Balloons & Bears vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods)
Balloons & Bears vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods): Balloons & Bears costs $47K to $71K to open; Partyland (Retail Party Goods) costs $87K to $237K. Balloons & Bears has 5 units, Partyland (Retail Party Goods) has 31. SBA loan history: Balloons & Bears = 10 loans (50.0% default); Partyland (Retail Party Goods) = 52 loans (42.3% 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.
Balloons & Bears vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 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
Balloons & Bears requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($47K vs $87K for Partyland (Retail Party Goods)), a 46% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Partyland (Retail Party Goods) operates 31 units to Balloons & Bears's 5, roughly 6× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Partyland (Retail Party Goods) has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 52 7(a) approvals compared with 10 for Balloons & Bears. Balloons & Bears's peak SBA year was 1996 (6 loans); Partyland (Retail Party Goods)'s peak was 1996 (8 loans). Partyland (Retail Party Goods)'s more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in CA. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Balloons & Bears deals is $57K vs $194K for Partyland (Retail Party Goods), useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 50.0% for Balloons & Bears and 42.3% for Partyland (Retail Party Goods), Partyland (Retail Party Goods) has the cleaner SBA loss record by 7.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 30 (Fair) for Balloons & Bears and 23 (Fair) for Partyland (Retail Party Goods), giving Balloons & Bears the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 30/100 | 23/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 10 | 52 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 50.0% | 42.3% |
Peer Tier | growing | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $47K to $71K | $87K to $237K |
Franchise Fee | $48K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 5 | 31 |
Franchised Units | 5 | 31 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1999 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | PLEASANATON, CA | CORONA, CA |
Category | Gift, Novelty, | Gift, Novelty, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Balloons & Bears or Partyland (Retail Party Goods)?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Balloons & Bears: $47K starting · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): $87K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Partyland (Retail Party Goods)
Balloons & Bears: 10 SBA loans · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 52 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Partyland (Retail Party Goods)
Balloons & Bears: 50.0% · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 42.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Balloons & Bears: 5 units · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 31 units
More lender financing options
Partyland (Retail Party Goods)
Balloons & Bears: 6 unique lenders · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 28 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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Balloons & Bears vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods): Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Balloons & Bears and Partyland (Retail Party Goods) is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $47K to $237K.
Balloons & Bears has 10 SBA loans on record and Partyland (Retail Party Goods) has 52. 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.
Balloons & Bears vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods), Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Balloons & Bears or Partyland (Retail Party Goods)?
How much does a Balloons & Bears franchise cost compared to Partyland (Retail Party Goods)?
Can I finance Balloons & Bears or Partyland (Retail Party Goods) with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Balloons & Bears or Partyland (Retail Party Goods)?
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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