Fast Frame vs Great Frame (The)
Fast Frame vs Great Frame (The): Fast Frame costs $52K–$142K to open; Great Frame (The) costs $70K–$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, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Fast Frame vs Great Frame (The): 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
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 historical 7(a) approvals versus 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. Geographically, Fast Frame concentrates in CA (18 SBA-funded units) while Great Frame (The) leads in TX (8). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest 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 historical loss profile 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 – $142K | $70K – $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
Fast Frame
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 historical default rate
Great Frame (The)
Fast Frame: 25.5% · Great Frame (The): 23.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Fast Frame
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.
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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.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Fast Frame with 94 SBA loans and Great Frame (The) with 43. 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.
Fast Frame vs Great Frame (The), Frequently Asked Questions
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