What is web-to-print for franchises?
Web-to-print means ordering print through a website instead of by email, phone or a local printer. For a franchise, it usually means a print portal: a private, branded website where every franchisee logs in and orders print from templates that head office has approved. The franchisee adds their own details, such as the location's address, phone number or a local offer, and the printer produces and delivers the finished print to that location. Head office decides what can be ordered, what can be changed and who can order it, so every location's print looks like it came from the same brand.
Why franchises use a print portal
Every location stays on brand
The biggest advantage is consistency. Every flyer, poster and sign is ordered from the same approved design, so print in one location looks the same as print in every other. Franchisees cannot stretch the logo, change the colours or swap the font, because those parts are locked.
Franchisees can still market locally
Fields such as address, opening hours, prices and offers stay editable, so a franchisee in Manchester and one in Leeds can use the same poster with their own details.
Head office can see everything
Order tracking dashboards show every order across the network: who ordered what, when, and where it is in production and delivery.
Less admin for everyone
Nobody has to email artwork back and forth or check every job by hand. Topaz Detailing, a franchise with 16 studios in 9 countries, uses Printkits so franchisees order what they need without head office checking every job.
Spend stays under control
Budgets can be set for the whole network and for each location, so one location cannot quietly overspend.
How a franchise print portal works, step by step
- Set-up. Head office shares its brand guidelines and the print each location needs. The portal is set up with your templates, products and locations.
- Lock the brand. Logos, fonts, colours and layouts are locked. You choose which fields franchisees can edit.
- Franchisees order. Each franchisee logs in, picks an item, fills in their details and places the order.
- Approve, if you want to. Artwork approvals or order approvals can send orders to head office before anything prints. You can switch them on, or leave them off.
- Print and delivery. The order is printed and delivered to the franchisee's location, typically within 48 hours. Regular items can be held in stock and sent out as needed.
- Track and reorder. Every order shows on the order tracking dashboard and is saved to the order history, so reordering takes a few clicks.
What franchisees can and cannot change
Editable (fields you choose)
- Location name and address
- Phone number and email
- Opening hours
- Prices and local offers
- QR codes
Locked to your brand
- Logo
- Colours
- Fonts
- Layout
- Imagery
Who pays for franchise print?
There are two common set-ups, and a good portal supports both:
- Each franchisee pays for their own orders, by card or on account.
- Head office is billed centrally for the whole network.
Either way, you can set budgets for the network and for each location.
What can franchisees order?
Anything print-related: flyers and leaflets, posters, banners, signage, window graphics, business cards, price lists and menus, vouchers, stationery, and uniforms and workwear. See what this looks like on our franchise print portal page.
What to ask before choosing a franchise print portal
| Question to ask | Why it matters | Printkits |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a set-up fee? | Some providers charge to build the portal and templates. | No. Set-up, including your templates, is free. |
| Is there a monthly fee? | A subscription costs you even in quiet months. | No monthly fee. |
| Who prints the orders? | Some portals pass the printing to separate printers. | We print and deliver it ourselves. |
| Can head office approve orders? | You stay in control of what goes out under your name. | Yes: artwork and order approvals, if you want them. |
| Can you set budgets per location? | Stops one location overspending. | Yes, overall and per location. |
| Does it deliver to each location? | Saves forwarding parcels around the network. | Yes, typically within 48 hours. |
| Can it hold stock? | Regular items arrive when they are needed. | Yes. We hold stock and send it out. |
| Can head office track orders? | You need to see what is happening across the network. | Yes, with order tracking dashboards. |
| Who pays? | Franchise models differ. | Each franchisee by card or on account, or central billing. |