design | service | solutions

FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITYin the growing digital graphics and signage industry

GRAPHIC DESIGN

BANNERS & POSTERS

WINDOW GRAPHICS

WAYFINDING SYSTEMS

VEHICLE GRAPHICS

EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS

RETAIL SIGNAGE

MAGNETIC SIGNS

DIMENSIONAL LETTERING

BUILDING GRAPHICS

ADA SIGNAGE

WALL MURALS

AND MORE…

design | service | solutions

O f the more than 3,000 global franchisors,

Signs Now, a member of Alliance Franchise

Brands, is one of the leaders in the world

of signage, graphics and visual communications.

We consistently rank high in Franchise Times annual

publication of top franchise offerings. In fact we have

ranked very well for many, many years.

Today, through acquisition and organic growth,

the Alliance Franchise Brands network totals over

600 independent business owners who operate

multiple franchise brands which include Signs Now®

and Allegra.

Alliance Franchise Brands is privately owned by

an investor group including Michael Marcantonio,

former V.P. of Domino’s Pizza, and members of

the management team. Our seasoned and proven

executive management possess more than 100

combined years* of franchising and graphic

communications expertise.

Our leadership team was among the first to believe

industry pundits who predicted a long-term evolution

of its industry—from signs and printing to full service

marketing communications. In fact, Allegra Network’s

aggressive plan to help transition our franchise

members from printing and signs to

full service marketing providers dates

back to 2005 when the company

launched “Think Beyond Ink” at its

international convention. This diversification

initiative assisted our franchise members in expanding

their service offering to include value-added services

such as wide format digital printing, graphic design

services, variable data, promotional products and

mailing services and more. To further validate our

commitment to expanding our service offering into a

wider array of B2B graphic communication services,

Allegra Network acquired Signs Now Corporation

in 2005 and became the first printing franchisor to

complete an acquisition outside its industry.

Today our success and that of our franchise

members is a direct result of living our corporate

mission: To enhance the value of the businesses

we serve. This booklet will introduce our business

opportunities, explain the programs and benefits

our franchise members receive and describe the

many ways we help them succeed.

While this booklet will anticipate and answer many

of your questions, it certainly won’t answer them

all. With that in mind, we encourage you to contact

us to arrange an initial phone conference. There’s

no obligation, of course. And, it’s the best way to

learn if one of our opportunities is your route to

newfound success.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST

* See item 2 of the Franchise Disclosure Document

SIGNS NOW IS PART OF ALLEGRA NETWORK

WHY THIS INDUSTRY

Opportunities for our franchise members

Diversified Product Lines and Potential Customers

Expanded Revenue Streams and Profit Opportunities

Reduced Operating Expenses (Cost of Goods and Labor)

Creating a Solution and Value Based Environment

Business model advantages

High Margin/High Demand Business

Leading Edge Technology

Diversity of Product and Client Mix

Work/Life Balance – Businesses are only open Monday through Friday

Clean, Modern & High Tech Work Environment

The most recent U.S. Census Bureau data,

characterized sign manufacturing as an $11.7 billion

industry. This significant number does not include

the billions of dollars of revenue created in related

business sectors such as digital printing, display

advertising services, graphic design business and

marketing consulting services, which are not included

in the Census count. The combined revenues in

these other sectors are estimated to be at least

$100 billion globally. It is obvious that the digital

graphics and signage industry continues to grow

as a successful and enduring enterprise.

The factors driving growth are fairly easy to

understand. All types of businesses need visual

communications and the need for traditional interior

and exterior signage has always been steady.

As a result of the advanced technologies and market

driven growth possibilities, the graphics and signage

industry provides new career opportunities for those

with little or no experience.

Additionally, the Signs

Now graphics and signage

business model offers

some significant and long-

standing advantages.

Today, as part of a

growing global industry,

our franchise members

help companies and

organizations brand

themselves more effectively

and our business model

provides our members

with the satisfaction of

producing and delivering high-value products

and services that drive customer satisfaction

and business success.

Now is a great time to enter the Digital Graphics

and Signage industry!

THE SIGNS NOW OPPORTUNITY AT A GLANCE

A Signs Now center offers customized digital

imaging, graphics solutions, and other visual

communication tools to businesses worldwide.

