Business Cards Tomorrow vs FASTSIGNS
Business Cards Tomorrow vs FASTSIGNS: Business Cards Tomorrow costs $99K to $560K to open; FASTSIGNS costs $215K to $377K. Business Cards Tomorrow has 15 units, FASTSIGNS has 363. SBA loan history: Business Cards Tomorrow = 19 loans (10.5% default); FASTSIGNS = 504 loans (7.1% 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.
Business Cards Tomorrow vs FASTSIGNS: 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
Business Cards Tomorrow requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($99K vs $215K for FASTSIGNS), a 54% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for Business Cards Tomorrow versus $50K for FASTSIGNS, Business Cards Tomorrow has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Business Cards Tomorrow and 6% for FASTSIGNS, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, FASTSIGNS operates 363 units to Business Cards Tomorrow's 15, roughly 24× the system size. Business Cards Tomorrow has been operating 51 years (founded 1975) versus 41 for FASTSIGNS (founded 1985), a 10-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
FASTSIGNS has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 504 7(a) approvals compared with 19 for Business Cards Tomorrow. Business Cards Tomorrow's peak SBA year was 2013 (3 loans); FASTSIGNS's peak was 2021 (36 loans). FASTSIGNS's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Business Cards Tomorrow has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 3. FASTSIGNS leads in TX, with 50. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Business Cards Tomorrow deals is $358K vs $340K for FASTSIGNS, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 10.5% for Business Cards Tomorrow and 7.1% for FASTSIGNS, FASTSIGNS has the cleaner SBA loss record by 3.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 36 (Fair) for Business Cards Tomorrow and 68 (Strong) for FASTSIGNS, giving FASTSIGNS the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 36/100 | 68/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 19 | 504 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 10.5% | 7.1% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $99K to $560K | $215K to $377K |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $300K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 15 | 363 |
Franchised Units | 15 | 363 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1975 | 1985 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1986 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 40 yrs |
Headquarters | TEMPE, AZ | Carrollton, TX |
Category | Sign Manufacturing | Sign Manufacturing |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Business Cards Tomorrow or FASTSIGNS?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Business Cards Tomorrow: $99K starting · FASTSIGNS: $215K starting
More SBA lender confidence
FASTSIGNS
Business Cards Tomorrow: 19 SBA loans · FASTSIGNS: 504 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
FASTSIGNS
Business Cards Tomorrow: 10.5% · FASTSIGNS: 7.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Business Cards Tomorrow: 15 units · FASTSIGNS: 363 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Business Cards Tomorrow: 6% · FASTSIGNS: 6%
More lender financing options
FASTSIGNS
Business Cards Tomorrow: 18 unique lenders · FASTSIGNS: 152 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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About These Franchises
Business Cards Tomorrow vs FASTSIGNS: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Business Cards Tomorrow and FASTSIGNS is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $99K to $560K.
Business Cards Tomorrow has 19 SBA loans on record and FASTSIGNS has 504. 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.
Business Cards Tomorrow vs FASTSIGNS, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Business Cards Tomorrow or FASTSIGNS?
How much does a Business Cards Tomorrow franchise cost compared to FASTSIGNS?
Can I finance Business Cards Tomorrow or FASTSIGNS with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Business Cards Tomorrow or FASTSIGNS?
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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