Four Star

What Four Star does

Four Star Printing is a family-owned and operated commercial printing company headquartered at 43671 Trade Center Place, Suite 154, in Dulles, Virginia. Founded in 1987 and employing between 11 and 50 staff, it serves small and medium-sized businesses across the Virginia region with a comprehensive print and mailing offering. Customers span local businesses, organizations and associations, legal professionals, and various industries, and the company positions itself as a turnkey provider taking projects from concept through completion.

The technical stack is a conventional commercial print operation spanning offset, digital, large-format, and flatbed printing; variable data printing that personalizes mailpieces using customer databases; and cross-media marketing that combines physical mail with personalized URLs (PURLs) for measurable response tracking. Finishing and bindery capabilities include cutting, collating, die-cutting, folding, gluing, lamination, kitting, mounting, padding, scoring, stamping, tabbing, and multiple binding methods (coil, comb, perfect, saddle stitch, side stitch, spiral, wire, tape). Supporting services include graphic design, copywriting, USPS-compliant mailing and bulk-mail handling, warehousing and distribution, and convention/trade-show logistics. An online customer portal supports estimates, file transfer, ordering, and invoice payment.

The business model is predominantly transaction-based on a per-project, quote-priced basis, with a small but structurally important recurring-revenue layer delivered through password-protected custom storefronts that streamline reordering of corporate-identity and marketing materials for VIP clients. Distribution is direct via website, phone, in-person, and local pickup and delivery. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers request estimates through the website or by phone. There is no evidence of outside investment, public listing, multi-state footprint, or external equity sponsorship, and the company is operated under the Ehlert family with President Bruce Ehlert, VP/CFO Terri Ehlert, and Art Director Christopher Kim.

Name

Four Star

Legal name

Four Star Printing

Website

https://fourstarprinting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Four Star Printing is a family-owned commercial printing company in Dulles, Virginia, providing offset, digital, large-format, and variable data printing, mailing, and finishing services to local small and medium-sized businesses across the Virginia region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Printing and Related Support Activities (323)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Direct mail marketing
• Variable data printing
• Finishing bindery services
• Large format printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Dulles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Printing Services: One-time printing services including offset printing, digital printing, large format printing, and variable data printing. Services provided on a per-project basis for business cards, brochures, postcards, flyers, catalogs, newsletters, manuals, banners, and more.
2. Custom Storefronts: Password-protected ordering portals created for individual businesses, enabling easy reordering of stationery, business cards, and marketing materials. Provides recurring revenue opportunity through repeat orders.
3. Mailing Services: Full-service mailing including mail preparation per USPS specifications, shipping, bulk mail handling, and variable data mailings for personalized letters, invoices, and surveys.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Four Star Printing is a family-owned commercial printer providing offset, digital, variable data, large format, and flatbed printing; direct mail and bulk mailing services; graphic design; finishing and bindery (cutting, folding, lamination, multiple binding methods); and recurring ordering via custom VIP storefronts. The company produces marketing materials, business communications, publications, signage, vehicle graphics, apparel, and promotional products, with local pickup and delivery in the Dulles, Virginia area.

