Seventy percent of Americans are disengaged or unsatisfied at their jobs. Evolving employee attitudes and expectations are to blame for this, according to research by the same Gallup poll.

Most workers, many of whom are millennials, approach a role and company with a highly-defined set of expectations. They want their work to have meaning and purpose, and they want to use their talents and strengths every day. For many creative types seeking a fulfilling career, corporate America just doesn’t cut it.

Here’s why SpeedPro could be the perfect franchise opportunity and creative outlet for you:

Create Your Own Culture

Creating your own work environment and company culture is one of the most rewarding parts of being a business owner. Within a franchise system, some entrepreneurs worry they’ll miss out on the opportunity to build a culture they love. But with the right brand, you’ll have all the backing and support you need, without sacrificing your autonomy.

While some franchise brands are more restrictive, SpeedPro allows you to run your business the way you want. There are many common threads among SpeedPro franchisees – they love variety in their day and the fast-paced, collaborative studio environment. But, no two franchisees, markets or studios are exactly alike. So, even though we all share the SpeedPro name, our corporate team won’t encroach on your day-to-day operations.

We provide you all the tools, support and resources you need to take your success to the next level. But, we won’t do so at the cost of your autonomy and flexibility. You can create the environment you want, and run your business exactly how you like.

Use Your Creative Skills Every Day

With SpeedPro, your creativity doesn’t begin and end with designing your studio and creating your culture. You get to flex your creative muscles every day with your design and graphic work.

As a SpeedPro franchisee, you’re not just a printer – you’re a solutions provider. In that way, you’re an extension of every client’s marketing department. You have to work with them to understand their long-term objectives, while finding custom design solutions to help them accomplish those goals. Not only do you have to use your creative vision to make graphics, you also need to find creative solutions to help clients.

Experiment with Experiential Graphics

Each client is different, and each of their objectives and projects are unique. With the growing popularity of experiential graphics, SpeedPro franchisees have been able to get even more creative with their designs. The possibilities for large-scale graphics in experiential design are endless.

SpeedPro Chicago owner Shira Kollins recently re-created Moe’s Tavern from The Simpsons for a pop-up bar. She even used her business and creativity to custom-build removable wallpaper and dance floor for her own wedding.

Another testament to the power of experiential graphics was SpeedPro franchisee Steve Moran-Cassese’s work rebranding Hewlett Packard’s headquarters. Or, SpeedPro’s Mark Simmons showcasing his talents by transforming a plain-looking car dealership showroom into a Polynesian beach-themed landscape.

It’s no surprise that business owners report higher job satisfaction than employees stuck in a corporate machine. Not only do entrepreneurs enjoy the freedom to create whatever work environment they want, they can also center their product or services on their own strengths. And, with the SpeedPro business opportunity, they get to use their creativity every day.

To learn more about the SpeedPro franchise opportunity, check out what our franchisees have to say.

Work-life balance is a top priority for today’s workers. It not only means extra time for family, friends and hobbies, but it actually affects your health. When we get stressed and overwhelmed by work priorities, our immune system suffers—meaning you’re susceptible to getting sick more easily.

Many people turn to business ownership to reap the benefits of work-life balance. Franchise opportunities are a proven way for entrepreneurs to become independent business owners while still receiving support for buying, training, marketing and operations from the franchisor.

SpeedPro has more than 135 locations already up and running, providing entrepreneurs with confidence that the brand is based on a proven model. New franchisees appreciate the large and growing base of peers and unmatched corporate support. These resources help franchisees, such as David and Cherie Ostermann, grow their business and achieve a healthy work-life balance. They’ve been part of the SpeedPro family for 12 years.

Partners in Life and Business

Cherie worked as a personal trainer and as a sales rep for a magazine. David worked most of his professional life in IT sales and telecommunications. But, in 2001 the IT industry took a hit. After being laid off four times, he knew it was time for a career change, but wasn’t sure where to turn. Although the couple wasn’t looking into franchise ownership, they heard about an opportunity through a friend, who owned a SpeedPro studio.

David and Cherie became partners with that friend in 2005 and took full ownership in 2010.

“Both Cherie and I had years of sales experience, so it seemed like a good fit,” David said. “We did a 90-day trial and then signed on and became full owners eight years ago.”

They got married shortly before their career change, and their tag-team effort has helped them run the business smoothly and achieve their work-life balance.

“I think since there are two of us and we act as partners in the business, it makes it easier to take time away,” Cherie said. “For example, I’ll work from home to watch our grandkids. Family is so important to us, so that’s a huge plus.”