Many centers also enjoy a brisk consumer trade.

Signs Now franchise members serve as consultants

offering businesses expertise on the best use of

graphics and signage to promote their brand, image

and marketing messages. Signs Now centers, with

individual owner-operator presence, ensure true,

value-added graphic communications, problem

solving on the front and back end of projects and

quality, on time performance.

In addition, as part of Allegra Network, Signs Now

franchise members also have access to a host of

creative and consulting services through the Allegra

Marketing Resource Center, which means that they

can choose to take their “sign” business in several

exciting directions as the industry continues to evolve.

For more than

25 years,

Signs Now

has been a leading

franchisor of digital

graphics and signage

centers and remains

a top innovator of

business growth and

management initiatives.

Here’s the full list of “core” services that can be offered through Signs Now.

Graphic and Signage Solutions

• Wide format digital graphics

• Vehicle wraps and graphics

• Exhibits and displays

• Architectural sign solutions

• Point-of-purchase dis-plays/posters/graphics

• Wall sized murals and custom wall coverings

• Building wraps

• Full color banners and posters

• Window graphics

• Magnetic signs

• Art/photo prints/ enlargements

• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and directional signage solutions

• Dimensional lettering

• Directional signage systems

• Blueprints

• Building graphics

• Edge graphics

• Legal exhibits

Creative Development and Other Services

• Graphic design services

• Logo design

• Client dedicated web sites

• Installation services

• Laminating

• And more …

THE WAY TO OWN A SIGN CENTER

Signs Now prides itself on being able to offer

entrepreneurs the opportunity to purchase an

existing center. Our business growth and financial

management expertise helps us to create more

opportunities for new business owners to continue

their operations.

Existing Signs Now CenterFrom time to time, Signs Now members who have

planned for their exit strategy will leave our system

which means that buying one of our existing franchise

centers is another potential opportunity. Candidates

buying existing franchise centers enjoy the benefits

of purchasing a Signs Now branded location, while

having the opportunity to make that business their

own with the

support of our

proven business

systems.

Contact us

to learn if an

existing Signs

Now center may

be for sale in

your area.AFTER

FIVE REASONS TO CONSIDER THE SIGNS NOW FRANCHISE MODEL

1. Your Bottom Line is Our Top Priority

Since our mission was instituted seventeen years

ago, we have fulfilled our goal, to enhance the value

of the businesses we serve, through our commitment

to being quick to respond to our franchise members’

needs and our unsurpassed support. But without a

doubt, it is our Signs Now Profit Mastery® program—

rated the most valuable program by franchise

members, that truly fulfills this mission every day.

Our highly successful Signs Now Profit Mastery®

financial performance improvement program provides

members with Key Financial Benchmarks that:

• Help improve financial

performance

• Help increase value

of their business

• Help prepare for an

effective exit strategy

HOW DO WE DO THIS?

The components of our Signs Now Profit Mastery®

program, each individually powerful, work together

to increase the dollars driven to our franchise

members’ top line:

Operating Ratio Study — This annual study

includes the results of financial data collected from

our franchise members in terms of profitability, sales

volume, and region. Franchise members receive an

individual report that summarizes their financial

information and compares it to the results for all

franchise members, high profit franchise members,

and franchise members in the same sales volume

group. Allegra Network is the only graphic

communications franchise that conducts an

extensive study of this type on an annual basis.

Performance Groups — These groups consist

of five to seven franchise members with similar center

sales who meet twice a year to discuss all areas of

their business. Prior to each meeting, each franchise

member in the group submits their financial

statements to the home office for our financial staff

to analyze and prepare operating ratios to discuss at

the meetings. Each group is facilitated by an Allegra

Network staff member, follows a format and rules of

conduct and acts as a “board of directors” for each

other to create the most effective meeting.

Profit Mastery Assessments — This

assessment is designed to assist franchise members

in reaching their business goals. Upon request,

regional operations directors conduct on-site analysis

of a center in five key areas. The

franchise member receives

an in-depth consulting

report based on the

analysis that includes

specific action steps for

improvement and staff

feedback as well as

assistance in implementation

of those improvements and

regular follow-up.

At Signs Now we believe that growing profitability

is just as, if not more important, than growing sales.

