1-800-Flowers vs Flowerama
1-800-Flowers vs Flowerama: 1-800-Flowers costs $50K to $527K to open; Flowerama costs $19K to $1.2M. 1-800-Flowers has 7 units, Flowerama has 37. SBA loan history: 1-800-Flowers = 8 loans (0.0% default); Flowerama = 101 loans (20.8% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
1-800-Flowers vs Flowerama: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Flowerama requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($19K vs $50K for 1-800-Flowers), a 170% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $30K for 1-800-Flowers versus $35K for Flowerama, 1-800-Flowers has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for 1-800-Flowers and 6% for Flowerama, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Flowerama operates 37 units to 1-800-Flowers's 7, roughly 5× the system size. Flowerama has been operating 59 years (founded 1967) versus 50 for 1-800-Flowers (founded 1976), a 9-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Flowerama has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 101 7(a) approvals compared with 8 for 1-800-Flowers. 1-800-Flowers's peak SBA year was 2012 (2 loans); Flowerama's peak was 2003 (12 loans). 1-800-Flowers's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. 1-800-Flowers has the most SBA funded units in GA, with 2. Flowerama leads in OH, with 20. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded 1-800-Flowers deals is $323K vs $259K for Flowerama, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for 1-800-Flowers and 20.8% for Flowerama, 1-800-Flowers has the cleaner SBA loss record by 20.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 42 (Fair) for 1-800-Flowers and 42 (Fair) for Flowerama.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 42/100 | 42/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 8 | 101 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 20.8% |
Peer Tier | emerging | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $50K to $527K | $19K to $1.2M |
Franchise Fee | $30K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 7 | 37 |
Franchised Units | 7 | 29 |
Company Owned | – | 8 |
Term Length | N/A | 20 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1976 | 1967 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1972 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 54 yrs |
Headquarters | Carle Place, NY | PARMA, OH |
Category | Florists | Florists |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, 1-800-Flowers or Flowerama?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
1-800-Flowers: $50K starting · Flowerama: $19K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Flowerama
1-800-Flowers: 8 SBA loans · Flowerama: 101 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
1-800-Flowers
1-800-Flowers: 0.0% · Flowerama: 20.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
1-800-Flowers: 7 units · Flowerama: 37 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
1-800-Flowers: 6% · Flowerama: 6%
More lender financing options
Flowerama
1-800-Flowers: 6 unique lenders · Flowerama: 25 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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1-800-Flowers vs Flowerama: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing 1-800-Flowers and Flowerama is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $19K to $1.2M.
1-800-Flowers has 8 SBA loans on record and Flowerama has 101. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
1-800-Flowers vs Flowerama, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, 1-800-Flowers or Flowerama?
How much does a 1-800-Flowers franchise cost compared to Flowerama?
Can I finance 1-800-Flowers or Flowerama with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, 1-800-Flowers or Flowerama?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman