Edible vs Hallmark Card Shop
Edible vs Hallmark Card Shop: Edible costs $22K–$214K to open; Hallmark Card Shop costs $41K–$360K. Edible has 685 units, Hallmark Card Shop has 63. SBA loan history: Edible = 490 loans (11.0% default); Hallmark Card Shop = 73 loans (8.2% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Edible vs Hallmark Card Shop — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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
Edible requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($22K vs $41K for Hallmark Card Shop), a 48% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $30K for Edible versus $47K for Hallmark Card Shop — Edible has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Edible operates 685 units to Hallmark Card Shop's 63 — roughly 11× the system size. Hallmark Card Shop has been operating 116 years (founded 1910) versus 27 for Edible (founded 1999) — a 89-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Edible has the deeper SBA lending track record with 490 historical 7(a) approvals versus 73 for Hallmark Card Shop. Edible's peak SBA year was 2007 (50 loans); Hallmark Card Shop's peak was 1995 (12 loans). Edible's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Edible concentrates in FL (45 SBA-funded units) while Hallmark Card Shop leads in TX (8) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Edible deals is $208K vs $167K for Hallmark Card Shop — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 11.0% for Edible and 8.2% for Hallmark Card Shop — Hallmark Card Shop has the cleaner historical loss profile by 2.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 49 (Fair) for Edible and 36 (Fair) for Hallmark Card Shop, giving Edible the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 49/100 | 36/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 490 | 73 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 11.0% | 8.2% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $22K – $214K | $41K – $360K |
Franchise Fee | $30K | $47K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 3.5% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $80K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $250K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 685 | 63 |
Franchised Units | 680 | 63 |
Company-Owned | 5 | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1999 | 1910 |
Franchising Since | 2001 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 25 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Atlanta, GA | DALLAS, TX |
Category | Gift, Novelty, | Gift, Novelty, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better — Edible or Hallmark Card Shop?
Lower upfront capital required
Edible
Edible: $22K starting · Hallmark Card Shop: $41K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Edible
Edible: 490 SBA loans · Hallmark Card Shop: 73 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Hallmark Card Shop
Edible: 11.0% · Hallmark Card Shop: 8.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Edible
Edible: 685 units · Hallmark Card Shop: 63 units
More lender financing options
Edible
Edible: 144 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
Edible vs Hallmark Card Shop: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Edible 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 $22K to $360K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Edible with 490 SBA loans and Hallmark Card Shop with 73. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.