Signs By Tomorrow

Founded: 1986 Franchising since: 1987
Founded by Joseph McGuinness in 1986, Signs By Tomorrow provides customers with a variety of printing and sign-making services. Each location can create special event banners, graphics and signs; full color graphics; architectural signage; real estate signage; and vehicle signage, usually in one day.

8681 Robert Fulton Dr. Columbia, Maryland 21046

Phone: (800)765-7446/ (410)312-3600 Franchisee Association Franchisee Advisory Council

Franchisor is a privately-held company with 27 employee(s); 3 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth

Year	U.S. Franchises	Canadian Franchises	Foreign Franchises	Company Owned
2009	180	0	0	1
2008	183	0	0	1
2007	186	0	0	1
2006	178	0	0	1
2005	175	0	0	1

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

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: 4,000 businesses

Total investment: $159.6K-284.3K Franchise fee: $34.5K

Ongoing royalty fee: to 6% Term of agreement: 20 years, renewable

Type of Financing Available

	In-House	Third Party
Franchise Fee	No	Yes
Startup Costs	No	Yes
Equipment	No	Yes
Inventory	No	Yes
Accounts Receivable	No	Yes
Payroll	No	Yes

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $250K
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
• Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training

• Available at headquarters: 3 weeks
• At franchisee's location: 3 weeks
• At various locations : 2-4 days

Ongoing Support

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

Marketing Support

• Co-op advertising
• Ad slicks

Other marketing support

• Sales training

Franchise 500® rank:
#276 (2009); #261 (2008); #263 (2007); #209 (2006); #201 (2005);