaning you also get the chance to work within a predefined geographical area that limits the competition from other franchisees in the same signs franchises network.
• You also get access to a corporate franchise team that gives you expert input and guidance in areas such as sales and marketing, among others.
• Examples of the different types of support you can enjoy include:
  • Site selection
  • Securing business permits, licenses, and insurance
  • Franchise programs and best practices
  • Training for you and your employees
  • Training in technology, equipment, and industry standards
  • Sales, marketing and attracting clients
  • Handling signs franchise-specific challenges
  • Tapping into the franchisee network for greater levels of support

How much does it cost to open a copy and print franchise?

In the extensive world of sign franchise companies, an important question you will need to consider is the cost of buying a franchise in the signage industry. There are many factors that contribute to this cost. However, the main ones are the initial franchise fee, the minimum liquidity requirements and your net worth, total investment costs, and royalty payments plus the cost of marketing and advertising. In general, however, franchise sign companies will expect you to have a minimum cash repository ranging between $25,000 and $250,000.

Regional Opportunities for Sign and Print Franchises

To help you identify the most promising markets for your sign and print franchise, we’ve divided the United States into four key regions—Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Each region offers distinct opportunities for business growth, driven by local branding needs, small business development, and the increasing demand for professional printing and signage solutions.

Northeast:

• New York
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• Rhode Island
• Maine
• Vermont
• New Hampshire

Midwest:

• Illinois
• Ohio
• Michigan
• Indiana
• Wisconsin
• Minnesota
• Iowa
• Missouri
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Nebraska
• Kansas

South:

• Florida
• Georgia
• South Carolina
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• Maryland
• West Virginia
• Kentucky
• Tennessee
• Alabama
• Mississippi
• Arkansas
• Louisiana
• Texas
• Oklahoma

West:

• California
• Nevada
• Arizona
• Washington
• Colorado
• Oregon
• Utah
• Idaho
• New Mexico
• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Montana
• Wyoming

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