But it wasn’t always this way. David and Cherie worked hard to build up a great team to support their business.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

When they first took ownership, David and Cherie spent the same amount of time doing SpeedPro work as they did doing work at their past jobs. However, since then, they have been able to scale back their time at work and spend more time with family, but not without strategic planning.

“It’s so important to have a great team on your side,” David said. “We made sure to take time hiring the right people who we could trust with our business. We have great general managers and staff. We’re very confident in our staff to keep everything moving smoothly.”

This attention to detail with hiring has allowed the pair to take time off and feed their travel bug.

“By the time we got married, both our children were adults, so we’re empty nesters now,” Cherie said. “We want to take advantage of this time to travel. We’re seeing the world and visiting our kids and grandkids along the way, making memories we’ll never forget.”

David’s son is studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and David and Cherie plan to visit him this summer. While it took hard work in their business, the SpeedPro model has allowed the couple opportunities to enjoy entrepreneurship and their family in harmony.

To learn more about SpeedPro’s model and more about franchisee work-life balance, read about some of the perks of being a SpeedPro studio owner.

Few metrics matter more to business owners than gross profit. In spite of strong sales, franchisees that have to absorb steep operational costs are less likely to see the return on their initial investment they expected.

So, understandably, entrepreneurs seeking out new opportunities want to have an idea of their bottom line before investing in a franchise concept. Most small businesses operate within a gross margin of around 25 to 35 percent.

Double those figures, and you’ll arrive at the gross profit margin of the top-performing quartile of SpeedPro franchisees. Yes, you read that correctly. In 2017, the top 25 percent of SpeedPro studios had gross profit margins of 64.2 percent.* Here’s how they’re able to do that:

Industry Leading-Brand in a Growing Industry

The U.S. wide-format printing market is predicted to grow by 4 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2017 to 2021, according to a recent study. In other words, the wide-format industry is projected to see impressive returns in the coming years. The market has always had a healthy customer base derived from smaller businesses looking for effective marketing collateral that generates strong ROI, and the market is only expected to grow. Along with the expanding market, the industry is also growing at a rapid pace, and we’re excited to be leading the charge.

Cost-Effective Inventory and Supplies

Through SpeedPro’s partnership with 3M, as well as our vendor relationships, we’re able to offer our franchisees all the necessary materials for their business at a hefty discount. With more than 150 studios in our system, we have substantial buying power. By purchasing materials in bulk, we’re able to provide lower costs for supplies, inventory and any other goods our franchisees will need. With these significantly-reduced rates, franchisees can slash operating costs and, ultimately, enjoy higher profitability.

Strong Sales

SpeedPro franchisees have benefitted from strong sales for years, even before recent industry growth and innovation. With a B2B focus, our franchisees are able to turn a much higher profit than consumer-facing and retail printers. With most companies dedicating anywhere from 8 to 24 percent of their budget on marketing, including graphics and large-scale visuals, this translates into a significant market for our franchisees.

Not only do we produce work on a larger scale, we also get years of loyal customers and repeat business driving sales. Why? Because we’re not just a printing business – we’re a solutions provider. SpeedPro franchisees provide customers with eye-catching, premium graphics, but even more importantly, they tailor each solution to the individual customer’s needs. SpeedPro owners are an extension of each client business’ marketing team.

For more than 20 years, we have been partnering with relationship-oriented, creative and business-minded individuals to bring SpeedPro to markets across the country. When our individual franchisees succeed, our whole brand succeeds – so the impressive profit margins the top-performing SpeedPro franchisees see are just as good for them as they are for us. By driving down inventory costs and positioning franchisees in a profitable, growing segment, we’ve been able to nurture a strong, healthy franchise system – while propelling our brand to become an industry leader.

To learn more about the SpeedPro franchise opportunity, check out what our franchisees have to say.

*These figures are included in the 2018 SpeedPro Franchise Disclosure Document (the “FDD”) and involve the average sales information for the twenty-six SpeedPro Studios that comprise the top 25% (based on their 2017 fiscal year financial performance) of the 107 SpeedPro Studios that have been in operation for at least two years and that satisfied the other reporting criteria set forth in the FDD. Within the top 25%, 14 Studios met or exceeded the average Gross Profit Margin figure. The Gross Margin figurs is based on each franchisee’s actual 2017 fiscal year unaudited financial statements submitted to SP Franchising LLC. Your financial results are likely to differ from the figures presented.

Let’s face it: Few people aspire to middle management. On the other hand, more than half of Americans want to own their own business. From following your passion to being your own boss, the benefits of business ownership are endless. Still, starting up a business can be a formidable prospect, especially for people new to the industry or entrepreneurship in general.

