Is RR Donnelley Going Out of Business? Company Status 2025

Ethan Caldwell
10 Min Read
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If you’ve ever mailed a postcard, handled a thick catalog, or thought about the nuts and bolts of business communication, you’ve crossed paths with RR Donnelley. This is a company that’s been around since the 1800s, built on printing everything from phone books to glossy magazines. But let’s get to the question you’re here for: Is RR Donnelley going out of business in 2025?

RR Donnelley Today: Still Up and Running

The straight answer is no—RR Donnelley (or RRD, as most folks call it these days) is very much still in business as of spring 2025. In fact, the company is taking steps to evolve far beyond the old role you might associate with printing presses and ink stains.

They’re not just cranking out flyers and catalogs anymore. Today, RRD is mixing print with digital content, logistics, marketing automation, and all sorts of business support services. If it helps a company reach customers or run smoother, RRD wants to be the one helping.

Why Do People Think RRD Is in Trouble?

Stories about RR Donnelley having tough times aren’t exactly made up. The print industry overall isn’t what it used to be. More people go online for information, shopping, and advertising. Demand for traditional printing has gone down over the last decade almost everywhere. That can make people wonder if companies like RRD are next in line for closure or bankruptcy.

On top of this, you may have heard about layoffs, cost-cutting, and some changes in leadership. Those things reflect real pressure. But they also reflect how RRD is trying to change, not shut down.

A Look at the Money: Is RRD Financially Stable?

It’s fair to wonder about the numbers. Companies don’t just close overnight—they run into trouble when they can’t pay their bills, lose customers, or fail to change with the market.

Let’s get into the details. In 2025, RR Donnelley reported $5.29 billion in revenue. That’s actually slightly up from $5.24 billion in 2024. The increase isn’t huge, but considering RRD saw several years of steady declines, holding steady (and even inching up) is a positive sign. It means the new services they’re adding are starting to pay off.

Profit margins are a bit of a squeeze, but that’s not unique to RRD. The print industry, plus expanding into digital business services, means costs are always being watched. RRD responded by shutting underused facilities, streamlining processes, and focusing on what’s working.

It’s not a free pass, but it’s better than a rapid downward spiral.

How Do the Ratings Agencies See It?

Credit ratings are a little like a report card for businesses. They tell investors how risky a company is—how likely the company is to make good on its debts.

In April 2025, Fitch Ratings kept RR Donnelley at a stable “B” rating. That means there’s some risk (no surprise, given the industry), but RRD isn’t teetering on bankruptcy. The stable outlook is partly due to RRD’s efforts to expand and diversify—which, in rating-speak, means they’re not relying on just one thing to keep money coming in.

So while RRD’s not a shining star in the finance world, lenders still believe it has breathing room.

The Shape of RRD’s New Business: What Are They Focusing On?

Let’s be honest—the days of print running the show are gone. RRD is working hard to adjust. The company now does a lot more in communications beyond print. They help companies handle digital marketing, track customer projects, and even whip up content for websites or social channels.

Then there’s logistics, which often goes overlooked. RRD helps companies manage shipping, packaging, direct mail—you name it. If a company needs to reach a customer online or offline, RRD tries to find a role.

A lot of this isn’t as visible as magazines hitting your mailbox. But for Fortune 500 companies and growing brands, getting products and messages to the right people still matters. That’s where RRD is finding new growth.

RRD Buys Williams Lea: A Bet on the Future

Here’s something that’s flown under the radar for many people. In January 2025, RRD completed its purchase of Williams Lea, another well-known name in business process outsourcing.

Why does this matter? Williams Lea does a ton of work in document management, creative services, and business support. By buying Williams Lea, RRD gains new tech-savvy staff, access to more clients, and more ways to pitch services beyond print.

Think of it this way: RRD isn’t retrenching; it’s bulking up for a new fight. Investments like this mean they’re planning to be around, not heading for the exits.

Inside the Numbers: Quick Facts for 2025

It helps to get all the main numbers in one spot, especially if you’re tracking whether RRD is really on the ropes or finding its footing.

Indicator 2025 Status
Operational Status Active, not going out of business
Revenue $5.29 billion, slight YoY increase
Credit Rating Stable ‘B’ by Fitch Ratings (April 2025)
Recent Strategic Moves Acquisition of Williams Lea
Diversification Expanded into digital, marketing, and business services

Why Diversification Matters for RRD

For years, RRD made its money almost entirely from print. That was fine—until clients started shifting budgets to online ads or email blasts. As demand changed, RRD couldn’t afford to just sit tight. That’s why the push into digital services, creative solutions, and logistics matters so much right now.

The Williams Lea deal fits into this. There’s more opportunity for cross-selling and bundle services to bigger clients. It keeps RRD involved in lots of moving parts of business operations—not just the print side.

What’s Happening Inside the Company?

Like a lot of companies in transformation, RRD has seen some turbulence. They’ve laid off staff when needed, closed plants, and redirected investments. While that sounds rough, it’s also pretty typical for big companies making the jump to a new focus.

Employees who stay say it’s not the “old RRD” anymore—it’s become more about data, client service, and technology. People who started on ink and paper are sometimes training in content marketing or learning new digital tools. In some ways, that’s a quieter shift than splashy headlines, but it’s likely to determine how RRD looks in a few years.

Comparing RRD to the Competition

RRD isn’t the only one reinventing itself. Competitors like Quad and Deluxe are also doubling down on digital marketing, logistics, and business services. Print is still part of the mix, but nobody is betting the farm on ink anymore. If you watch for industry news on sites like Blue Business Mag, you’ll spot a long list of print companies making similar shifts. The difference with RRD is that, so far, it’s keeping its scale and customer base while making the jump.

What About Customers?

For RRD’s customers—banks, big retailers, insurance firms, and government agencies—the company’s future matters. They rely on RRD to send statements, create marketing pieces, and even manage behind-the-scenes paperwork. Switches to digital communications haven’t happened overnight for everyone, especially with regulated industries.

So RRD’s ability to keep offering both print and digital options means clients aren’t forced to pick one or the other. That hybrid model is proving useful as businesses adapt at their own speed.

The Bottom Line: Still Here, Still Evolving

So is RR Donnelley going out of business in 2025? Here’s what we know: It’s facing challenges, but the doors are still open. The printing side may not be the cash cow it once was, but the company is investing and expanding in other ways. Buying Williams Lea is the biggest signal yet that RRD is not preparing to throw in the towel.

People inside RRD know the market keeps changing. The company’s best shot for sticking around is to keep offering more of what today’s businesses want—whether that’s mailing a catalog or launching a digital campaign.

If you’re watching from the outside, you’ll still see big changes at RRD in the years ahead. But don’t expect to see them vanish. For now, RR Donnelley is still very much part of the business world, just looking a bit different than before.

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Ethan Caldwell is a small business enthusiast, writer, and the voice behind many of the stories at BlueBusinessMag. Based in Austin, Texas, Ethan has spent the last decade working with startups, solopreneurs, and local businesses - helping them turn ideas into income. With a background in digital marketing and a passion for honest, no-fluff advice, he breaks down complex business topics into easy-to-understand insights that actually work. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him hiking Texas trails or tinkering with new side hustle experiments.
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