Profitable Art and Framing Shop-
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Located in the heart of downtown Washington, DC, this established custom framing and art services business has been a trusted resource for government agencies, law firms, corporations, embassies, and local residents for more than 34 years. Operating continuously from the same prime DC location, the company has built an exceptional reputation for craftsmanship, reliability, and service, resulting in a loyal base of repeat customers and recurring institutional accounts.
Custom framing is the cornerstone of the business, generating approximately 77% of revenue at gross margins approaching 85%. Beyond framing, the company offers original art and prints, professional art installation services throughout the DC metropolitan area, custom shadowboxes and acrylic displays, large- and small-format printing, engraving, canvas stretching, frame repair, and related specialty services.
A key strength of the business is its consistent commercial and government clientele. The company performs ongoing framing work for federal agencies, DC government offices, law firms, trade associations, lobbying organizations, embassies, and corporate offices. Recurring projects include framing certificates, awards, historical documents, credentials, artwork, and office displays, providing a dependable stream of repeat business. The business also maintains a multi-year federal client relationship extending through 2030 and is registered with SAM.gov.
Revenue is diversified across retail, corporate, legal, government, and commercial design channels. Approximately 85% of retail customers originate from referrals or repeat business, while corporate and institutional clients regularly engage the company for office build-outs, renovations, artwork installations, and ongoing framing needs.
The operation is supported by a highly experienced and stable team that will remain with the business following a sale. Staff includes a master framer with more than 24 years of experience, an assistant framer with more than 7 years of experience, and a long-standing professional installation partner. Average framing staff tenure exceeds 15 years, providing a buyer with immediate operational continuity and deep technical expertise.
The owner is retiring and will provide a reasonable transition period to ensure a smooth handoff. This represents a rare opportunity to acquire a long-established Washington, DC specialty business with recurring government and corporate customers, an experienced workforce, strong margins, and a reputation built over three decades in one of the nation's most influential business markets.
Custom framing is the cornerstone of the business, generating approximately 77% of revenue at gross margins approaching 85%. Beyond framing, the company offers original art and prints, professional art installation services throughout the DC metropolitan area, custom shadowboxes and acrylic displays, large- and small-format printing, engraving, canvas stretching, frame repair, and related specialty services.
A key strength of the business is its consistent commercial and government clientele. The company performs ongoing framing work for federal agencies, DC government offices, law firms, trade associations, lobbying organizations, embassies, and corporate offices. Recurring projects include framing certificates, awards, historical documents, credentials, artwork, and office displays, providing a dependable stream of repeat business. The business also maintains a multi-year federal client relationship extending through 2030 and is registered with SAM.gov.
Revenue is diversified across retail, corporate, legal, government, and commercial design channels. Approximately 85% of retail customers originate from referrals or repeat business, while corporate and institutional clients regularly engage the company for office build-outs, renovations, artwork installations, and ongoing framing needs.
The operation is supported by a highly experienced and stable team that will remain with the business following a sale. Staff includes a master framer with more than 24 years of experience, an assistant framer with more than 7 years of experience, and a long-standing professional installation partner. Average framing staff tenure exceeds 15 years, providing a buyer with immediate operational continuity and deep technical expertise.
The owner is retiring and will provide a reasonable transition period to ensure a smooth handoff. This represents a rare opportunity to acquire a long-established Washington, DC specialty business with recurring government and corporate customers, an experienced workforce, strong margins, and a reputation built over three decades in one of the nation's most influential business markets.
About the Business
- Years in Operation
- 34
- Employees
- 4 Full-time
- Facilities & Assets
- The Business operates from a two-level leased storefront and workshop in a high-traffic downtown corridor of the nation's capital. The space totals 2,120 sq ft - a 1,250 sq ft ground-floor customer-facing showroom (frame samples, moulding wall, original art on display) and an 870 sq ft upstairs workshop housing computerized mat-cutting, art preparation, and inventory storage. The Business has held this location continuously for 34 years on a third-party gross lease, has never defaulted, and the landlord has expressed openness to extending. Approximately 27 months remain on current lease terms at listing. In-place equipment - computerized mat-cutter, in-house large-format printer, framing benches, joining and fitting workshop equipment, and ancillary tooling - is included in the sale at an approximate $40K replacement value. Inventory is included and clean. The Business is debt-free; equipment and inventory convey free and clear at closing.
- Market Outlook / Competition
- The Business operates inside one of the most structurally advantaged custom framing markets in the United States - the Washington, DC metropolitan area, with its dense concentration of law firms, lobbying and policy organizations, federal agencies, embassies, professional services workers, and corporate property managers. The US art dealer and custom framing market generated approximately $16.5 billion in 2025 revenue with 6.2% five-year revenue growth and industry profit margins near 10.4%. The DC market is fragmented and dominated by independent local operators with minimal national-chain presence; competitive risk is unusually low because most framing work is in-person, custom, and tied to long-standing client relationships. The Business sits at the top of its local tier with a 24-plus year master-framer reputation, sub-0.1% rework rate, and a 90% quoted-to-close rate driven primarily by repeat and referral business.
- Opportunities for Growth
- Five specific, capital-light growth levers are available to an incoming owner from day one. First, complete activation of the GSA Schedule and SAM.gov registration to convert existing federal referral relationships into direct contracted work. Second, extend retail hours into evenings and weekends - current hours are Monday through Friday 9:30 to 5:00 with limited Saturday pickup, leaving evening and weekend foot traffic uncaptured. Third, reactivate paid digital marketing and social media; current spend is approximately $1,200 per month and Instagram, LinkedIn, content marketing, and designer partnerships are dormant. Fourth, lean further into corporate and commercial installation work, which runs at higher tickets than retail framing. Fifth, evaluate a second location in a credible adjacent submarket - a path the Business has previously supported successfully.
About the Sale
- Seller Motivation
- Owner is retiring
- Transition Support
- Owner will provide training and support as needed to help the buyer get started.
- Financing Options
- Some owner financing will be considered for a well-qualified buyer.
Listing Info
- ID
- 2513441
- Listing Views
Listing ID: 2513441 The information on this listing has been provided by either the seller or a business broker representing the seller. BizQuest has no interest or stake in the sale of this business and has not verified any of the information and assumes no responsibility for its accuracy, veracity, or completeness. See our full Terms of Use. Learn how to avoid scams.
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