That’s why many people opt for a franchise model when they’re ready to open their first business. This model gives them all the benefits and autonomy of owning their own business, along with a proven framework for success.

Here are just three reasons why franchise ownership is the way to go for aspiring entrepreneurs tired of the corporate ladder:

Brand Recognition

A business is nothing without the power of a good brand and trusted name backing it up. Business owners can spend months conceptualizing every detail of their brand – from their logo to branding colors and themes. But that’s the easy part. Once they’ve figured out their brand, it takes years to become a trusted, respected and recognizable name.

With a franchise model, business owners don’t have to start from ground zero in building their brand – it’s already been done for them. With many years in business and multiple locations, established franchise brands like ours hand over our trusted name and brand to all our franchise partners. Having this brand recognition and trust in place at the onset provides business owners a significant competitive advantage, and allows them to focus on other things – like running a profitable studio.

Training and Support

The training and support available to business owners within a franchise model present another great advantage over competitors. After years of experience, franchisors have established methods to help you get up and running quickly – and stay successful for years to come. Still, every opportunity is different, so it’s important to research franchise opportunities extensively and understand exactly how the franchisor will train and support you.

Framework for Success in Business Ownership

With a franchise business, owners will have a proven system and framework already in place for them. This minimizes the chances of making costly errors, significantly reducing overall risk.

Not only does a proven business model minimize obstacles, it speeds up initial startup time. Since you’re provided a comprehensive manual for success, franchise owners do not have to spend months – or years – planning every aspect of their business. From marketing and operations to supplier relationships, every system has been planned, replicated and perfected.

Franchising is a path to business ownership that gives franchisees immediate, established brand recognition, proven systems and supportive networks. Of course, the business is only as good as the franchise brand behind it, so it’s important to do your due diligence before investing in any concept. Make sure the brand you’re aligning yourself with has a track record of success, along with the support you need to get up and running quickly.

To learn more about the SpeedPro franchise opportunity, check out what our franchisees have to say.

Aspiring entrepreneurs often opt for a franchise model over an independent business because they instantly benefit from the franchisor’s proven framework—avoiding many of the pitfalls that new business owners encounter. Franchise brands offer varying degrees of support to help new franchisees hit the ground running.

SpeedPro franchisees have access to a robust, full-scale system that allows them to put their best foot forward when opening their wide-format printing business. We help franchisees start generating revenue and building their business before even opening their doors.

Here’s how our RampUp Program kick-starts sales for franchisees:

Get a Head Start on Generating Revenue

The SpeedPro RampUp Program is one of our many unique differentiators. This program allows you to get a head start with hands-on experience before opening, and it’s designed to assist franchisees with generating revenue almost immediately.

During the RampUp Program, new owners use a “buddy studio” while they aren’t open to begin generating revenue. The buddy studio helps the new owner produce materials for new clients, allowing them to grow their customer base and create revenue. The studios then continue a buddy relationship to help the new owner balance books and reach profitability as soon as possible.

While some franchise brands leave their franchisees to fend for themselves during their first year, the RampUp program helps SpeedPro franchisees start bringing in revenue right away. This helps them break even faster, and ensures they complete everything needed to launch successfully.

Network and Build Your Client Base Right Away

New business owners are eager to start building up their client base, even during the initial startup process. That’s why we have sales and marketing support in place to build brand awareness for our new franchisees in the months leading up to their grand opening. The SpeedPro name carries weight on a national level, but kick-starting local marketing and brand awareness initiatives only further elevates your business. We help you join networking groups and become involved in your local business community to get your name out right away.

We’ll also show you how to engage businesses and develop relationships that will translate into revenue early on. Many of these partnerships – especially with small-format printers – will provide you your first clients. Because of SpeedPro’s off-retail studio locations, B2B focus and unique product line, we aren’t a threat to these small-format printers. In fact, we actually enhance their business by partnering with them and offering additional products and services to their existing clients.

Small-format printers can take care of the business cards and mailers, and we’ll handle the wide-format printing and graphics – from banners and flags to vehicle wraps and point-of-purchase displays. Not only is this a great avenue to build a client base, but by partnering with a nearby small-format print studio, you can start fulfilling orders even before your own grand opening. By earning revenue before even opening your doors, you’re able to start turning a profit more quickly.

We make sure our franchisees are set up to succeed, the SpeedPro Way. Our RampUp program is second-to-none, and it’s just one of the ways we’re able to foster success for our franchisees.

To learn more about SpeedPro’s launch programs and other advantages, contact us here.