Minuteman Press vs Sir Speedy
Minuteman Press vs Sir Speedy: Minuteman Press costs $81K to $221K to open; Sir Speedy costs $252K to $306K. Minuteman Press has 359 units, Sir Speedy has 22. SBA loan history: Minuteman Press = 527 loans (17.5% default); Sir Speedy = 32 loans (0.0% 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.
Minuteman Press vs Sir Speedy: 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
Minuteman Press requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($81K vs $252K for Sir Speedy), a 68% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $49K for Minuteman Press versus $55K for Sir Speedy, Minuteman Press has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Minuteman Press and 6% for Sir Speedy, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Minuteman Press operates 359 units to Sir Speedy's 22, roughly 16× the system size. Sir Speedy has been operating 58 years (founded 1968) versus 53 for Minuteman Press (founded 1973), a 5-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Minuteman Press has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 527 7(a) approvals compared with 32 for Sir Speedy.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 17.5% for Minuteman Press and 0.0% for Sir Speedy, Sir Speedy has the cleaner SBA loss record by 17.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 50 (Moderate) for Minuteman Press and 65 (Strong) for Sir Speedy, giving Sir Speedy the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 50/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 527 | 32 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 17.5% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $81K to $221K | $252K to $306K |
Franchise Fee | $49K | $55K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $50K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 359 | 22 |
Franchised Units | 359 | 22 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 20 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1973 | 1968 |
Franchising Since | 1975 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 51 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Farmingdale, NY | Mission Viejo, CA |
Category | Commercial Gravure Printing | Commercial Gravure Printing |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2023 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Minuteman Press or Sir Speedy?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Minuteman Press: $81K starting · Sir Speedy: $252K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Minuteman Press
Minuteman Press: 527 SBA loans · Sir Speedy: 32 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Sir Speedy
Minuteman Press: 17.5% · Sir Speedy: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Minuteman Press: 359 units · Sir Speedy: 22 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Minuteman Press: 6% · Sir Speedy: 6%
More lender financing options
Minuteman Press
Minuteman Press: 179 unique lenders · Sir Speedy: 23 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
Minuteman Press vs Sir Speedy: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Minuteman Press and Sir Speedy is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $81K to $306K.
Minuteman Press has 527 SBA loans on record and Sir Speedy has 32. 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.
Minuteman Press vs Sir Speedy, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Minuteman Press or Sir Speedy?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Minuteman Press or Sir Speedy?
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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; 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