The Flying Locksmiths vs The Great Frame Up
The Flying Locksmiths vs The Great Frame Up: The Flying Locksmiths costs $120K–$350K to open; The Great Frame Up costs $114K–$209K. The Flying Locksmiths has 38 units, The Great Frame Up has 54. SBA loan history: The Flying Locksmiths = 49 loans (4.1% default); The Great Frame Up = 34 loans (14.7% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
The Flying Locksmiths vs The Great Frame Up: 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
The Great Frame Up requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($114K vs $120K for The Flying Locksmiths), a 6% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $75K for The Flying Locksmiths versus $30K for The Great Frame Up, The Great Frame Up has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 8% for The Flying Locksmiths and 6% for The Great Frame Up, giving The Great Frame Up the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, The Great Frame Up operates 54 units to The Flying Locksmiths's 38.
SBA Lending Profile
The Flying Locksmiths has the deeper SBA lending track record with 49 historical 7(a) approvals versus 34 for The Great Frame Up. The Flying Locksmiths's peak SBA year was 2017 (14 loans); The Great Frame Up's peak was 2005 (7 loans). The Flying Locksmiths's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, The Flying Locksmiths concentrates in OH (5 SBA-funded units) while The Great Frame Up leads in FL (4). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded The Flying Locksmiths deals is $174K vs $127K for The Great Frame Up, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.1% for The Flying Locksmiths and 14.7% for The Great Frame Up, The Flying Locksmiths has the cleaner historical loss profile by 10.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 54 (Moderate) for The Flying Locksmiths and 34 (Fair) for The Great Frame Up, giving The Flying Locksmiths the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 54/100 | 34/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 49 | 34 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 4.1% | 14.7% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $120K – $350K | $114K – $209K |
Franchise Fee | $75K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 8% | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
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 | 38 | 54 |
Franchised Units | 38 | 54 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 2007 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2007 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 19 yrs |
Headquarters | Pennsylvania, PA | IN |
Category | Other Personal | Other Personal |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, The Flying Locksmiths or The Great Frame Up?
Lower upfront capital required
The Great Frame Up
The Flying Locksmiths: $120K starting · The Great Frame Up: $114K starting
More SBA lender confidence
The Flying Locksmiths
The Flying Locksmiths: 49 SBA loans · The Great Frame Up: 34 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
The Flying Locksmiths
The Flying Locksmiths: 4.1% · The Great Frame Up: 14.7%
Larger system & brand presence
The Great Frame Up
The Flying Locksmiths: 38 units · The Great Frame Up: 54 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
The Great Frame Up
The Flying Locksmiths: 8% · The Great Frame Up: 6%
More lender financing options
The Great Frame Up
The Flying Locksmiths: 12 unique lenders · The Great Frame Up: 19 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
The Flying Locksmiths vs The Great Frame Up: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing The Flying Locksmiths and The Great Frame Up is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $114K to $350K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, The Flying Locksmiths with 49 SBA loans and The Great Frame Up with 34. 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.
The Flying Locksmiths vs The Great Frame Up, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, The Flying Locksmiths or The Great Frame Up?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, The Flying Locksmiths or The Great Frame Up?
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