Franchising Since: 1995
Headquarters: Frisco, Texas
Estimated Number of Units: 40
Franchise Description: The franchisor is Blue Stamp Franchise Company. The franchisor offers a franchise for the operation of (i) a single specialty postal, copy and business store serving retail customers (“PC/ISI Store”), with a designated space within the store (“ISI Business Center”) assisting retail customers to sell their property over the Internet, or (ii) an “@Home Location”, which is an ISI Business Center operated from the franchisee’s residence if there are adequate adjacent storage facilities to hold products to be shipped for customers and the use of the residence as an @Home Location is legally permitted under local laws.
Training Overview: For PC/ISI Store outlets, franchisees receive an iSold It Training Package with the training outlined in four phases with a total of 16 days or 128 hours of training. For @Home Locations, franchisees receive an iSold It Training Package with the training outlined in four phases with a total of 12 days or 96 hours of training. The initial training program is mandatory for franchisees (if the franchisee is an individual) and their general manager. The successful completion of initial training by the designated general manager to the franchisor’s satisfaction is a condition to the opening of an outlet to the public. An additional four days of in-store training is provided when franchisees open their outlet. The franchisor may periodically conduct an annual conference or convention and national or regional meetings or training session, and if the franchisor does, it will determine its duration, curriculum and location. Franchisees (if an individual) and their general manager must attend each annual conference, convention or training session.
Territory Granted: Franchisees will receive a protected territory within which they are permitted to own and operate a franchised outlet. The size of the territory for varies from a radius of two city blocks (as measured in the franchisee’s city) around the outlet (if franchisees are in an urban area having a population of 50,000 or more) to a possible radius of 20 miles (if franchisees are in a non-urban (suburban or rural) area). The franchisor reserves the right to grant licenses to others to use the marks and to sell or license other products or services under the marks or otherwise, through delivery systems or other distribution channels other than outlets, both within and outside the territory.
Obligations and Restrictions: The franchisor is seeking franchisees whose principal equity owners will be personally participating in the direct “on premises” management and operation of the outlet. Each principal equity owner (and his/her spouse if applicable) signs a Guarantee of Franchise Agreement requiring him/her to ensure that all obligations of the franchisee under the Franchise Agreement (including provisions related to payments to franchisor, confidentiality and non-competition) are fulfilled. Franchisees must employ at least one designated general manager (if franchisees are a sole proprietor, this will be the franchisee, and if franchisees are an entity, this will be a principal equity owner of at least 50% of the franchisee entity) who has successfully completed the initial training program. Franchisees are permitted to sell at the outlet only those goods and services that the franchisor has approved. Franchisees may only solicit or accept orders from customers outside their territory using the authorized online e-commerce system.
Term of Agreement and Renewal: The length of the initial franchise term is 10 years. If franchisees are in good standing, they can add additional terms of 10 years upon written notice delivered to the franchisor not less than 120 days before the end of the existing term.
Financial Assistance: The franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing. The franchisor does not guarantee a franchisee’s note, lease or obligation.
Estimated Initial Investment
| Name of Fee | Low | High |
| Initial Franchise Fee for PC/ISI Store | $28,720 | $35,900 |
| Grand Opening Advertising Promotion | $5,000 | $7,500 |
| Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment, Installation and Sales Tax | $32,000 | $40,000 |
| Fast Track Merchandise | $7,000 | $13,000 |
| Lease, Internet Access and Utility Deposits | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| Real Estate (Rent or Lease Payments for 3 Months) | $10,500 | $20,000 |
| Computer Equipment | $8,800 | $12,200 |
| Computer Set-up Fee, QuickList Operating Software License and Installation and Menu Board | $2,400 | $2,900 |
| Office, Photography, Packing and Shipping Supplies | $2,800 | $5,850 |
| Permits and Licenses | $500 | $1,000 |
| Training Expenses | $5,000 | $7,000 |
| Installation of Phone and Data Lines | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| Insurance | $1,200 | $1,800 |
| Professional Fees | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Additional Funds – 1st 3 months | $25,500 | $79,500 |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL for PC/ISI Store | $134,320 | $239,150 |
| Name of Fee | Low | High |
| Initial Franchise Fee for @Home Location | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising Promotion | $1,600 | $2,500 |
| Fixtures, Equipment and Auto Wrap | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Insurance | $1,200 | $1,800 |
| Fast Track Merchandise | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Internet Access | $75 | $300 |
| Storage Facility | $125 | $200 |
| Computer Equipment | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| Computer Set-up Fee, QuickList Operating Software License and Installation and Menu Board | $2,400 | $2,900 |
| Office, Photography, Packing and Shipping Supplies | $1,000 | $3,500 |
| Permits and Licenses | $500 | $1,000 |
| Training Expenses | $4,100 | $6,500 |
| Installation of Phone and Data Lines | $300 | $600 |
| Professional Fees | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Grand Opening Promotion | $4,200 | $4,200 |
| Additional Funds – 1st 3 months | $10,000 | $12,500 |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL for @Home Location | $56,500 | $81,000 |
Other Fees
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Royalty Fee for all Postal Connections Services and Products | 4% of gross volume. |
| Royalty Fee for iSold It Services | 4% of monthly sales fees received from consigned goods sold by the franchisee and other items sold to retail customers (i.e. packing and shipping, supplies, ink cartridges, mail service, printing and copying, freight), and 1% of the gross revenues from sales of goods owned by the franchisee and sold through the Internet. |
| Marketing Fund Contributions | 2% of gross volume up to a maximum of $225 per month. |
| Fee for Additional Trainees | $750 |
| Technology Support Fee | $100 |
| Digital Menu Board Display Reimbursement Charge | $50 |
| Additional Advertising and Promotion Assessment | Amount of assessment (variable). |
| Fee for Additional Trainees | $750 |
| Audit Expenses | Costs of audit. |
| Collection Costs | Costs incurred to collect amounts the franchisee owes to the franchisor and has not paid. |
| Transfer Fee | $5,000 (for a PC/ISI store) or $1,500 for an @Home location. |
| Management Fee | $200 to $500 per day plus all costs including compensation, travel, meals and incidental expenses of manager. |
| Supplier Approval Fee | The franchisor may require franchisees to pre-pay reasonable charges for its review and evaluation of any proposal. |
| Interim Manager Payments | Daily charge which is currently $750 per day. |
| Convention Support Fee | Reasonable related fees to offset the cost of a convention program may be set by the franchisor (this is typically $500 to $1,000 per outlet). |
| Late Charge | $50 |
| Interest | Annual percentage rate (APR) of 18% on amount past due. |
| Costs of Collection | Cost of collection of delinquent amounts (variable). |
| Gift Cards | Variable based on purchases. |
| Reimbursement for Curing Franchisee Defaults | Cost incurred to cure the franchisee’s defaults (variable). |
| Attorneys’ Fees and Costs | Actual cost, which is variable. |
| Indemnification of Franchisor against Losses | All “losses,” as defined in the Franchise Agreement (variable). |
| De-identification Enforcement Expense | Cost and expenses relating to de-identification (variable). |
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