Click to Print This Page
Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Signal Graphics Printing

Printing, copying, promotional products

Background

Founded: 1974 Franchising since: 1982

In 1974, Stephen Morris founded Stop & Go Printing, a Denver, Colorado, printing center that combined typesetting, quick printing, copying and commercial printing. The company began franchising in 1982.

Six years later, Stop & Go Printing changed its name to Signal Graphics. Today the company offers computer graphic services, copying, commercial printing, packaging and shipping services.


26722 Plaza
Mission Viejo, California 92691
Phone:
(949)348-5000/ (303)779-6789


Franchisor is a privately-held company with 13 employee(s); 7 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 28 0 0 0
2008 33 0 0 3
2007 34 0 0 3
2006 36 0 0 3
2005 35 0 0 4

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: Varies

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $160K-202K
Franchise fee: $25K
Ongoing royalty fee: 4-6%
Term of agreement: 20 years, renewable


Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No No
Startup Costs No No
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Accounts Receivable No No
Payroll No No

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $150K
Cash liquidity requirement: $50K
Business Experience:
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

Operations
  • 3% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 - 4
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 12 days
  • At franchisee's location: 5 days

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Grand opening
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations

Marketing Support
  • Co-op advertising
  • Ad slicks
  • National media
  • Regional advertising

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#350 (2007); #462 (2005);