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City Publications Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

City Publications is a direct mail advertising franchise, offering targeted marketing solutions through high-quality postcards and mailers to connect local businesses with potential customers.

City Publications is a direct-mail and digital marketing franchise founded in 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, it operates under its parent company ACP Brands. The company began franchising in 2004 and, as of 2024, has grown to approximately 50 franchise locations across North America.

The franchise offers affordable, home-based, B2B lead generation services. It primarily sells glossy, full-color direct-mail postcards targeting affluent homeowners, bundled with email, SMS, web lead generation, and SEO solutions.

City Publications differentiates through affluent homeowner targeting and a data-driven, glossy direct-mail format. Its proprietary mailing lists and production-grade glossy card packs are designed for high response rates and branding impact.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure Amount
Franchise Fee $40,000 – $250,000
Real Estate/Rent $0 – $500
Utility Deposits $0 – $500
Leasehold Improvements $0 – $500
Required Software $500
Initial Inventory of Order Forms $150 – $200
Insurance $600 – $800
Vehicle $300 – $600
Office Equipment and Supplies $400 – $2,500
Training $250 – $500
Licenses & Permits $0 – $250
Legal/Accounting $500 – $1,000
Website and Email Setup Fees $800
Startup Marketing Materials $1,250
Additional Funds (3 months) $1,500 – $10,000
TOTAL $46,300 – $269,900
Type of Expenditure Amount
Franchise Fee $40,000 – $250,000
Real Estate/Rent $0 – $500
Utility Deposits $0 – $500
Leasehold Improvements $0 – $500
Required Software $500
Initial Inventory of Order Forms $150 – $200
Insurance $600 – $800
Vehicle $300 – $600
Office Equipment and Supplies $400 – $2,500
Training $250 – $500
Licenses & Permits $0 – $250
Legal/Accounting $500 – $1,000
Website and Email Setup Fees $800
Startup Marketing Materials $1,250
Additional Funds (3 months) $1,500 – $10,000
TOTAL $46,300 – $269,900

City Publications

2024

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

City Publications provides a structured and mandatory training program to prepare franchisees for successful operation. The training includes both virtual and on-site sessions, covering essential administrative, operational, and sales topics.

  1. Initial Training Program
    Franchisees and their designated managers must complete approximately 40 hours of initial training, delivered through 2–3 days of virtual classroom instruction and 2–3 days of on-the-job training. This program covers the core aspects of running the franchised business and must be completed to the franchisor’s satisfaction before opening.
  2. Sales Employee Training
    Any new sales employees must undergo 8 hours of virtual training and be certified by the franchisor before conducting sales activities. This ensures that all sales efforts align with corporate standards.
  3. New Designated Manager Training
    If a new Designated Manager is appointed after operations begin, they must complete the initial training within 60 days. The franchisee bears the cost of this training, including travel and accommodation.

Territory Protection

City Publications grants franchisees an Exclusive Territory defined by geographic boundaries, typically comprising about 100,000 homes determined using U.S. Census data. Within this territory, City Publications agrees not to establish or license another franchise location, as long as the franchisee remains in good standing.

This territory is detailed in Exhibit A of the Franchise Agreement and is intended to limit internal competition among franchisees. However, the franchisor retains the right to operate other systems or use different proprietary marks both within and outside the Exclusive Territory, as long as these do not follow the same loose card deck format.

City Publications can also engage in alternative distribution channels such as internet sales or retail outlets. Franchisees are not automatically entitled to additional or adjoining territories but may purchase them with approval.

Competitors

Below are some of

City Publications

key competitors in the

Marketing

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Sign up
Gross Profit
Sign up
EBITDA
Sign up

36

New
+
-8%
-8%

$40,000 - $250,000

$46,000

$270,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

RedKnight

RedKnight is a marketing-services franchise offering lead generation, digital advertising, and AI-driven revenue operations, serving local businesses seeking performance marketing support, and known for data-driven campaign management, centralized technology platforms, and recurring retainers that help clients scale customer acquisition efficiently.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$18,000 - $36,000

HerLife Magazine

HerLife Magazine is a media and publishing franchise offering local women’s lifestyle magazines featuring fashion, business, and community stories, serving female readers and advertisers, and known for turnkey publishing systems, community-focused content, and multiple print, digital, and event-driven revenue streams.

Franchisees

?

3
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$55,000 - $100,000

Locals Love Us

Locals Love Us is a community advertising franchise offering neighborhood business rankings, print guides, and digital directories, serving local merchants and residents, and known for voter-driven “best of” lists that boost credibility, visibility, and measurable marketing results.

Franchisees

?

10
+
-9%
-9%
Investment

?

$67,000 - $92,000

Network Lead Exchange

Network Lead Exchange is a business networking franchise offering a proprietary online platform and chapter-based lead groups, serving entrepreneurs and professionals seeking referrals, and known for organized, industry-exclusive chapters that reward members with commissions for closed referral business.

Franchisees

?

36
+
112%
112%
Investment

?

$12,000 - $25,000

Tapinto

TapInto is a content-marketing and digital-franchise service offering hyper-local news websites under franchisee ownership, serving local business advertisers and community readers, and known for turnkey digital platform, recurring ad revenue and scalable model.

Franchisees

?

96
+
10%
10%
Investment

?

$7,000 - $11,000

yorCMO

yorCMO is a fractional marketing franchise offering outsourced CMO services, serving small to mid-sized businesses, and known for its proven process, back-end support, and rapid launch for marketing leaders.

Franchisees

?

29
+
107%
107%
Investment

?

$38,000 - $52,000

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