AlphaGraphics Printshops Of The Future vs SignWorld Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of AlphaGraphics Printshops Of The Future vs SignWorld including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
AlphaGraphics Printshops Of The Future Franchise
SignWorld Franchise
Investment $74,250 - $380,568$185,000 - And Up
Franchise Fee $48,000N/A
Royalty Fee 3% -7%0
Advertising Fee 2.5%0
Year Founded 1970-
Year Franchised 1980-
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Renewal Fee -0


Business Experience Requirements
 
AlphaGraphics Printshops Of The Future Franchise
SignWorld Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		• You won�t need any graphics arts education or prior experience with signs. Our owners come from all walks of life, from bankers to secretaries to construction workers. No matter what their background, they all share a strong work ethic; a desire to build a business with no limitations and the realization that working for themselves is their ultimate destiny. They apply their people skills to help their customers with solutions they need to promote their business.

    Financing Options
     
    AlphaGraphics Printshops Of The Future Franchise
    SignWorld Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/Yes-/-
    Payroll No/Yes-/-

    Training & Support
     
    AlphaGraphics Printshops Of The Future Franchise
    SignWorld Franchise
    Training Classroom Training: 5 days Additional Training: At regional locations

    Technical Training � 5 days on sign-making hardware and software Operations Training � 3 days on sales/marketing, website/internet presence, human resources, finance, legal, products, materials, suppliers and overall daily operations Supplier Training � 1 day visiting 7 suppliers Pricing, accounting and POS Training � 5 days On-The-Job Training � 5 days at other Signworld locations On-site Training � 3 days

    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operation Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform

    SUPPLY DISCOUNTS � Signworld Owners receive discounts on supplies, saving thousands of dollars per year. ONLINE TECHINCAL SUPPORT � We can connect to your computer, fix problems and download solutions. NEXT DAY ON-SITE SERVICE � For any equipment issues that cannot be serviced over the phone or through online technical support. OWNERS WEB SITE � Blast a question to our 260+ Owners and receive same day responses from many Owners across the country. Other features include: Owners Roster, Suppliers Roster, technical updates and calendar of ongoing webinar trainings and other events. ANNUAL CONVENTION � A 3 day event with 30 seminars on how to improve your operation and earn more money.

    Marketing Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing

    As a new Signworld Owner, you will be on a team with 12 other Owners who meet on camera in a weekly webinar to share proven techniques other Signworld Owners have used to grow their business. Sales success and lasting change only comes about with ongoing reinforcement. This weekly coaching session is a dynamic, ongoing learning experience that becomes a vital part of your professional life. It is a safe place to share your toughest problems and work with your coach and your team of other Signworld Owners to find solutions and fix them.

    Half of your business can come from your website/internet presence. Marketing your business through the internet is a major element of Signworld's business model. In addition to traditional outbound marketing and networking training, we will teach you the right way to build a website full of remarkable content, and also teach you how to utilize an inbound marketing plan that will maximize your reach on the internet which will keep your customers coming back to learn more about what you can do to help them with their signage needs.

    Operations 5% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    AlphaGraphics Printshops Of The Future Franchise
    SignWorld Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About AlphaGraphics Printshops Of The Future

    The first AlphaGraphics Printshops Of The Future location opened in Tucson, Arizona, in 1970. Franchising began nine years later, and by the company's 20th year in business, AlphaGraphics had shops throughout North America, Asia and Europe. AlphaGraphics locations offer customers a variety of printing, copying and publishing services including custom-made business forms, stationery, announcements and presentation folders. Shops also design Web sites.

    The estimated total initial investment necessary to begin operation of a new AlphaGraphics® Business Center franchise is $214,650 to $380,568, excluding real estate costs. This includes $55,500 in initial fees that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    The estimated total initial investment necessary to begin operation of an AlphaGraphics® Business Center franchise under our Acquire and Convert Pathway is $102,250 to $330,050, excluding real estate costs. This includes $55,500 in initial fees that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    The estimated total initial investment necessary to begin operation of an AlphaGraphics® Business Center franchise under our Conversion Pathway is $74,250 to $302,050, excluding real estate costs. This includes $27,500 in initial fees that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate. If you sign an Area Development Agreement, you will also pay a development fee equal to $12,000 for each area listed in the Area Development Agreement, which will be applied toward the applicable initial fees listed above if and when you sign a Franchise Agreement for that area.

    Franchisor is seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S. and in the following regions/states: Europe (Eastern), South America, Europe (Western)

    Veteran Incentives: $5,000 off franchise fee

    "Entrepreneur

    #226 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #232 in Franchise 500 for 2021.




    About SignWorld

    98% of all signs are indoors. They are paper posters, cardboard, banners and thin plastic like materials. Most signs are thrown away every month. In December, they say "Happy Holidays". In January, they say "Clearance". In February, they say "Valentine's Day", and on and on. Drive down any street, walk into any business, notice vehicles of all sizes wrapped in pictures and graphics or visit a trade show and the opportunity for building a business in the sign industry will become very clear. Today, more than ever, small businesses to large are seeking ways to increase their visibility and make an impact through the use of signs. Signs are custom production, so every day is different and you will see tangible, visible results of your efforts as you drive around town. It's close to home, in a low-overhead business park location, operating Monday-Friday 9-5  no nights, weekends or holidays, with a small staff of career employees. There are no loud noises, odors, or dangerous chemicals. It's a relationship business with repeat customers. Twenty to thirty of those customers can equal 80% of your revenue. Many of those customers may be regional and even national in scope. It's a non-cash transaction business, so when you are out seeing customers, you don't have to worry about who's holding the money. When you are ready to sell your business, it will sell for more than most business models because of the manufacturing sector you are in, the small core of repeat customers and the profit margins obtainable due to the custom nature of the business. Our business model is for you to work with ongoing large customers with a repetitive need. Here's what separates Signworld from other sign organizations: *No Royalties *No Rules *50% or more of your business can come from your website. Our owners are able to effectively market their business on the internet and take advantage of their individual brand identity. *Weekly sales and marketing coaching webinar with your peers *Ongoing support for as long as you are in business from both corporate staff plus our 260+ Owners *Ability to own your own building *25 years in business Achieve your financial goals with SignWorld