Hallmark Card Shop vs Party America
Hallmark Card Shop vs Party America: Hallmark Card Shop costs $41K to $360K to open; Party America costs $46K to $362K. Hallmark Card Shop has 63 units, Party America has 5. SBA loan history: Hallmark Card Shop = 73 loans (8.2% 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.
Hallmark Card Shop 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
Hallmark Card Shop requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($41K vs $46K for Party America), a 9% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Hallmark Card Shop operates 63 units to Party America's 5, roughly 13× the system size. Hallmark Card Shop has been operating 116 years (founded 1910) versus 40 for Party America (founded 1986), a 76-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Hallmark Card Shop has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 73 7(a) approvals compared with 8 for Party America. Hallmark Card Shop's peak SBA year was 1995 (12 loans); Party America's peak was 2008 (2 loans). Party America's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Hallmark Card Shop deals is $167K vs $237K for Party America, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.2% for Hallmark Card Shop and 25.0% for Party America, Hallmark Card Shop has the cleaner SBA loss record by 16.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 36 (Fair) for Hallmark Card Shop and 18 (Fair) for Party America, giving Hallmark Card Shop the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 36/100 | 18/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 73 | 8 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 8.2% | 25.0% |
Peer Tier | established | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $41K to $360K | $46K to $362K |
Franchise Fee | $47K | 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 | 63 | 5 |
Franchised Units | 63 | 5 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1910 | 1986 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | DALLAS, TX | Woodcliff Lake, NJ |
Category | Gift, Novelty, | Gift, Novelty, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Hallmark Card Shop or Party America?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Hallmark Card Shop: $41K starting · Party America: $46K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Hallmark Card Shop
Hallmark Card Shop: 73 SBA loans · Party America: 8 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Hallmark Card Shop
Hallmark Card Shop: 8.2% · Party America: 25.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Hallmark Card Shop: 63 units · Party America: 5 units
More lender financing options
Hallmark Card Shop
Hallmark Card Shop: 47 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
Hallmark Card Shop vs Party America: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Hallmark Card Shop and Party America is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $41K to $362K.
Hallmark Card Shop has 73 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.
Hallmark Card Shop vs Party America, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Hallmark Card Shop or Party America?
How much does a Hallmark Card Shop franchise cost compared to Party America?
Can I finance Hallmark Card Shop or Party America with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Hallmark Card Shop 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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