Print Three

What Print Three does

Print Three is a Canadian commercial printing services franchise established in 1970 and operated as Print Three Franchising Corporation, headquartered in Markham, Ontario with a secondary office in Concord. The company operates a network of 50+ independently owned franchise locations across Canada, supplemented by international partnerships in the United States and Australia, and serves SMBs, multi-location brands, healthcare, legal, real estate, construction, education, and retail-customer segments. Its product portfolio spans digital and offset printing (business cards, brochures, manuals, stationery, reports, labels), wide-format signage and vehicle graphics, direct mail (with Canada Post Expert Partner status), custom packaging, and on-demand document printing.

Underlying technology centers on a combination of digital and offset presses and a proprietary web-to-print platform called the Smart Business Centre, which centralizes approved design files, editable templates, logos, and style guidelines with version control, automates approval workflows, and provides real-time per-location reporting. Print Three also operates a consumer e-commerce storefront (shop.printthree.com) covering business products, direct mail, signage, and packaging, and extends its offering into web design and marketing services through a partnership with Bloomtools. Recent capability expansions came via the in-network additions of Optic Signs (signage, 2019), Prime Data (direct mail/inkjet, 2019), and Print Panther (digital embellishment, 2020).

Revenue is generated through franchise fees and royalties, per-job commercial printing transactions (e.g., document printing from $4.00, postcards from $10.00, A-frame signs at $119.00), direct mail and fulfillment projects, signage and packaging jobs, and professional web/marketing services. Pricing is predominantly transaction-based and quote-driven, with smaller online orders handled via automated pricing and larger or specialty jobs routed through local-store consultation. The company does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Print Three

Legal name

Print Three Franchising Corporation

Website

https://printthree.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Print Three is a Canadian printing services franchise operating 50+ locations nationwide, offering digital/offset printing, direct mail, signage, packaging, and web-to-print solutions to SMBs and multi-location brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Printing (32311), Printing and Related Support Activities (323)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750), Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)

akta.pro primary industry

On‑Demand Copy & Print Shops (Walk‑In / Quick Print) (EDAEAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Printing (Short-Run, Variable Data) (MPAJALAC), Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD), Printing & Copy Services Retail (CRALABAD), Printing & Document Infrastructure (MFP fleets, Print Servers, Managed Print) (EDAEAHAL)

Keywords

• Commercial printing services
• Direct mail marketing
• Wide format signage
• Web-to-print platform
• Custom packaging printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Vaughan

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commercial Printing Services: Revenue from offset and digital printing services including business cards, brochures, flyers, posters, stationery, reports, forms, manuals, catalogs, photo prints and books. Services provided at 50+ franchise locations across Canada.
2. Direct Mail Services: Revenue from direct mail campaigns including customer retention programs, neighborhood mail, mailing and fulfillment services, and variable data printing. Partnership with Canada Post Expert Partners for delivery.
3. Signage and Wide Format Printing: Revenue from A-frame signs, banners, vehicle graphics, wall and window graphics, trade show displays, exhibit backdrops, and large format printing for both indoor and outdoor applications.
4. Franchise Licensing: Print Three Franchising Corporation generates revenue through franchise fees from their network of independently owned and operated Print Three locations across Canada.
5. Web Design and Marketing Services: Revenue from web design, SEO, social media marketing, and online marketing services offered through their Bloomtools partnership.
6. Packaging and Labels: Revenue from custom packaging printing, labels, stickers, and decals for retail, e-commerce, and product packaging applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Print Three operates a franchise network of 50+ print centres across Canada providing commercial printing (business cards, brochures, reports, stationery, labels), direct mail services, signage and wide format printing, custom packaging, and web-to-print solutions. The proprietary Smart Business Centre platform enables multi-location brands to centrally manage brand assets, templates, approval workflows, and reporting. Services are delivered through franchise locations, an online store (shop.printthree.com), and dedicated enterprise accounts.

Product overview

Print Three is a Canadian printing services franchise offering a comprehensive suite of print products and services. The portfolio spans five main categories: (1) Print Services including business cards, brochures, reports, forms, calendars, invitations, custom stationery, labels/stickers, manuals, catalogs, photo prints, blueprints, and book printing/binding; (2) Direct Mail Services encompassing marketing campaigns, variable data personalization, neighborhood mail distribution, fulfillment, and customer retention programs; (3) Signage including A-frames, banners, vehicle graphics, large/wide format printing, wall/ window graphics, floor decals, and trade show displays; (4) Web Services comprising the Web-to-Print platform for centralized ordering and brand control, plus marketing services; and (5) Packaging Services for custom boxes and mailers. The company operates 50+ locations across Canada with digital and offset printing equipment, and also maintains an online shop (shop.printthree.com) for direct ordering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Business Centre: Web-to-print platform that centralizes files, templates, branding, approvals, and orders for multi-location brand management.

