Card$Mart vs Hallmark Card Shop
Card$Mart vs Hallmark Card Shop: Card$Mart costs $62K to $334K to open; Hallmark Card Shop costs $41K to $360K. Card$Mart has 12 units, Hallmark Card Shop has 63. SBA loan history: Card$Mart = 13 loans (15.4% default); Hallmark Card Shop = 73 loans (8.2% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Card$Mart vs Hallmark Card Shop: 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
Hallmark Card Shop requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($41K vs $62K for Card$Mart), a 49% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $73K for Card$Mart versus $47K for Hallmark Card Shop, Hallmark Card Shop has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Hallmark Card Shop operates 63 units to Card$Mart's 12, roughly 5× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Hallmark Card Shop has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 73 7(a) approvals compared with 13 for Card$Mart. Card$Mart's peak SBA year was 2004 (8 loans); Hallmark Card Shop's peak was 1995 (12 loans). Card$Mart's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Card$Mart has the most SBA funded units in MA, with 5. Hallmark Card Shop leads in TX, with 8. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Card$Mart deals is $189K vs $167K for Hallmark Card Shop, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 15.4% for Card$Mart and 8.2% for Hallmark Card Shop, Hallmark Card Shop has the cleaner SBA loss record by 7.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 29 (Fair) for Card$Mart and 36 (Fair) for Hallmark Card Shop, giving Hallmark Card Shop the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 29/100 | 36/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 13 | 73 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 15.4% | 8.2% |
Peer Tier | growing | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $62K to $334K | $41K to $360K |
Franchise Fee | $73K | $47K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 12 | 63 |
Franchised Units | 12 | 63 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1910 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | BEVERLY, MA | DALLAS, TX |
Category | Gift, Novelty, | Gift, Novelty, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Card$Mart or Hallmark Card Shop?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Card$Mart: $62K starting · Hallmark Card Shop: $41K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Hallmark Card Shop
Card$Mart: 13 SBA loans · Hallmark Card Shop: 73 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Hallmark Card Shop
Card$Mart: 15.4% · Hallmark Card Shop: 8.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Card$Mart: 12 units · Hallmark Card Shop: 63 units
More lender financing options
Hallmark Card Shop
Card$Mart: 12 unique lenders · Hallmark Card Shop: 47 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Card$Mart vs Hallmark Card Shop: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Card$Mart and Hallmark Card Shop is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $41K to $360K.
Card$Mart has 13 SBA loans on record and Hallmark Card Shop has 73. 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 $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Card$Mart vs Hallmark Card Shop, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Card$Mart or Hallmark Card Shop?
How much does a Card$Mart franchise cost compared to Hallmark Card Shop?
Can I finance Card$Mart or Hallmark Card Shop with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Card$Mart or Hallmark Card Shop?
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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
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