FASTSIGNS vs Signarama Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of FASTSIGNS vs Signarama including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
FASTSIGNS Franchise
Signarama Franchise
Investment $218,596 - $298,679$106,513 - $308,520
Franchise Fee $49,750$49,500
Royalty Fee 6%2%-6%
Advertising Fee 2%1%
Year Founded 19851986
Year Franchised 19861987
Term Of Agreement 10 years35 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years35 years
Renewal Fee -$1.5K


Business Experience Requirements

 
FASTSIGNS Franchise
Signarama Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Sales experience

  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Net Worth Required - $44,500

  • Financing Options

     
    FASTSIGNS Franchise
    Signarama Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    FASTSIGNS Franchise
    Signarama Franchise
    Training -No prior experience needed. The SIGNARAMA training system is one of the most extensive training programs in the franchising industry and backed by 25 years of experience in signs, graphics, and banners. You will be a trained expert in sign-making and business operations and business promotion. Your comprehensive SIGNARAMA training program includes the following: *A 2-week introductory training program at SIGNARAMA University located at corporate headquarters in West Palm Beach, FL. Your travel and lodging expenses are included. You will learn all aspects of your sign business, marketing your products, advertising, scheduling and workflow, bookkeeping, pricing orders, and providing great customer service. You will also learn the practice of making signs, product knowledge, hiring and training your staff. *A 1-week on-the-job (OJT) training session at an established SIGNARAMA store to apply your classroom training and gain hands-on experience. *Additional 2 weeks of training in your store with one of our experienced operations advisors. They are there with you side by side with you during the store setup as well as to implement your marketing plan and grand opening.
    Support

    As a FASTSIGNS franchisee, you will have our direct and active support from the very beginning including: *Site Selection and Build-Out *Pre-Opening Marketing Blitz to drive traffic *Grand Opening Support and Guidance from an outside sales manager and brand ambassador *Dedicated Business Consultants to assist with business/finances training, marketing and sales, production and staff management *Franchisee Mentor Program to guide you and lend support in every aspect of your business *24-Hour Web-Based Learning Management System that keeps you and your staff up-to-speed and in-the-know in this fast-paced market *Personalized Operational Support such as advanced pricing and cost analysis tools and dedicated business consultants *Business & Financial Management, Product Testing & Ratings, Vendor & Equipment Evaluations and Advanced Technological Expertise *A FASTSIGNS Network featuring an annual convention and vendor show, Franchise Partner message boards, Franchise Advisory Committee and online access to support Training, Technical, Marketing and HR Tools

    The business landscape is constantly changing. We firmly believe that ongoing support from the franchise is necessary to stay competitive and educated in the industry. We offer ongoing training sessions and regional meetings, franchise owner conventions, and Signarama-specific ongoing online educational opportunities to ensure that our franchisees always have access to a wealth of new information. In addition, franchisees will have access to the following support: - Regional support staff - A highly-effective mentor program - Special achievement recognition - Technical assistance and a toll-free 800 number - Discounts through mass purchasing power - Strategic alliances with vendors and suppliers Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Professional broadcast and print advertising materials. * Customized online presence. * Powerful web marketing. * Sales training programs. * Dedicated Marketing Services ManagerCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
    Operations 15% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 8

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 5% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 - 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    FASTSIGNS Franchise
    Signarama Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About FASTSIGNS

    More than fast. More than signs.

    The brainchild of Gary Salomon and his partner, the late Bob Schanbaum, FASTSIGNS came to realization in 1985 when the duo experimented with the concept of quick turnaround signs and graphics. Ultimately - and, of course, unbeknownst to Bob and Gary at the time - FASTSIGNS would go on to revolutionize the signage industry and helped create an entirely new niche.

    By late 1987, the Dallas Metroplex area played host to three company-owned FASTSIGNS centers, and by that time, Gary was committed to growing the brand through franchising. Today, FASTSIGNS is a recognized leader in the sign industry with over 675 franchised units in eight countries - the United States & Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Grand Cayman and Australia (operating under the SIGNWAVE brand).

    At its core, FASTSIGNS is a company of collaborators, strategists, graphics experts and problem solvers all focused on one thing: raising the visibility of businesses across the country and around the world. By design, this is a goal largely left open to interpretation. There are virtually endless ways to raise visibility for a company, limited only by imagination. This fact alone makes FASTSIGNS a unique franchise opportunity best suited for driven, creative individuals.

    Veteran's Discount - 50% of Franchise Fee

    #2 in Franchise Gator's Top franchises
    #55 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #44 in Franchise 500 for 2021.



    About Signarama

    Ranked #1 in Category, #115 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 and frequently #1 most visited site (daily) on www.thefranchisemall.com

    Signarama is constantly rated as the top sign franchise and the top franchise in the industry.

    As franchises contend increasingly for purchasers' consideration, image acknowledgment and nearby publicity has turned out to be fundamentally imperative to organizations. This requirement for modified informing has shot the sign business into more than a $49 billion market.
    Take an interest in this development by joining SIGNARAMA, the world's largest sign franchisor. 
    We have been effectively helping business visionaries dispatch full-benefit sign locations for almost 25 years and are currently moving toward 900 stores in more than 50 nations. Our comprehensive experience and mastery gives you the preparation, advice and hardware important to run your effective SIGNARAMA store.

    Site Selection Knowledge

    The most essential choice in opening your retail business is site choice. We painstakingly inquire about all parts of each new SIGNARAMA site, 
    like customer movement and customer potential. After all criteria are met and an area has been chosen, we help you secure a lease and staff
    Then we arrange for possession and the start-up process.

    Industry Leaders

    Being a part of the SIGNARAMA trademark benefits you since it is known for predominant craftsmanship and superior client benefit. Each of our independently claimed and worked stores endeavors to give clients the most elevated quality items and customized consideration they anticipate from each SIGNARAMA.
    While we have successfully won the esteemed Entrepreneur Magazine's #1 Franchise in the Industry Award for nine continuous years, the repeat business and referrals each SIGNARAMA gets really tells us we give the best general client experience. Quality and service...that's what you will give.

    As far as we can tell, the best fulfillment in owning your own business is seeing your rewards for so much hard work. You can attain that fulfillment when you copy our demonstrated framework. The store proprietors of our SIGNARAMA family who utilized no less than one full time non-proprietor outside deals delegate, were good to go no less than two years before 2010, and announced month to month deals, arrived at the midpoint of $614,543.00 in gross deals.

    Ace License Opportunities Globally

    We additionally grant exceptionally novel MASTER LICENSE open doors for focused nations/districts to qualified people and organizations. An ace permit gives the proprietor the elite improvement benefits for the brand and produces an extremely positive income stream from the offering of establishments and gathering royalties.

    Signarama VetFran Program
    As tens of thousands of service men and women return from deployment in Afghanistan and Southwest Asia, expanded opportunities are needed to ensure veterans and their families can transition into the civilian economy. With its rapid training opportunities, scalability, and need for operational execution and excellence, franchising provides an ideal career path to enable returning veterans to become leaders of and productive participants in the U.S. economy.

    Signarama's VetFran program helps returning service members access franchise opportunities through training, financial assistance, and industry support. VetFran’s ranks have grown to include more than 400 franchise systems across multiple business categories. Thousands of veterans have become franchise owners through VetFran and other programs. Now, the franchise industry is recruiting veterans at all experience levels for careers in this growing sector and Signarama is taking the lead in providing the opportunities as the flagship of the sign industry.

    Signarama Salutes Our Veterans

    Through our VetFran program (Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative) we also offer discounts off our franchise fee.

    Veteran Incentives  10-50% off franchise fee