Opens in a new tab

FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a City Lifestyle Franchise

City Lifestyle is a luxury community magazine franchise founded in 2009, operating in 210+ markets across 38 states. Each franchisee is a local publisher who sells print and digital advertising space to area businesses, while the corporate team handles all editorial layout, ad design, printing, and distribution.

The franchise targets a coveted readership demographic. Publications reach readers with a median household income of $136,000, and the network holds the 40th position among the most-circulated magazines in the United States. Each territory receives more than 7,000 directly mailed copies monthly to affluent households, and the brand reaches over 6.5 million readers across its network per month at an 82% read rate. Advertisers typically renew on a monthly basis, giving publishers a recurring revenue model.

Publishers operate home-based with no physical premises or inventory to manage. The franchise adds more than 40 new markets per year on average and connects over 7,500 total advertisers across its national network. The corporate production infrastructure removes the complexity of running a publishing operation. Franchisees focus on local relationship-building and sales rather than layout, printing, or logistics.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no City Lifestyle resales available
Register your interest

Why buy a City Lifestyle Franchise?

City Lifestyle’s advertiser appeal is rooted in its reader demographics. Premium local advertisers — retailers, service providers, and businesses targeting affluent consumers — have few alternatives that deliver comparable audience quality at the hyper-local level. That demand supports monthly renewal cycles, which underpin consistent publisher income. The brand’s national scale and production standards give advertisers a product they could not source from an independent local publication.

Deciding to buy a City Lifestyle franchise means acquiring an existing advertiser base in a defined territory. The home-based model and corporate production infrastructure keep overhead low and centre the franchisee’s work on sales and local relationship management. The recurring revenue structure is a genuine advantage, but its value in a specific resale depends on what has been built in that territory.

City Lifestyle Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      $6,000

    • Initial Investment Range

      $12,400 – $19,750

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      7%

  • Training & Support

    • Web-based and in-person on-boarding; ongoing education

    • Networking

    • Virtual calls

City Lifestyle – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    City Lifestyle provides initial training online and in-person, covering sales, marketing, operations, and publishing. Each new publisher is then paired with a dedicated Launch Coach. Ongoing support includes City Lifestyle University and regional conferences. Corporate production teams manage all editorial layout, ad design, printing, and distribution, and a proprietary CRM and sales portal supports client management. A national support team is available post-launch. Buyers of an existing City Lifestyle unit should confirm what transfer training and CRM access the franchisor provides to incoming owners.

  2. Ideal Owner

    City Lifestyle suits sales-oriented professionals comfortable with relationship-led business development and local business engagement. No publishing or media background is required; corporate handles all content, layout, and production. The franchisee's core work is face-to-face advertising sales and ongoing account management, making interpersonal skills and local drive more important than technical ability. Community-minded operators who want an active role in their area, and those with backgrounds in corporate sales, marketing, or healthcare, tend to fit the model well.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    City Lifestyle has earned Inc. 5000 recognition nine times, most recently in 2024 with 160% three-year revenue growth. The network holds the 40th position among the most-circulated magazines in the United States, placing it ahead of many national consumer titles. The brand's reader income profile, with a median household income of $136,000, has supported its credibility with premium advertisers. For resale buyers, brand recognition should be weighed alongside the specific territory's local visibility, advertiser tenure, and community reputation.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US local advertising market is substantial, with BIA forecasting approximately $169 billion in spending for 2025. Within that, hyper-local luxury lifestyle publishing addresses advertisers who need to reach affluent consumers and value the credibility and shelf life of premium print over digital-only options. Franchisee revenue is tied directly to local business advertising demand in a specific territory, making local business density and area household income key considerations for resale buyers evaluating an existing unit.

Learn more about
how to own a City Lifestyle franchise resale

Please fill out the form below and a Franchise Flippers expert will be in touch with you shortly.

The Franchise Brand Index

This page is part of Franchise Flippers’ independent franchise Index, designed as an educational resource to help potential buyers explore the franchise resale market and compare brands.

Trademark & Affiliation Disclaimer

This website is an independent, informational resource. All trademarks, logos, and brand names displayed are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification and educational purposes. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from the respective trademark holders.