SPOKANE, Wash. – US Marine Corp. Veteran Clinton Neal is the owner of the Minuteman Press franchise in Downtown Spokane, WA located at 256 West Riverside Avenue. Clint purchased the business in November of 2023, which previously operated as Standard Printworks. With a long history dating back to 1909, Clint was thrilled to buy the long-established print shop with the help of Pacific Northwest Regional VP Chris Jutt and the rest of the team at Minuteman Press International.

Clint shares his journey to becoming a business owner, why he chose Minuteman Press in Downtown Spokane, and what it means to take over a business that has been long established in the community for over 100 years.

Buying the Business

On buying the business, Clint shares, “Standard Printworks has been around since 1909. I bought the business because:

·       This is an industry that I thought I could easily wrap my head around.

·       This business is an appropriate size to make things work financially.

·       The business has been around a really long time and I liked the history.

·       The previous owners had invested regularly into great equipment.

·       The current employees made it so that I can be an owner and not a front line worker.”

He adds, “Minuteman Press International RVP Chris Jutt was great. He did a good job of explaining the process, coordinating things along the way and connecting me with the resources needed to complete the transaction.”

Switching Careers & Transition to Business Owner

Prior to franchising with Minuteman Press, Clint says, “I was in the US Marine Corp. (USMC) and then I was a double major in finance/accounting. I spent 10 years working in corporate accounting. I decided to own my own business because I felt I could do a better job than most of the owners that I worked with as a corporate accountant. I love being an independent leader and doing my own thing.”

Clint continues, “The top 3 reasons I chose Minuteman Press are:

·       The printing industry is easy to understand.

·       The Minuteman Press FLEX software makes administration easy.

·       I get to be creative and solve problems for customers that are trying to get their jobs completed. They just can’t get the help they are looking for at copy centers like FedEx, etc., which is where we come in.”

As for the training and support provided by Minuteman Press, Clint explains, “The 2-week onboarding training was great; it was very thorough, easy to understand and supportive. The current employees, previous owners and field rep made the transition smooth and easy.  Training the current employees on FLEX took some time and practice but overall it went well. Ongoing support through my field rep and the FLEX/IT support team has been great. They are always friendly, responsive and easy to work with.”

When asked what it means to now be a business owner, Clint shares, “Business ownership gives me a sense of independence and freedom to blaze my own trail through life. In regards to the community, I am able to make connections with MANY other local business owners and continue on with the tradition that Standard Printworks has held up for over 100 years. As we move forward as Minuteman Press, we’ve been able to help other businesses by taking care of routine projects, special events, last second requests and solving problems that other printing companies have not been willing or able to take on.”

Advice for Others

Clint’s advice for others is this: “You are buying your salary, so budget accordingly. Be a good leader and lean on the existing employees to teach you the day-to-day operations of the business. I also believe in following the system if you are joining a franchise. Minuteman Press has been great to work with, providing tremendous help with minimal interference in how I run my business.”