Product overview

Four Star Printing is a family-owned commercial printing company offering a comprehensive suite of printing services and products. The core offering consists of offset printing, digital printing, variable data printing, and large format printing services. The product portfolio spans marketing materials (postcards, flyers, brochures, banners, promotional products), business communications (business cards, letterhead, envelopes, stationery systems), publication printing (catalogs, newsletters, manuals, booklets, magazines), signage (yard signs, vehicle graphics, vehicle wraps, trade show displays), and corporate identity packages. Supporting services include graphic design, cross media marketing with PURLs, finishing and bindery services (cutting, folding, lamination, various binding methods), mailing services, and custom storefronts for easy reordering. The company operates through an online customer portal for estimates, ordering, and file transfers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Printing Services Core commercial printing including offset printing, digital printing, variable data printing, large format digital printing, and flatbed digital print on demand for business cards, brochures, postcards, flyers, folders, reports, posters, letterhead, stickers, door hangers, and more.
• Direct Mail Services Full-service mailing including mail preparation per USPS specifications, shipping, bulk mail handling, and variable data mailings for personalized letters, invoices, and surveys; complete direct mail campaigns including mailing list acquisition, metering, and postal discounts.
• Cross Media Marketing with PURLs Marketing solutions combining direct mail with interactive internet capabilities using personalized URLs (PURLs) to improve direct marketing response rates and generate qualified leads.
• Graphic Design Services Custom graphic design services including logo design, direct mail design, branding, and corporate identity creation by experienced designers.
• Finishing & Bindery Services Complete finishing services including cutting, collating, die-cutting, folding, gluing, hole punching, kitting, mounting, padding, scoring, stamping, and tabbing; and binding options including coil, comb, perfect, saddle stitch, side stitch, spiral, three-ring, tape, wire, and shrinkwrapping.
• Mailing Services Professional mailing services including mail preparation per USPS specifications, metering, shipping, bulk mail handling, and full-service mailing for personalized letters, invoices, and surveys.
• Custom Storefronts Password-protected ordering portals created for individual businesses, enabling easy reordering of stationery, business cards, and marketing materials; supports recurring orders through a streamlined repeat-customer interface.
• Marketing Services Marketing expert services to maximize marketing dollars through direct mailpieces, brochures, point-of-purchase displays, and complete marketing plans.
• Warehousing & Distribution Cost-effective warehousing and distribution services including document storage, inventory tracking, fulfillment, and shipping responsibilities.
• Pickup and Delivery Convenient door-to-door pickup and delivery service for orders when customers are pressed for time or unable to visit the office location.
• Trade Show and Event Planning Complete trade show and event planning services from name tags and handouts to signage and branded giveaways, ensuring on-time delivery within budget.
• Copywriting Professional copywriting services for marketing and branding efforts delivering memorable messages across print, radio, television, and internet media.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cimpress (Vistaprint): Mass-customization platform serving micro-businesses and consumers with standardized printing products (business cards, marketing materials) at low unit cost via centralized production. Competes with Four Star on standardized SKUs at dramatically lower price points.
• FedEx Office: National retail print chain offering document printing, copying, large format, and basic marketing materials. Competes with Four Star on convenience and standard print jobs but does not match its depth on bindery, VDP, or PURL-enabled campaigns.
• Staples Print & Marketing Services: Office-supply retailer with national print services including business cards, banners, signage, and direct mail. Overlaps with Four Star's SMB customer base on commodity print products.

Emerging players

• MOO: Premium online print brand targeting SMBs and creatives with high-design business cards, postcards, and marketing materials. Overlaps with Four Star's premium-tier offerings but operates via centralized e-commerce rather than local service.

Direct peers

• PSPrint: Online commercial printer offering offset, digital, large format, and direct mail services to SMBs. Direct product overlap with Four Star, delivered through a centralized online model rather than local storefronts.
• PrintPlace: Online commercial printing company producing marketing materials, booklets, postcards, banners, and signage. Directly comparable product portfolio to Four Star delivered through e-commerce rather than local service.
• Sir Speedy: Franchise printing and marketing services network providing commercial printing, signs, and direct mail to SMBs. Same horizontal SMB customer segment and core service stack as Four Star.
• AlphaGraphics: National franchise commercial printing network offering offset, digital, large-format, and direct mail services to SMBs. Directly comparable business model, customer base, and product mix to Four Star, with broader geographic footprint.
• GotPrint: Online commercial printer with broad product line (business cards, brochures, postcards, banners, labels, packaging). Competes with Four Star on price and turnaround across many of the same core SKUs.
• Minuteman Press: Franchise-based commercial print and marketing services provider serving SMBs with offset/digital printing, signage, direct mail, and apparel. Closely aligned offerings and customer profile to Four Star.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FourStarPrintingDulles
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fourstarprinting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Four Star