Products and services

• Commercial Printing Services Comprehensive commercial printing services including business cards, brochures, booklets, postcards, reports, manuals, catalogs, forms, custom stationery, envelopes, letterheads, presentation folders, labels, stickers, decals, calendars, cards and invitations, color copy services, scanning services, site plans and blueprints, flyers, newsletters, photo prints, books, and book printing and binding. Available at all 50+ franchise locations and through the online store.
• Direct Mail Marketing Services End-to-end direct mail campaign services including campaign design, printing, addressing, mailing, and fulfillment. Includes addressed direct mailers, variable data personalization using advanced technology that changes names, addresses, offers, and images per piece, neighborhood mail distribution via Canada Post, and customer retention and reactivation programs.
• Signage and Wide Format Printing Comprehensive signage and wide format printing including A-frame signs, banner stands, vehicle graphics and wraps, large format and wide format printing, wall and window graphics, floor decals, flags and stands, backlit posters, exhibit backdrops, real estate signs, retail signs, fine art prints, frosted glass graphics, menu boards, wayfinding and yard signs, plaques and awards, and table throws for trade shows and events.
• Custom Packaging Services Custom packaging printing including shipping cartons, mailer boxes, and product packaging design for retail and e-commerce businesses. Offers printing for labels, stickers, decals on sheets or rolls, die cut labels, and clear labels for product branding and packaging applications.
• Smart Business Centre (Web-to-Print Platform) Enterprise web-to-print platform that centralizes approved design files, editable templates, current logos, and style guidelines with version control. Enables local managers to customize only permitted fields while maintaining brand consistency. Includes automated approval workflows where managers can approve or deny orders with one click, and a real-time reporting dashboard showing what each location orders, frequency, costs by region, inventory levels, and seasonal spikes.
• Marketing Services Professional marketing services including web design and production, SEO, social media marketing, and online marketing campaign strategy. Provided through a partnership with Bloomtools, a Canadian web developer, enabling Print Three to offer integrated print and digital marketing solutions.
• Customer Retention and Reactivation Programs Targeted direct mail strategies designed to retain existing customers and reactivate past customers through personalized direct mail campaigns. Includes triggered mail capabilities and customer retention program design.

Quantifiable outcome

• 118% more time spent with direct mail vs digital marketing on first exposure (according to Canada Post research)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Print PanthercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2020Award-winning digital embellishment experts Print Panther were welcomed to the Print Three network as a major 2020 announcement, expanding capabilities in premium finishing services including embossing, foil stamping, and specialty coatings.
• Prime DatacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2019Print Three expanded their direct mail and inkjet offering by adding Prime Data to their network, enhancing capabilities for data-driven marketing campaigns and variable data printing services.
• Optic SignscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2019Print Three added new signage division Optic Signs to their network, expanding capabilities in custom signage production for retail, real estate, and event applications.
• BloomtoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrint Three has partnered with Canadian web developer Bloomtools to offer professional web design, production, and online marketing services including SEO and social media marketing. This partnership enables Print Three to provide integrated print and digital marketing solutions to their customers.
• Canada Post Expert PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrint Three works with Canada Post Expert Partners to provide direct mail services including customer retention programs, neighborhood mail, and variable data mapping. This partnership enables them to offer excellent turnaround times and triggered mail capabilities for customer campaigns.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Allegra Marketing Print Mail: Franchised network providing printing, marketing, signage, and direct mail services — comparable franchise model, customer segments, and integrated print + direct mail offering.
• Minuteman Press International: One of the largest franchised commercial printing networks globally, offering digital, offset, and wide-format printing to SMBs through independently owned locations — directly comparable business and franchise model to Print Three.
• AlphaGraphics: Franchised commercial printing and marketing services brand offering print, signs, and digital marketing solutions to SMB and enterprise — directly comparable franchise-based model with similar product breadth.
• Sir Speedy: Franchised printing and marketing services network offering digital printing, signs, direct mail, and marketing services through franchise locations — closely aligned model and product set to Print Three.

Regional players

• Supremex: Canadian-based manufacturer and distributor of envelopes, packaging, and printed products — overlapping North American print/packaging market but focused upstream on envelopes rather than walk-in franchise retail.
• Marco's Printing: Independent Canadian commercial printer serving SMBs with digital printing, signs, and marketing services — comparable Canadian commercial printing offering though not franchise-based.

Others

• Canada Post: Strategic channel partner for Print Three's direct mail services and Canada Post Expert Partner relationship — comparable only as an enabler/distributor in the print-to-mail value chain rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Cimpress (Vistaprint): Global mass-customization platform for printing and marketing products with a strong online/digital-first model — competing in many of the same SMB product categories but at significantly larger scale and via pure e-commerce.
• FedEx Office: National chain providing printing, copying, signs, and shipping services to SMBs and consumers — overlapping walk-in print service offering but operating as part of a broader logistics and retail portfolio.
• Staples Print & Marketing Services: Major office retail and business services brand in Canada offering print, signs, and marketing services as part of a broader office supplies portfolio — overlapping capabilities with Print Three but not specialized in commercial print.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PrintThreeHQ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PrintThreeCorp
• Facebookfacebook.com/PrintThree
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/print-three-franchising
• Instagraminstagram.com/printthreehq

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 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 Print Three