Low-Cost Cartridge World Delivers Big-Time ROI

Does lower cost necessarily come with tradeoffs? With Cartridge World America’s executive office model, the opposite seems true. “Ease in startup, recurring revenue, flexibility in working from anywhere, scalability and an enormous market make Cartridge World an ideal opportunity,” says Gregory Carafello, company president.

Founded in 1988, Cartridge World initially operated in brick-and-mortar retail locations, but company officials recognized an opportunity in the growing trend toward hybrid and remote work, which was occurring even before the pandemic spurred the massive work-from-home movement.

The company began research into a new business model to provide franchisees greater flexibility and financial rewards. The result was the executive office model, offering franchise owners a flexible, work-from-anywhere lifestyle with a cost of entry starting at $75,000.

The Cartridge World executive office model’s numerous benefits include the following.

1. Proven Model

Cartridge World, a global leader in printer supplies, solutions and services, has continued to innovate as technology, consumer preferences and market demands evolved, and the brand has grown to include more than 110 U.S. franchisees. Its executive office model, introduced in 2018 and perfected ever since, has even been adopted by more than a couple-dozen legacy franchisees who have converted their brick-and-mortar locations for the work-from-anywhere model.

2. Flexibility

Cartridge World’s executive office model enables franchisees to work remotely and sell to any business anywhere, with limitless boundaries and no pre-defined territories. “For a franchisee who is ambitious and growth-driven, the opportunities are limitless,” Carafello says. “All you need is a cell phone and strong work ethic.” The cloud-based Cartridge World Fusion software platform includes many functions such as customer online ordering and inventory purchasing, as well as a customer relationship marketing (CRM) module to track customer contacts. 

3. In Demand

Even as the printing industry has undergone a transformation in the digital age, the demand for printed products remains strong. The printer supply market was valued at $26.9 billion in 2023 and expected to reach $37.13 billion by the end of 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.94%, according to Verified Market Reports.

4. No or Few Employees

A franchise owner needs no employees as long the owner is willing to “hit the shoe leather express,” as Carafello describes it, by working hard to pursue leads and make sales – at least in the first few years. After that, the owner may choose to reap the fruits of that labor through recurring revenue or add a sales force to scale the business.

5. White-Collar, Business-to-Business Model

“We are entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs,” Carafello says. “In making sales calls or providing service, the franchise owner is probably speaking with a business owner – a real estate agent, insurance agent, CPA – and they appreciate that. They know the franchise owner is going to provide better service, and that instills trust and loyalty. We’ve had huge success with our franchisees. They’re very loyal because their clients are very loyal to them. What our franchisees provide is probably the best customer service in the business-to-business model.”

6. Recurring Revenue

Cartridge World offers a No-Cost Printer Program (also called “Why Buy a Printer?) in which customers commit to a three-year contract to buy toner in exchange for a printer, servicing and monitoring at no cost. The No-Cost Printer Program has a retention rate of more than 95% among clients, and some Cartridge World franchise owners have more than 1,000 of these agreements, Carafello says.

7. Scalability

Cartridge World’s executive office model enables franchisees to scale without purchasing additional territories because they can sell to any business anywhere, with limitless boundaries and no pre-defined territories. And because the work-from-anywhere model requires no physical store, scaling does not require adding another expensive brick-and-mortar location. Once franchisees have sold No-Cost Printer Program contracts providing recurring revenue, they can either double down on their sales efforts to secure additional agreements on their own or hire a sales force to do it for them.

8. Fast Startup

After the two-week Cartridge World Academy training – which covers product and operations, sales and customer engagement, digital marketing and brand positioning, and policies and best practices in franchising – a new franchisee is ready to work within a matter of weeks. Cartridge World provides advertising and marketing support, and introductions to vendors, and even pre-populates a new owner’s computer with thousands of business leads. Training opportunities are ongoing. “Our goal is to make sure the owners are continuously being trained, not just at the beginning, but throughout the entirety of their time franchising through Cartridge World,” Carafello says.

9. Eco-Friendly

A 2022 study by Nielsen showed 66% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable brands. Cartridge World’s sustainable printing solutions include remanufactured cartridges that reduce waste, conserve resources and lower the carbon footprint while maintaining high print quality and reliability. The brand’s recycling program ensures proper disposal of used cartridges.

10. Reduced Risk

Many of Cartridge World’s other benefits contribute to lower risk for investors. These include the low cost, no retail storefront needed, no or few employees required, no real hazards that would pose liability issues, no real competitors because the major suppliers of printing products, Amazon and big-box stores, don’t provide service (or service at no cost).

11. Value Proposition

Cartridge World is changing the game for clients with desktop printers with its Flat Rate Subscription Model. For a fixed monthly fee, clients can enjoy stable and predictable printing costs over three or five years. This model, long successful in the copier industry, now offers the same benefits for desktop printers.

Clients get controlled expenses, while franchisees benefit from reliable, recurring revenue. It’s a win-win: consistent cash flow for Cartridge World owners and predictable costs for clients. This innovative approach significantly enhances Cartridge World’s value proposition, making it an even more attractive choice for businesses looking to manage their printing expenses efficiently.

For more information about the Cartridge World executive franchise model, visit https://cartridgeworldusa.com/franchise.