FAQs

IPI HQ evaluates all Licensee Information Request Forms received based on priority and timeline. If your needs change, please notify IPI HQ and your situation will be reevaluated. It is important that you contact IPI HQ before any other service providers related to The Print Refinery® (designers, suppliers, contractors, etc.).

To become a licensee, you must join IPI – Member Network and participate in our Marketing Solutions Program (MSP) and Managed Marketing Services (MMS). As a member-owned organization, IPI – Member Network is exempt from the FTC Franchise Rule.

Once you sign your licensing agreement, pay your startup fee and make your first monthly licensing payment, we ask that you remain a licensee for two full years and make at least 24 monthly licensing payments.

With a licensed model, IPI has a very limited role in your business. Other than your obligation to properly use The Print Refinery® trademarks and maintain a minimum level of quality in providing business services associated with the trademarks, IPI does not restrict or dictate the manner in which you conduct your operations. A licensed model is not subject to sales reporting regulations. A Hallmark store would be an example of a licensed model. A McDonald’s would be an example of a franchise.

We understand how valuable your existing brand is and encourage co-branding, with our design team providing a variety of customizable options. We require either a co-brand or unique geographic differentiator to set each location apart from the others.

No. Don’t change your legal entity. Add a DBA of The Print Refinery® and maintain your legal entity. 

Yes. It is just like the transfer of an IPI membership. The Print Refinery® opportunity provides a great investment to sell a branded business.

Yes. Please contact us to discuss how to bring this model to your country.

There is a one-time startup fee of $8,500* (per location), which includes the following: 

• Custom branding
• Personalized consultation with an interior specialist to create a custom layout, design plan, and merchandising displays for your location, including furniture, fixtures, wall treatments, lighting, flooring, décor + other design elements
• Weekly calls and other collaboration with your personal PR Development Team Onboarding Manager from inception to open house/brand launch
• Team setup on the PR Portal and IPI Member Network University for shared materials and training courses
• Managed marketing website setup
• Managed Marketing Services setup (email, social media, digital signage)
• Assistance with branding, packaging, apparel, printed materials, hiring, etc.
• Targeted social media brand launch campaign, completely managed by IPI and designed to communicate The Print Refinery® brand publicly and promote your store launch (includes printed materials, website, email, social media, digital signage, Google Places, Google Adwords, and Facebook Ads)
• A PR Development Team Member will manage and attend your grand opening/brand launch open house and provide in-person group and individual training while on-site.

• IPI membership
  • Vendor Partner discounts, specials, terms, and rebate generation
  • Networking via the IPIPhoto.com Forum
  • International Print + Imaging Conference (IPIC) participation
  • Year-round education + networking events on Zoom
  • Fearless Reinvention System®
  • Participation in IPI profit sharing (US members only)
  • MyLocalArchiver directory listing
• Marketing Solutions Program (MSP)
• Managed Marketing Services (MMS) – email, social media, digital signage
• NEW for 2025! Web Optimization Service
• Ongoing online training through IPI Member Network University
• Access to all PR materials, resources and updates through the online PR Portal
• Managed website and PR directory listing
• PR digital brand components, displays, and packaging guides and artwork
• Monthly ongoing one-on-one business coaching with a PR Development Team Member, including goal setting/tracking, B2B/commercial sales training and tailored solutions
• Hiring assistance
• Marketing results monitoring and sales growth review
• Concierge marketing + personalized support – complete campaign creation/distribution/tracking, social media paid advertising, ETSY consulting, etc.

Yes. Please contact us for pricing on multiple locations, which depends on individual marketing needs. You may not use licensed materials of The Print Refinery® in locations that are not licensed.

Contractors tell us that the estimated average cost per square foot for leasehold improvements in an existing vanilla shell ranges from $33 – $63. Because of the differences in geographic locations, local codes and other building requirements, this is only intended to be a general estimate. Also, much will depend on how you choose to operate your business and what equipment you select.

This information is provided as general business data. We don’t maintain or provide specific information on the costs to build out retail or commercial spaces. Do your own research and check with local contractors, architects, or similar building experts. 

Interior costs are largely dependent on square footage and the number of pieces that fit within that space. Durability and affordability were key factors when sourcing the interior design elements. The estimated cost is roughly $10 to $20 per square foot based on an average 1200 square foot location. This number is dependent on current estimates and experience and will become tighter once we have several operational licensees providing feedback.

Legal fees, deposits with your landlord, other deposits, ordering platform, POS, CRM, technology, equipment, materials, consumables, etc. are some examples of additional costs typically incurred during the course of businesses.

This information is provided as general business data. We don’t maintain or provide specific information about business startup costs. Please do your own research and planning. 

We are unable to provide this type of information. Remember, this is an independently operated business to manage as you see fit. 

The retail space of our current locations range in size from 700 to 5000 square feet with total space (including production) ranging from 1800 to 5500 square feet.

Yes. This includes a generic layout; furniture, fixture and flooring purchase orders; graphics and color schemes for either a full store retail design or a Store-Within-A-Store layout. A detailed custom layout is provided by an IPI service provider as part of the startup fee.

The Print Refinery® required key branding elements must be adopted. In the event of a recent remodel or if your existing surfaces and materials meet The Print Refinery® design standards, our store design committee can evaluate your situation and determine whether or not those elements will remain or be replaced. Photos and samples of the existing materials will be requested as part of the evaluation process.

Yes. There is a $3500 fee to design a new location (layout, displays, fixtures, etc.) and make all the necessary updates to your printed and online materials if you move locations at a later date. 

We can have you up and running in as few as 90 days, assuming your site is ready for installation. For brand new businesses and/or locations, general contractors tell us that from site selection to opening day, the startup can run from three to eight months. This is an estimate only. 

• This information is provided as general business data. We don’t maintain or provide specific information on the cost of different types of business models. Please do your own research.

The Print Refinery® does not maintain specific defined territories. We approve the proximity of locations to existing members and licensees, depending on population density of each market location.

Throughout the onboarding process you will receive coaching and education that supports your store’s retail products, business operations and overall client experience. A PR Development Team Member will attend your grand opening/brand launch open house and provide in-person group and individual training while on-site (including but not limited to brand, culture, team, experience, packaging, systems, retail sales, etc.). Keep your team up to date through the IPI – Member Network University, a fun and easy-to-use online training system with required and elective learning modules. Also provided are: weekly ongoing one-on-one business coaching with a PR Development Team Member (including B2B/commercial sales training), one-on-one business development coaching and mentoring from an existing licensee and monthly licensee group calls.

No. Remember, this is your own independently operated business. You operate the business as you see fit using best practices in specialty retail. There is an online training system that you can use to learn and educate your team. Some modules are recommended for all team members and others are duty-specific. Additional support can be provided by a mentor, monthly group calls and our member online Forum.

Depending on how you choose to cobrand your location, you may choose to keep your current URL. Otherwise, each location has a subdomain with any previous URLs redirected to that address. 

We have a variety of options for how to handle your website, featuring your top profit centers and highlighting all of the facets of your business model.

Because we market the business through The Print Refinery® website, email, social media and similar, licensees should offer core products and services that are proven to be profitable. Excellent outsourcing options are available for many products so you can always say “Yes” to your business or retail customer. The licensed business model does not dictate the specifics of what you must offer in products and services. We only provide general best practices. 

No. You operate your business as you see fit. However, operating a high service specialty business will usually require premium pricing to maintain profitability and enable you to continue to provide premium services and value.