Just-A-Buck vs Party City (Party Paper Goods)
Just-A-Buck vs Party City (Party Paper Goods): Just-A-Buck costs $80K–$209K to open; Party City (Party Paper Goods) costs $101K–$345K. Just-A-Buck has 19 units, Party City (Party Paper Goods) has 27. SBA loan history: Just-A-Buck = 26 loans (30.8% default); Party City (Party Paper Goods) = 33 loans (6.1% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Just-A-Buck vs Party City (Party Paper 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
Just-A-Buck requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($80K vs $101K for Party City (Party Paper Goods)), a 21% spread. Ongoing royalty load is 8% for Just-A-Buck and 10% for Party City (Party Paper Goods), giving Just-A-Buck the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Party City (Party Paper Goods) operates 27 units to Just-A-Buck's 19. Party City (Party Paper Goods) has been operating 126 years (founded 1900) versus 38 for Just-A-Buck (founded 1988), a 88-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Party City (Party Paper Goods) has the deeper SBA lending track record with 33 historical 7(a) approvals versus 26 for Just-A-Buck. Just-A-Buck's peak SBA year was 2001 (5 loans); Party City (Party Paper Goods)'s peak was 1996 (9 loans). Just-A-Buck's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Just-A-Buck concentrates in NJ (8 SBA-funded units) while Party City (Party Paper Goods) leads in TX (6). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Just-A-Buck deals is $150K vs $242K for Party City (Party Paper Goods), useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 30.8% for Just-A-Buck and 6.1% for Party City (Party Paper Goods), Party City (Party Paper Goods) has the cleaner historical loss profile by 24.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 19 (Fair) for Just-A-Buck and 50 (Moderate) for Party City (Party Paper Goods), giving Party City (Party Paper Goods) the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 19/100 | 50/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 26 | 33 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 30.8% | 6.1% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $80K – $209K | $101K – $345K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | 8% | 10% |
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 | 19 | 27 |
Franchised Units | 19 | 27 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1988 | 1900 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP, NJ | AUSTIN, TX |
Category | All Other General Merchandise Stores | All Other General Merchandise Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Just-A-Buck or Party City (Party Paper Goods)?
Lower upfront capital required
Just-A-Buck
Just-A-Buck: $80K starting · Party City (Party Paper Goods): $101K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Party City (Party Paper Goods)
Just-A-Buck: 26 SBA loans · Party City (Party Paper Goods): 33 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Party City (Party Paper Goods)
Just-A-Buck: 30.8% · Party City (Party Paper Goods): 6.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Party City (Party Paper Goods)
Just-A-Buck: 19 units · Party City (Party Paper Goods): 27 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Just-A-Buck
Just-A-Buck: 8% · Party City (Party Paper Goods): 10%
More lender financing options
Party City (Party Paper Goods)
Just-A-Buck: 9 unique lenders · Party City (Party Paper Goods): 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
Just-A-Buck vs Party City (Party Paper Goods): Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Just-A-Buck and Party City (Party Paper Goods) is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $80K to $345K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Just-A-Buck with 26 SBA loans and Party City (Party Paper Goods) with 33. 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.
Just-A-Buck vs Party City (Party Paper Goods), Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Just-A-Buck or Party City (Party Paper Goods)?
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