Signs Now

Founded: 1983 Franchising since: 1986
Founded in 1983, Signs Now was among the first companies to purchase time-saving machinery that cut letters and designs from a roll of thin vinyl to produce signs. Within three years, the company was purchased and began offering franchises. Today Signs Now has stores across North America and in South America, Europe and Asia providing customers with quick turnaround on signs and their other graphics needs.

6976 Professional Parkway E. Sarasota, Florida 34240

Phone: (800)356-3373/ (941)373-1958 Franchisee Association Franchise Advisory Board

Franchisor is a privately-held company with 21 employee(s)

Franchise Growth

Year	U.S. Franchises	Canadian Franchises	Foreign Franchises	Company Owned
2009	177	10	5	0
2008	193	10	5	0
2007	197	10	5	0
2006	197	10	5	0
2005	207	12	4	0

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
Outside the U.S.: Canada

Exclusive territories not available.
Territory size: 3,500 businesses

Total investment: $132.7K-231.9K Franchise fee: $35K

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	No
Accounts Receivable	No	No
Payroll	No	No

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $250K+
Cash liquidity requirement: $50K-75K
Business Experience:

• General business experience
• Marketing skills
• Management experience

Operations

• Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 5
• Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training

• Available at headquarters: 3 weeks
• At franchisee's location: 2 weeks
• At various locations : 2-5 days

Ongoing Support

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

Marketing Support

• Ad slicks

Other marketing support

• Regional operations directors, profit mastery program, R&D, preferred vendors, direct marketing, Yellow Pages, on-hold ads

Franchise 500® rank:
#271 (2009); #390 (2008); #361 (2007); #371 (2006); #326 (2005);