Top Photo and Video Franchises Over 50 Units

In a world dominated by Instagram, it seems like everyone is a photographer. There are, however, professionals with top-tier equipment and an eye for detail that deliver a personalized product with quality unrivaled by the smartphone-wielding masses. These franchises that operate in the photo and video segment take on several different forms, from classic portrait services that have maintained a presence despite the changing times, to services that cater to the current wave of social media-centric photography, to visual communication businesses that help companies with assorted branding and digital imaging needs.

TSS Photography

Unit count: More than 200 units nationwide

Investment range: $20,400-$74,275

TSS Photography, abbreviated for The Sports Section, is a youth sports, school and event photography company that was founded in 1983. The brand provides a large number of organizations with a comprehensive solution for their various photography needs, taking photos of over 2 million people in 40 states every year. With the largest product line in the industry, TSS functions as an all-inclusive service provider that prioritizes quality and quick order turnaround at a reasonable price. TSS provides its franchisees with ample support services including business advice, marketing materials, training, call-center sales and appointment-booking software.

Complete Weddings + Events

Unit count: More than 180 franchises across the U.S.

Investment range: $25,000-$30,000

Complete Weddings + Events is a wedding and event photography, DJ service, videography and photo booth rental service that conveniently offers customers a one-stop shop for their event entertainment needs. Complete has helped plan and execute more than 300,000 events, including more than 13,000 weddings per year on average since its founding in 1973. The brand has maintained national relevance over its tenured history by staying ahead of the technological curve, maintaining professionalism and working at an affordable price point. Complete’s simple and focused business model gives franchisees a great opportunity to take advantage of the $50 billion wedding industry with a complete service offering focused on quality.

Lil’ Angels Photography

Unit count: Over 50 locations

Investment range: $41,263-$45,780

Lil’ Angels Photography is a home-based child and family portrait business that serves preschools, daycares, and other child care centers on site. A state-of-the-art setup is brought to a location to provide professional studio-quality portraits at the same price point as standard school picture companies. Lil’ Angels Photography gives customers a variety of options to choose from, including portrait packages, large prints, framed portraits, portrait CDs and gift items. The brand also offers themed shoots, its most popular being "Fashion for Kids," where children are photographed in fun outfits that fit right over their clothes. The franchise utilizes modern digital photography equipment and partners with several professional labs for an expedited printing process.

Images 4 Kids

Unit count: Over 60 locations

Investment range: $46,200-$78,700

Images 4 Kids is a more than 30-year-old franchise brand specializing in providing children’s daycares, preschools, private schools and other kids organizations with professional photography services. Based in Dallas, Texas and founded in 1983, the brand takes studio-quality portraits of children typically in the age range of infancy to five years old. Images 4 Kids franchisees are trained in the brand’s proprietary methods and standards and procedures for interacting with children, cropping photos and lighting techniques for the photos and connected with Images 4 Kids’ preferred photo development vendors.

TapSnap Photography

Unit count: 200-plus locations in the U.S. and Canada

Investment range: $41,100-$45,100

Founded in 2012, TapSnap Photography is a two-pronged franchise offering that functions as a social media photo booth and corporate photo marketing kiosk. Customers can rent one of TapSnap’s unenclosed, digitally integrated photo booths for events like weddings and holiday parties, while companies make use of the booth’s customizable features for events such as brand activations, trade shows and professional sports games. By keeping abreast of technological advancements and incorporating them into their service offering since its inception, the company has developed from a simple photo booth rental brand into an all-around event entertainment solution that focuses on creating an engaging experience for its customers.

Boft

Unit count: More than 400 kiosks in 28 countries

Investment range: Kiosks start at $6,900

Boft is a network of photo-printing kiosks that allow for easy printing of Instagram photos. Customers can also transfer files from mobile devices to correct and edit photos in real time. Boft prides itself on a constantly evolving product; new photo processing functions and ordering options are frequently added. All kiosks can withstand the elements with their waterproof touch screens and the professional, high-brightness monitors usable under direct sunlight, while its printer produces photos that won’t lose their color for decades. Boft has established a presence in more than 350 malls across the world thanks to its lean business model that makes operations cost-effective, streamlined and profitable for its franchisees.

Home Video Studio

Unit count: Over 70 locations in three countries

Investment range: $59,995 and up

Home Video Studio was started in 1991 when founder Robert Hanley’s film company wasn’t profitable enough for him and he recognized a need for a video company that provided services that were missing or lacking from the industry. Home Video Studio is a video production and post-production business that focuses on editing, film and video transfer to DVD or computer, videography, video keepsake montages and duplication services. Franchisees are put through a year-long training course in video production and provided with the resources and background information needed to successfully run the business out of their homes.

Minuteman Press

Unit count: Over 900 locations worldwide

Investment range: $108,115-$163,865

Minuteman Press is a printing service franchise that helps businesses with printing, marketing and design needs. The New York-based company founded in 1973 offers large-scale commercial and digital printing services in addition to creative design services in the form of logo and website design and promotional products like canvas prints and banners; the brand says it can produce “anything you can put a logo on.” Minuteman Press’ client base is made up of local organizations, government groups, non-profits, professional sports teams, local businesses, entrepreneurs and more. The franchise is looking to expand its already extensive global presence by pursuing opportunities in the U.K., South Africa, Canada and Australia.

SpeedPro Imaging

Unit count: 180 locations across the U.S. and Canada

Investment range: $240,500-$285,850

SpeedPro Imaging is a business-to-business visual communications franchise that offers digital imaging services in myriad forms, handling product design, printing and installation. From digital and marketing signage, event graphics and point of purchase displays at trade shows to indoor and outdoor signage, vehicle wraps and wall murals, SpeedPro provides its customers with customized large-format graphics. The brand works as an extension of its clients marketing team to build attention-grabbing products for specific environments to promote events, enhance brand awareness and drive ROI or to promote events. Recently, the brand’s CEO discussed how SpeedPro approaches franchising and its continued expansion across North America.