Turnover hit 5.6m, while pre-tax losses were 776,000.

Printing.com reported a cash positive position of 194,000, and had 640,000 cash in hand at the end of the period to 26 May.

Chairman George Hardie said the company, headed up by chief executive Tony Rafferty, would take a third route to the market this year with the launch of its store franchise programme.

The programme will ena-ble individuals seeking a business-to-business franch-ise opportunity to start their own Printing.com outlet.

It will launch in October at this years National Franchise Exhibition.

Printing.coms network now totals 38 outlets, comprising company-operated stores and bolt-on franchises, and the firm said it remained on target to achieve 175 outlets by September 2005.

The company has a central printing plant in Salford, Greater Manchester, and takes orders through its store network.