In a pre-close statement, the company said that trading had softened across its established markets in the UK and Ireland in March and that its results for the year ended 31 March 2010 would consequentially be "marginally below market expectations".

While annual profits at the hub-and-spoke print franchise are unlikely to dip much more than 5% below the £1.85m forecast, the poor trading conditions in March could be indicative of a wider malaise in the UK economy.

Rafferty described Printing.com's business as "one of the best barometers of economic confidence" and added that there had been increased caution from UK SMEs, which make up the bulk of the print franchise's clients, in March.

"We have seen circumstances in March that point to a material drop in confidence in the SME community," he said.

"The problem is that the money that has come into the top of the economy through the stimulus package is not getting through to SMEs."

Rafferty added that with today's confirmation of a 6 May election, he hoped that the return of political stability post-election would have a beneficial impact on business confidence.

Meanwhile, Printing.com could be on the verge of completing it's long-stated aim of breaking into the Australian market, following the collapse of local hub-and-spoke print franchise Worldwide Online Printing.

Printing.com is understood to be one of several parties currently in talks with the administrators for Worldwide Online Printing, which went into administration on 25 February.

Rafferty confirmed that Printing.com was "looking at the opportunity with some interest".