Complaint Review: Minuteman Press International Inc - Farmingdale New York

The Minuteman Press executives, Robert Titus and Michael Jutt, and staff members, Andy Barrett and Glen Coyle, market the Minuteman Press franchise system to prospective franchisees. They misrepresent the franchise system to consist of long term, stable, happy and successful franchisees.

At the beginning of 2005 Minuteman Press had 36 franchisees in Australia. The Australian franchisees increased to 59 by the end of 2018 – of which 30 franchisees are in Victoria and 10 franchisees are in Western Australia.

Franchisees must pay $61,050 to Minuteman Press for each new store opening and franchisees must pay $25,850 to Minuteman Press every time a store is sold to a new franchisee. In addition, franchisees must pay royalties at 6% of their monthly sales to Minuteman Press.

New Australian Minuteman Press stores must buy a Konica Minolta Press (more than $60,000). Minuteman Press receives a kick back from Konica Minolta for each new press it sells to a franchisee.

Conveniently, Minuteman Press supplies all the start-up equipment for new stores. The equipment is supplied to franchisees with exorbitant mark-ups being added to the cost price.

That is not the end of the Minuteman Press profiteering from its franchisees. Franchisees must buy the Minuteman Press management software system (called FLEX). In addition to the purchase price of about $10,000, franchisees must pay an annual FLEX license fee to Minuteman Press. In addition, franchisees must join, and pay for, the so-called Minuteman internet marketing program.

The Minuteman Press profiteering makes it very difficult for franchisees to run a profitable business. Consequently, most franchisees are under constant financial stress and must sell their businesses at rock bottom prices. Alternatively franchisees must close their businesses and face bankruptcy. The impact on family finances is devastating.

The consequences of the Minuteman Press franchisee failures are evidenced by the incredibly high store churn rate and the rate at which stores are closed.

Below is a schedule of Minuteman Press store sales and Minuteman Press store closures for Victoria and Western Australia, Australia:  

Caufield, VIC - Business Sold

Hawthorn, VIC (First owner) - Business Sold

Hawthorn, VIC (Second owner) - Business Sold

Hawthorn, VIC (Third owner) - Business Sold

Hawthorn, VIC (Fourth owner) - Business Sold

Thornbury, VIC - Business Sold

Essendon, VIC (First owner) - Business Sold

Essendon, VIC (Second owner) - Business Sold

Thomastown, VIC - Business Sold

South Melbourne, VIC - Business Sold

Melbourne, VIC (First owner) - Business Sold

Melbourne, VIC (Second owner) - Business Sold

Narre Warren, VIC (First owner) - Business Sold

Narre Warren, VIC (Second owner) - Business Sold

Epping, VIC - Business Sold

Braeside, VIC - Business Sold

Seaford, VIC (First owner) - Business Sold

Seaford, VIC (Second owner) - Business Sold

Heathmont, VIC - Business Sold

North Fitzroy, VIC - Business Closed Down

Dandenong, VIC - Business Sold

Scoresby, VIC - Business Sold

Southbank, VIC - Business Sold

Tullemarine, VIC - Business Sold

Broadmeadows, VIC - Business Sold

Box Hill South, VIC - Business Sold

Mitcham, VIC (First owner) - Business Sold

Mitcham, VIC (Second owner) - Business Sold

Werribee, VIC - Business Sold

Glen Waverley, VIC - Business Closed Down. Business listed in Minuteman Press 2018 disclosure document. Business has been removed from the Minuteman websites and the landline has been disconnected.

Perth, WA (First owner) - Business Sold

Perth, WA (Second owner) - Business Sold

Wangara, WA - Business Closed Down. Franchise agreement terminated by Minuteman Press.

Bunbury, WA (First owner) - Business Sold

Bunbury, WA (Second owner) - Business Sold

Freemantle, WA - Business Sold

Mandurah, WA - Business Sold

Balcatta, WA - Business Sold

Midland, WA - Business Sold

East Perth, WA (First owner) - Business Sold

East Perth, WA (Second owner) - Business Sold

Joondalup, WA - Business Closed Down. Franchise agreement terminated by Minuteman Press.

Canning Vale, WA - Business Sold

Minuteman Press, Robert Titus, Michael Jutt, Andy Barrett and Glen Coyle continue to market the Minuteman Press franchise system to unsuspecting and vulnerable people in Victoria ans Western Austalia.