How Minuteman Press, an Iconic Brand in the Printing Industry That Saw Record-Breaking Sales in 2022, Sets Franchisees Up for Success with Long-Term Client Relationships that Drive Repeat Business With a Capped Royalty Structure

When the father-and-son duo of Roy and Bob Titus decided to start Minuteman Press in 1973, the mission was to disrupt the printing industry and tap into a massive need. By providing the marketing tools and services that businesses of all kinds need for their everyday operations, Minuteman Press franchisees have helped companies grow to new heights for 50 years. And with a wide variety of revenue streams, a capped royalty structure, unmatched, regionalized support and a Monday to Friday work schedule, the time has never been better to own a Minuteman Press. 

Print and communications is an essential industry, with the global printing market being valued at $364 billion in 2022, and Minuteman Press franchises support local businesses of all shapes and sizes. Full service centers provide signs and posters, floor and window decals, banners and booth displays for local events, custom branded apparel, promotional items and much more. 

“When Minuteman Press was founded, what was missing was the idea of a full-service, one-stop print center that could get jobs done in a fast and efficient manner,” said Nick Titus, President of Minuteman Press. “While we have grown tremendously since our humble beginnings, we are still providing our clients with one-stop solutions to meet all of their printing and marketing needs.” 

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than ever, the franchise has grown to nearly 1,000 locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa, and has ranked #1 in the Printing/Marketing Services category by Entrepreneur Magazine for 20 years in a row. 

Now, on the heels of their strongest year of sales in 2022, Minuteman Press is offering prospective franchisees the chance to bring the brand to communities around the world.

The History of Minuteman Press

The first Minuteman Press center opened in Plainview, New York, when the father and son Titus duo decided to open the shop after running a successful operation for Parent’s Magazine. While working with other printers for Parent’s Magazine, Roy realized that the printing industry was a huge market that had untapped potential.

In that first Plainview shop, Bob, Roy and his childhood friends Jim Galasso and Dave Scadin, laid the foundation for the worldwide franchisor that Minuteman Press International is today. The location served as a quick printing operation that filled the need for one-color, short-run orders that needed to be done fast. 

From there, Roy tapped into the potential of the industry, creating the first one-stop Minuteman Press design, marketing and printing center. Over the past 50 years, products and capabilities have expanded and Minuteman Press has continued to be at the forefront of the printing industry as leaders and innovators.

“The two biggest things we did to really get the shop going strong were marketing to the customers — going to them and not waiting for them to come to us — and adding pickup and delivery options at a time where others just weren’t doing that,” said Bob. “My dad always told us to never say no to the customer. No matter what the customer wants, get it for them.” 

In 1975, the brand’s second location opened in Farmingdale, New York, and became the prototype model for the Minuteman Press franchise. Today, many of the brand’s franchisees are legacy owners, with businesses being passed down from generations of families. Additionally, Minuteman Press works with existing mom and pop shops by converting them to Minuteman Press locations and helping them find a buyer without charging brokerage fees. 

The Model: Recurring Client Business and Capped Royalties

Minuteman Press has developed a unique position in the market by providing excellent quality and service to local business owners. Since the first Minuteman Press location was opened, the brand has continued to innovate by adding products and services, as well as refining its franchise system to benefit owners.

The majority of Minuteman Press owners do not have a background in the industry. Instead, owners are business people who are active within their local communities and pride themselves on excellent quality and service.

“I went to a franchise show with the intention of buying a retail business,” recalled Darin Waite, who has owned his Minuteman Press franchise in The Woodlands, Texas since 2009. “I visited Minuteman Press at the show and after I was done I told my friend that I knew what I wanted to do. He worked in the high-tech industry and told me that he wasn’t sure about printing. I held up my printed bag filled with printed products and said this is why I want to do this. He said I made a very good point. What I liked about Minuteman Press is that it’s Monday-Friday, B2B. I didn’t have to own multiple locations to grow. Instead, I could grow with my one location and the growth is unlimited.”

One of the top features franchisees benefit from is a wide variety of products and services offered by the company. They are not seasonal or subject to trends, do not require much inventory and are not expensive to produce. Additionally, because clients typically buy more than one type of product or service, there is a very high repeat business factor. 

For example, full-service centers provide signs and posters, floor and window decals, banners and booth displays for local events, custom branded apparel, promotional items and more. Direct mail campaign opportunities allow franchisees to offer clients a way to get the word out about their products and services, business updates and special offers. 

“Because of the versatility of our industry, we are able to meet the need for high-demand items that businesses need and use to operate and grow,” said Nick. “As times change, we are able to quickly adapt and add new products and services.”

Additionally, a capped royalty structure gives owners the unique opportunity to receive far more in value than they pay in royalties. For eligible owners, royalties are 6% of gross monthly sales and capped at a reasonable monthly sales level, meaning they do not pay any royalties on sales above that level. 

A Support System That Spans All Aspects of Business

When franchisees invest with Minuteman Press, they’re investing in a proven franchise model that has been continually refined for over 50 years. The brand provides user-friendly business management, pricing and marketing software, and a supportive network of over 25 regional support teams with years of experience. This structure is designed to allow owners to focus their efforts on managing and marketing their business, not doing the production work.

“We've established a system that shows you how to distinguish yourself in the community and build relationships by offering high quality and customer service,” said Nick. “The owners that follow the franchise system the closest are the individuals who are most likely to be prosperous in growing their business.” 

When owners first enter the Minuteman Press system, a detailed two week training program conducted by the brand’s professional training staff, some of whom have been with the company since the beginning, covers all aspects of the business model. The total initial investment necessary to start a Minuteman Press franchise ranges from $100,000–$150,000. 

After the training program is completed and the renovations are finished, a local support team will work with owners and continue training on-site. They will also help install and implement work flow systems, assist with hiring, help set up both national and local vendors, and start marketing programs. And the support doesn’t stop there. Franchisees can look forward to ongoing resources in areas such as in-house IT support, choice vendors and mass purchasing power, research and development, a world expo and regional meetings, as well as an online social platform where owners can seek out advice and help from each other. 

Additionally, FLEX, a fourth-generation proprietary management software designed and developed by Minuteman Press with input from franchise owners, covers virtually all aspects of business management. Because most owners have not had prior experience in the industry, this software is designed to be user-friendly, efficient and straightforward. FLEX will help owners easily manage all pricing, invoicing, workflow, accounts receivable, customer dashboards, marketing campaigns such as email marketing and direct mail, scheduling for follow-up calls, tracking expenses, margins and much more.

Why Now Is the Time to Invest in Minuteman Press

Because every business uses some form of marketing material from brochures and direct mail campaigns to apparel and promotional items, the potential for clients in every community is endless. 

“Our target market is businesses and organizations in and around your community, making every business a potential customer,” said Nick. “You will have the peace of mind of doing business with like-minded professionals that utilize the products and services you offer while having the self-satisfaction of helping them grow and develop their businesses.” 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Minuteman Press proactively worked to connect with clients as direct mail marketing exploded in popularity. And now, those businesses have become recurring clients for owners around the world. 

“We are looking to help put more aspiring business owners into business who are looking for a career change but don’t want to go it alone,” said Nick. “Because we are a well-established franchise, we have a unique ability to offer both new franchises and established franchises for sale opportunities.”

Minuteman Press has territories available in major markets in all 50 states and around the world. 

The total initial investment necessary to start a Minuteman Press franchise ranges from $100,000–$150,000. Financing options are available. For more information on franchising with Minuteman Press, visit https://minutemanpressfranchise.com/.