Liz and Phil Van Kampen owned their independent printing business SprintPrint for 35 years before selling the business through Minuteman Press International’s Conversion Program in Feb. 2022.

How to Sell Your Printing Business

Are you looking to sell a printing business? Here are 3 reasons why Minuteman Press can help sell your business at NO COST to you!

For any business owner, the day will eventually come where it will be time to sell your business. Whether retirement is on the horizon or you simply are looking to move on to your next chapter, it is important to have an exit strategy in place, or, at the very least, have one in mind.

In 2023, now may be a great time think about your exit strategy and selling your printing business. The question you might ask yourself is, “How do I sell my printing business?”

35-Year Printing Business SprintPrint Converts to Minuteman Press Franchise in Madison, Wisconsin https://minutemanpressfranchise.com
Phil and Liz Van Kampen (right) owned their independent printing business SprintPrint for 35 years before selling the business through Minuteman Press International’s Conversion Program in Feb. 2022.

“The Minuteman Press Conversion Program was exactly what we needed to sell our 35-year printing business. There was no charge, no commission, and no broker fees. I also liked the fact that Minuteman Press would aid the new owner in running the business, and that I could retire without worrying about my customers and employees. In fact, my wife Liz is staying on to work with them because she isn’t ready to retire and loves her job. Minuteman Press International helped coordinate the sale and made it work, and it has been an easy transition for all involved.”
-Phil Van Kampen, Retired Owner, SprintPrint, Madison, Wisconsin

The good news for independent printers and print shop owners is that at Minuteman Press, we can entertain a large network of buyers – including those who do not have industry experience – and provide full training and support to continue the legacy you’ve built. Part of our growth strategy is to help independent printers sell their business and convert their store into a Minuteman Press franchise. We are looking to keep the business going and we provide your potential buyers with a tried and proven system that will be able to guide them.

For independent printers, we recognize that there is one shared quality that is truly admirable in today’s day and age: The customer always comes first. This sense of loyalty poses a unique concern for printers who have spent so many years helping their clients in every way they possibly could and are now looking to retire or sell their printing business. Beyond the fact that independent print shop owners are looking for a fair price for their business, they also tend to ask themselves, “What will happen to my customers when I sell my printing business?”

This is a question that Jack Panzer and his colleagues at Minuteman Press International have fielded hundreds of times from independent printers. Each case is unique, and as a result of his experiences, Jack is able to lend an experienced and empathetic ear to the men and women he talks to about their print shop, their customers, their livelihoods, and their lives in general. After all, Jack has been in the printing business more than three decades, spending the past 20 years of them with Minuteman Press, where he is Regional Vice President for the Arizona and Colorado Region.

To the question at hand, Jack answers, “Just like you, our home office and regional staff is comprised of long-time printing veterans who know how important it is to treat every customer with the respect they deserve. With our award-winning training program and continued nurturing, the buyer of your business will be in very capable hands, as will your business itself. Providing outstanding customer service and producing high quality products are the foundations of our industry, and we have the track record and reputation to make sure the legacy of your business is in the most capable hands.”

And just like everyone else at Minuteman Press International – which has been involved with printing and franchising for over 45 years – Jack Panzer prides himself on helping others succeed while they are in business as well as making sure that people who have worked so hard for so long can have the chance to exit in a fair and gracious manner when they are ready to do so.

Why is Minuteman Press a great resource for owners who are looking to sell a printing business?

To sell a print business, you have to know how to attract qualified buyers and show them how they can be successful as owners. Jack further explains why Minuteman Press is the perfect option for sellers: “The bottom line for us is that we have the printing experience and business expertise to provide that exit strategy for independent printers. Personally, I love being able to help people on both sides of the coin, and so do my colleagues. As the world’s largest printing franchise, we have the unique ability to find qualified buyers, while also possessing the industry knowledge to assess an independent printing business and get fair value for the exiting owners.”

Here are 3 benefits of utilizing Minuteman Press to sell your printing business:

1. We can get you full value for your business. Because we have specialized in the industry for over 45 years, we have a wealth of knowledge in the industry that will help us get fair and full value for your print shop. We have an intricate understanding of how to properly valuate and sell your business. We’ve sold more independent print centers than any broker or franchise.

