Fast Frame vs Great Frame (The)
Fast Frame vs Great Frame (The): Fast Frame costs $52K to $142K to open; Great Frame (The) costs $70K to $168K. Fast Frame has 66 units, Great Frame (The) has 32. SBA loan history: Fast Frame = 94 loans (25.5% default); Great Frame (The) = 43 loans (23.3% 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.
Fast Frame vs Great Frame (The): 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
Fast Frame requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($52K vs $70K for Great Frame (The)), a 26% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $75K for Fast Frame versus $74K for Great Frame (The), Great Frame (The) has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Fast Frame operates 66 units to Great Frame (The)'s 32, roughly 2× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Fast Frame has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 94 7(a) approvals compared with 43 for Great Frame (The). Fast Frame's peak SBA year was 2003 (31 loans); Great Frame (The)'s peak was 2004 (12 loans). Great Frame (The)'s more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Fast Frame has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 18. Great Frame (The) 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 Fast Frame deals is $105K vs $144K for Great Frame (The), useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 25.5% for Fast Frame and 23.3% for Great Frame (The), Great Frame (The) has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 24 (Fair) for Fast Frame and 24 (Fair) for Great Frame (The).
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 24/100 | 24/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 94 | 43 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 25.5% | 23.3% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $52K to $142K | $70K to $168K |
Franchise Fee | $75K | $74K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $300K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 66 | 32 |
Franchised Units | 66 | 32 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1971 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | SAN DIEGO, CA | HOUSTON, TX |
Category | All Other Home Furnishings Stores | All Other Home Furnishings Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Fast Frame or Great Frame (The)?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Fast Frame: $52K starting · Great Frame (The): $70K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Fast Frame
Fast Frame: 94 SBA loans · Great Frame (The): 43 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Great Frame (The)
Fast Frame: 25.5% · Great Frame (The): 23.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Fast Frame: 66 units · Great Frame (The): 32 units
More lender financing options
Fast Frame
Fast Frame: 36 unique lenders · Great Frame (The): 21 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.
Need Funding for Fast Frame or Great Frame (The)?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
Fast Frame vs Great Frame (The): Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Fast Frame and Great Frame (The) is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $52K to $168K.
Fast Frame has 94 SBA loans on record and Great Frame (The) has 43. 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.
Fast Frame vs Great Frame (The), Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Fast Frame or Great Frame (The)?
How much does a Fast Frame franchise cost compared to Great Frame (The)?
Can I finance Fast Frame or Great Frame (The) with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Fast Frame or Great Frame (The)?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
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; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and 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