Hallmark Card Shop vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods)
Hallmark Card Shop vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods): Hallmark Card Shop costs $41K–$360K to open; Partyland (Retail Party Goods) costs $87K–$237K. Hallmark Card Shop has 63 units, Partyland (Retail Party Goods) has 31. SBA loan history: Hallmark Card Shop = 73 loans (8.2% default); Partyland (Retail Party Goods) = 52 loans (42.3% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Hallmark Card Shop vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 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
Hallmark Card Shop requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($41K vs $87K for Partyland (Retail Party Goods)), a 53% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Hallmark Card Shop operates 63 units to Partyland (Retail Party Goods)'s 31, roughly 2× the system size. Hallmark Card Shop has been operating 116 years (founded 1910) versus 27 for Partyland (Retail Party Goods) (founded 1999), a 89-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 historical 7(a) approvals versus 52 for Partyland (Retail Party Goods). Hallmark Card Shop's peak SBA year was 1995 (12 loans); Partyland (Retail Party Goods)'s peak was 1996 (8 loans). Partyland (Retail Party Goods)'s more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Hallmark Card Shop concentrates in TX (8 SBA-funded units) while Partyland (Retail Party Goods) leads in CA (9). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Hallmark Card Shop deals is $167K vs $194K for Partyland (Retail Party Goods), useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.2% for Hallmark Card Shop and 42.3% for Partyland (Retail Party Goods), Hallmark Card Shop has the cleaner historical loss profile by 34.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 36 (Fair) for Hallmark Card Shop and 23 (Fair) for Partyland (Retail Party Goods), giving Hallmark Card Shop the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 36/100 | 23/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 73 | 52 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 8.2% | 42.3% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $41K – $360K | $87K – $237K |
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 | 31 |
Franchised Units | 63 | 31 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1910 | 1999 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | DALLAS, TX | CORONA, CA |
Category | Gift, Novelty, | Gift, Novelty, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Hallmark Card Shop or Partyland (Retail Party Goods)?
Lower upfront capital required
Hallmark Card Shop
Hallmark Card Shop: $41K starting · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): $87K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Hallmark Card Shop
Hallmark Card Shop: 73 SBA loans · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 52 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Hallmark Card Shop
Hallmark Card Shop: 8.2% · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 42.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Hallmark Card Shop
Hallmark Card Shop: 63 units · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 31 units
More lender financing options
Hallmark Card Shop
Hallmark Card Shop: 47 unique lenders · Partyland (Retail Party Goods): 28 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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Hallmark Card Shop vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods): Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Hallmark Card Shop and Partyland (Retail Party Goods) is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $41K to $360K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Hallmark Card Shop with 73 SBA loans and Partyland (Retail Party Goods) with 52. 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.
Hallmark Card Shop vs Partyland (Retail Party Goods), Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Hallmark Card Shop or Partyland (Retail Party Goods)?
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