2. We can sell your business to a wide range of buyers. Combining our franchise with an already established business is a very attractive opportunity. Because Minuteman Press offers full training and ongoing local support, we are able to take on buyers who are new to the printing & marketing industry, and we can essentially sell your business to anyone. With an experienced corporate staff and 28 regional offices, we have successfully put those without any industry experience into business, and we will take care of all of the training for you. This further opens up the pool of prospective buyers and assures that the business will be in capable hands.

Our franchise attracts people from all walks of life and diverse professional backgrounds; one thing they do have in common is they are interested in buying a solid business. Being a #1 rated business service franchise, we have a wide range of buyers come to us looking for the opportunity to join our system. We pride ourselves into putting good people into a great business.

3. We can do it within a reasonable time frame & at NO COST to you. Simply put, this is what we do. We are uniquely positioned to evaluate and assist with the sale of your printing business. Over the past 45 years, we have provided our franchise owners with this very same built-in exit strategy. We’ve developed a very strong marketing program to attract potential franchisees. Our experience in locating qualified buyers and our ability to offer financing options to them also saves time and removes additional legwork that you would have to do on your own should you sell independently.

What can we do for you?

  • We will perform a free evaluation of your business. We have over 45 years of expertise evaluating print, sign & promotional businesses.
  • Create marketing campaigns at the local level to attract potential buyers, all at no expense to you.
  • Meet with and qualify all prospects before presenting your business.
  • Coordinate the sale.
  • Provide training and ongoing local support to the buyer to ensure your legacy of high quality and customer service lives on.
  • Vested interest: We have a vested interest in the success of the printing business that is being purchased because we want to keep our franchise system growing and thriving. Your business will be in good hands and you will be able to have peace of mind knowing that your customers will continue to be treated with the respect they deserve.
  • Easy Transition: You have probably asked yourself, “What happens after I sell my printing business?” Our answer is simple: When you sell your printing business through Minuteman Press, the burden of staying on to train the buyer is completely removed from your shoulders. The buyer of your business will be trained and supported by us on both the local and national levels throughout the life of the business. We will make the transition as easy and seamless as possible, saving you the time and effort that you would normally have to spend training your replacement even after the sale is completed.

More than just a financial transaction … and we understand that!

How To Sell Your Printing Business

At the end of the day, selling your printing business is a very personal decision that should not be taken lightly. Just like when you decided to open up the doors to your print shop for the first time, finding an exit strategy that meets your needs and eases your concerns are the most important factors. Being able to build an honest relationship with someone who can help you sell your business is a huge benefit of working with Minuteman Press during this process.

As Jack Panzer concludes, “While money certainly matters to anyone who is selling their business, this is more than just a financial transaction. It’s about helping people have a graceful exit out of their business and a dignified entrance into retirement or whatever their next chapter holds.”

Don’t just take our word for it… 

BizBuySell Logo

“If you are thinking about selling your printing business, we highly recommend that you consider using Minuteman Press to assist you with your exit strategy. We have partnered with the team at Minuteman Press for over 10 years, helping them refine their marketing strategies to find qualified buyers. Minuteman Press has an excellent understanding of current market trends, how to properly evaluate and price it correctly, and how to facilitate the sale of printing businesses.”
-BizBuySell

Custom Printing is now International Minute Press, Nampa, Idaho. Pictured along with staff are new owners Sheryl Wisler (5th from right), James Wisler (6th from right), and retiring independent print shop owner Mike Cutler (7th from right). https://minutemanpressfranchise.com
Custom Printing is now International Minute Press, Nampa, Idaho. Pictured with staff are new owners Sheryl Wisler (5th from right), James Wisler (6th from right), and retiring print shop owner Mike Cutler (7th from right).

“The smooth transition has reassured me that it was the right move to sell my business with Minuteman Press International. They have the right plan, the right experience, and everyone has been incredible to the very last detail. In my acquisition experience, nothing has ever been as easy as this. I had everything to gain and nothing to lose, and there were absolutely no hiccups along the way. I would easily rate my experience as 10/10.”
-Mike Cutler, Retired Owner, Custom Printing, Nampa, Idaho

Contact us today for a confidential discussion on how we can assist you on the sale of your business and for a free valuation at no obligation to you. Simply fill out the contact form on this page or call us at 1-800-645-3006.

FREE E-BOOK:

Scan the QR Code to see our free e-book on how to sell your printing business at no cost to you. https://sellyourprintingbusiness.com

Scan the QR Code or click here to access our Free E-Book on How to Sell Your Printing Business