As part of our Awards Recognition Program, we

present Operational Excellence

Awards to franchise members

who demonstrate significant

operational achievement.

The signage

industry has

changed

dramatically over the

last five years and the

advances being made

in wide format printing

technology have created

entirely new revenue

and profit opportunities

for those who choose

to invest in and adapt

to new ways of doing

business!

Now, more than ever,

the economics of our

time demand that we

take a serious look at

how we market and

manage our businesses

in order to grow sales

and drive healthy

bottom line earnings.

Signs Now offers its

franchise members

truly unique business

growth and profit

management tools that

comprise the reasons

why converting your

independent business

to Signs Now is worth

seriously considering.

®

On-site Training and Support – We will

also spend up to 8 days with you in your center to

help you and your staff successfully integrate the

Signs Now systems into your center as necessary.

Ongoing Training and Support – Our

Regional Operations Directors have extensive industry

experience and many are former business owners

who have successfully built and sold their centers.

You will work hand in hand with them on virtually

all facets of the business including:

• Business analysis, guidance and action planning

• Financial management and performance groups

• Equipment, software and operational

troubleshooting

• Personnel issues and more

Toll-Free, Web Based and Additional Ongoing Support – A variety of other training

and support programs are also available to you and

your staff including:

• Technology Help Desk support and

communications

• eLearning and certifications for all staff positions

• Specialized webinars and field training

• Preferred vendor relations and new product

development

• Research and Development

Networking Opportunities – You’ll also have

the opportunity to network with other Signs Now

owners at our Convention and Vendor Expo, Regional

Meetings, Performance Groups and other industry

gatherings with key suppliers. These experiences offer

our franchise members the opportunity to learn about

the latest trends in our industry and within our own

network, while sharing time and best practices with

their peers.

Simply stated…We don’t succeed unless

you do, and we’ve developed our training

and support programs to make sure success

is achievable for every franchise member in

our network!

2. Acquisition Growth Is Our Specialty

Our Acquisition Programs and Mergers & Acquisition

Support provide you with all these benefits:

• Existing revenue streams and customer base

• Buy only the assets you want

• Increased profit potential

• Easier financing with lenders (lenders prefer

acquisition based transactions)

• Experienced employees already in place

Since 1995, Signs Now and Allegra Network have

helped our franchise members identify and purchase

nearly 250 suitable independent print and sign

businesses. Franchise members enrolled in the

program receive assistance in the entire process

through targeted mailing and research such as

business and financial analysis and equipment

evaluations, writing an Intent to Purchase and closing

and transitioning are also all facilitated by our staff.

3. An Unmatched Support System Drives Future Success

Perhaps the single most important reason to

seriously consider Signs Now is access to people

and programs that have proven their ability to drive

franchisee growth and success. Our exceptional

training and industry-leading support programs are

outlined below so that you can see just how in depth

and how targeted they are to the varying needs of all

of our franchise owners and their staff.

Initial Training and Support – Your training

starts with the New Operator Training class at our

Alliance University in Columbia, Maryland which

provides you with focused learning in the areas of:

• Financial, Operational and Business Management

• Marketing, Advertising and Promotion

• Sales Process, Customer Service

and POS Training

• Staffing and Employee Relations

• Web Based Tools and Support

4. Highly Effective Turnkey Direct and Web-based Marketing

Signs Now offers its members a robust and

diverse array of marketing, advertising and

promotional programs all designed to create

maximum exposure, new order inquiries and

improved customer communication.

At Signs Now, we do the work for you on these

key marketing programs!

• Targeted direct mail – We send high impact

mailers to thousands of targeted businesses

seven times per year!

• Tele-sales program – We call 1,000 targeted

businesses two times per year!

• Localized internet site – We conduct localized

search engine marketing for you on your unique

Signs Now web site!

This means that you are free to focus on meeting

with customers and cultivating relationships that

will lead to more business.

