Card$Mart vs Party America
Card$Mart vs Party America: Card$Mart costs $62K to $334K to open; Party America costs $46K to $362K. Card$Mart has 12 units, Party America has 5. SBA loan history: Card$Mart = 13 loans (15.4% default); Party America = 8 loans (25.0% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Card$Mart vs Party America: 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
Party America requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($46K vs $62K for Card$Mart), a 35% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Card$Mart operates 12 units to Party America's 5, roughly 2× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Card$Mart has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 13 7(a) approvals compared with 8 for Party America. Card$Mart's peak SBA year was 2004 (8 loans); Party America's peak was 2008 (2 loans). Party America's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Card$Mart has the most SBA funded units in MA, with 5. Party America leads in TX, with 2. 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 $237K for Party America, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 15.4% for Card$Mart and 25.0% for Party America, Card$Mart has the cleaner SBA loss record by 9.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 29 (Fair) for Card$Mart and 18 (Fair) for Party America, giving Card$Mart the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 29/100 | 18/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 13 | 8 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 15.4% | 25.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $62K to $334K | $46K to $362K |
Franchise Fee | $73K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 12 | 5 |
Franchised Units | 12 | 5 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1986 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | BEVERLY, MA | Woodcliff Lake, NJ |
Category | Gift, Novelty, | Gift, Novelty, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Card$Mart or Party America?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Card$Mart: $62K starting · Party America: $46K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Card$Mart
Card$Mart: 13 SBA loans · Party America: 8 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Card$Mart
Card$Mart: 15.4% · Party America: 25.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Card$Mart: 12 units · Party America: 5 units
More lender financing options
Card$Mart
Card$Mart: 12 unique lenders · Party America: 7 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$Mart vs Party America: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Card$Mart and Party America is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $46K to $362K.
Card$Mart has 13 SBA loans on record and Party America has 8. 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 Party America, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Card$Mart or Party America?
How much does a Card$Mart franchise cost compared to Party America?
Can I finance Card$Mart or Party America with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Card$Mart or Party America?
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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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