Signs Now also offers you access to a wide array

of additional marketing support including:

• Collateral materials, mailers, product brochures,

additional mailing lists and more

• Personalized new owner event

• Public Relations assistance at no charge

• Signature Fund community involvement program

• Co-op marketing funds

• Specialized training programs for customer service

reps and account executives

5. Resale and Exit Strategy Programs

For years, Signs Now has also helped many franchise

members successfully exit our system when the time

was right. To do this effectively, we have created

proven systems for the following:

• Exit Strategy Planning

• Resale Program

• Buyer Marketing Program

• In-house Listing Agreement

Signs Now is not a “one size fits all” franchise, so no

matter where you are with your own business today,

you face the same challenges that we do, and Signs

Now is making all of these proven programs available

to you!

Simply stated,

you have the

equivalent of a

full time marketing

person on staff

as a member

of Signs Now!

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

When purchasing an existing center there are four primary components one should consider.

1. Purchase Price – This will be decided between

the seller and the buyer. We, the franchisor, are

committed to helping each party agree to an

equitable arrangement but in the end the decision

is solely between the parties involved. We have

an obligation to ensure fairness for the seller

who is exiting the business and for the incoming

franchisee (buyer) with whom we will have a

relationship for many years to come.

2. Signs Now Fees – The buyer will pay a transfer

fee of $17,500 to us upon execution of the

franchise agreement. For more details on this

item and others please refer to the Franchise

Disclosure Document (FDD).

3. Ancillary Items – As with the purchase of any

business the new owner will need to secure

insurance, lease deposit, assistance from their

professional team (attorneys, accountants etc.)

and related start up items. Please refer to the

Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for an

estimated range of costs.

4. Working Capital – The key to any successful

transfer is ample working capital, moneys on

hand to address operational costs upon take

over. Regardless of how successful the business

upon take over, working capital is essential. The

Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) will provide

ranges of working capital needs.

HERE’S WHAT OUR FRANCHISE MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY…

“The marketing pro-

grams have been in-

valuable to the overall

success of our Signs

Now franchise. Signs

Now has created road

maps to success that

have taken the mys-

tery out of marketing.”

Jerry and Ann Swanson,

Signs Now Owners

Tulsa, Oklahoma

“I have more freedom

than I ever thought

possible! Signs Now

has made me a team

member enabling me

to grow with them.

We are true partners

in business.”

Tim Anderson,

Signs Now Owner

Rockford, Illinois

“Signs Now has

always been

there when I’ve

needed them.”

Roy Gonzales,

Signs Now Owner

Sacramento, California

“Our corporate staff

exists for the sole

purpose of helping us

be successful and is

always coming up

with new support

programs. I am so

sold on Signs Now

that I brought three of

my children into the

business as partners.”

Mary Jane Lessley,

Signs Now Owner

Memphis, Tennessee

“At the end of the

day when you have a

customer that leaves

the center and they’re

so happy and they’re

pleased with the

product and service

that we’ve provided…

that makes all the dif-

ference. Being involved

with Signs Now helps

us do that every day.”

Rick and Debbie Stewart,

Signs Now Owners

Lebanon, Tennessee

A PROVEN BUSINESS MODEL

SIGNS NOW

The Signs Now business model is

among the most successful in all

of franchising, and for many good

reasons. The high demand for promotional

and marketing related graphics creates

a strong base of repeat business while

more traditional temporary and permanent

signs, inside and out, continue growing

as the number of businesses grows and

business change occurs at a rapid and

sustained rate.

THE SIGNS NOW OPPORTUNITY AWAITSYou’ve had a chance to review our Signs Now

offering and benefits of becoming part of our

member network of more than 600 centers.

As a next step, we encourage you to speak

with one of our development managers on any

questions you may have regarding this franchise

opportunity. During the course of the call we’ll

ask about your goals and be prepared to answer

all your additional questions about us. There’s no

obligation and of course, all inquiries are handled

with complete confidentiality.

DAVID BERRYHILL (LEFT) AND JOHN BERRYHILL (RIGHT)

Allegra Network LLC8681 Robert Fulton Drive

Columbia, MD 21046

800.765.7446

www.signsnowfranchise.com

www.allegranetwork.com

This advertisement is not an

offering. An offering can only be

made by a prospectus filed first

with the Department of Law of

the State of New York. Such filing

does not constitute approval by the

Department of Law. MN F-5069

The trademarks throughout this

brochure are the property of their

respective owners and are not

trademarks owned by Alliance

Franchise Brands or its affiliates.