The Great Frame Up

The Great Frame Up operates in the custom framing and home decor industry and has a business model established over five decades. The brand was founded in 1971, and its first location opened in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. It began franchising in 1975, four years after its founding. The Great Frame Up is part of Franchise Concepts Inc., also known as FCI, which is recognized as one of the world's largest franchisors in art and custom framing retail. FCI also oversees the Deck The Walls franchise in the United States and Framing & Art Centre in Canada. The Great Frame Up's corporate headquarters are in St. Peters, Missouri. Addresses associated with the headquarters include 5700 Mexico Rd Suite 6, St. Peters, Missouri 63376, USA, and 221 First Executive Ave. St. Peters, MO 63376. CEO Joseph Lynch leads the brand with support from a headquarters staff of 11 employees. Current figures identify 78 total units and 54 operating locations in the United States. All are franchised, with no company owned stores. The 2018 Franchise Disclosure Document reported 69 franchised locations in the USA. These figures show a franchise system focused on custom framing and home decor with a long operating history and a national presence.

The Great Frame Up serves a custom framing and home decor market tied to personal expression, home improvement, and preservation of artwork and memories. Home decor is a multibillion dollar sector, and demand is influenced by spending on personalized living spaces and improvements to personal environments. The wider use of digital photography has also supported interest in physical prints and personalized displays. Customers continue to seek professional framing for heirlooms, fine art, memorabilia, and other valued items. Interior design preferences and the desire for distinctive homes and workspaces add to demand for custom products. These services address both aesthetic preferences and sentimental value in ways that mass market products may not. The industry attracts franchise investment because demand is relatively stable, customer relationships can be built around trust and craftsmanship, and the work produces a tangible creative result. Competition generally includes independent framing shops and framing departments operated by larger craft and big box retailers. A system such as The Great Frame Up benefits from brand recognition, operating procedures, and the resources of Franchise Concepts Inc. Sustained home ownership and consumer disposable income directed toward personal environments also support opportunities for specialized retail concepts that provide value added framing and art services.

The initial franchise fee for The Great Frame Up is $30,000. Military veterans receive a 10% discount on that fee. Reported total initial investment ranges include $112,000 to $183,000, $111,973 to $182,615, $113,682 to $188,615, $47,784 to $182,615, and $112,525 to $178,108. Another reported range is $113,682 to $209,465. These costs can include the franchise fee, leasehold improvements, real estate expenses, equipment, fixtures, initial inventory, supplies, licenses, permits, and working capital. Prospective franchisees are typically expected to show at least $100,000 in liquid capital. Other reported requirements include liquid capital of $50,000 and minimum cash of $30,000, depending on the financial assessment. The minimum net worth requirement is $250,000. Ongoing charges include a royalty of 6% of gross revenues and an advertising fund contribution of 2% of gross revenues. The initial franchise agreement term is 10 years, followed by a renewal term of 10 years. Taken together, these figures place the opportunity within a mid tier franchise investment range for qualified buyers, with corporate support from Franchise Concepts Inc.

A Great Frame Up location provides expert custom framing along with a curated selection of home decor products. Franchisees guide customers through design consultations and advise on frame styles, matting, and glazing. They also oversee production of custom framed pieces, which can involve valuable artwork and sentimental belongings. The business requires a dedicated retail storefront for product displays, customer consultations, and framing work. It is not designed as a home based operation. Staffing commonly includes skilled framers who cut, join, and mount materials, as well as sales associates who handle design consultations and customer service. The operating system includes training related to framing techniques, design principles, inventory management, point of sale system use, and local marketing. Franchisees receive support through the FCI organization, including operational guidance, technology platforms, marketing programs, and supply relationships. The headquarters staff of 11 employees supports the franchise system. The brand is pursuing expansion in most markets across the country. Its locations were present in 20 states according to 2018 FDD data, with the Midwest representing the largest share at 37 locations. The model generally calls for an owner operator who takes an active role in daily management and business growth.

Buyers therefore need to assess potential performance through available operating history, industry conditions, and unit level research. The system reported 95 units in 2013 and 69 units by 2019. More recent figures identify 78 total units and 54 operating U.S. locations, all franchised. The change in unit count reflects a period of consolidation or adjustment in the network, which may have included closing weaker locations or refining the preferred market profile. Continued operation across 54 to 78 units over several decades indicates that some franchisees have sustained their businesses. The brand has franchised since 1975 and has operated through different economic cycles. Demand for personalized products, custom framing, and high quality home decor can support revenue when paired with effective operations and customer service. The royalty rate of 6% and advertising fund contribution of 2% are ongoing system costs that franchisees must include in their operating plans.

The Great Frame Up's unit count reached 95 in 2013 before declining to 69 in 2019, according to the Franchise Disclosure Document. Current figures include 78 total units and 54 specific U.S. locations, all operated by franchisees. This history reflects expansion followed by consolidation and a possible effort to strengthen the remaining network. The brand operates under Franchise Concepts Inc., which also owns Deck The Walls in the United States and Framing & Art Centre in Canada. FCI's focus on art and custom framing retail gives The Great Frame Up access to related experience, shared resources, and corporate guidance. The brand's five decades of recognition can help establish familiarity in a market where craftsmanship and product quality matter. Its operating model provides franchisees with a system developed over many years. Its relationship with FCI may also provide purchasing scale, access to a broad product range, and supply options that can be difficult for independent stores to obtain. The company is pursuing national expansion and seeking opportunities in most markets across the country. It has operated in 20 states, including 37 locations in the Midwest. The brand continues to emphasize personalized service, custom products, home decor, and preservation of valued items.

The prospective franchisee profile combines entrepreneurial interest with an appreciation for design, craftsmanship, and customer service. Previous custom framing experience can help, but it is not always required because the franchise system provides training. Experience in retail management, customer service, or small business ownership aligns with the daily demands of a specialized retail store. Attention to detail and an appreciation for aesthetics are useful when working with custom framing and home decor. The model primarily supports an owner operator who participates in daily management, customer consultations, and local marketing. The available information does not specify a multi unit requirement, although a successful single unit operator may consider additional locations in available territories. The Great Frame Up is seeking expansion in most markets across the country. In 2018, its franchise locations covered 20 states, including 37 units in the Midwest. The time from signing an agreement to opening a location can depend on real estate acquisition, leasehold improvements, and training schedules. The franchise agreement provides an initial term of 10 years and a renewal term of 10 years. Transfer and resale provisions are generally addressed in the Franchise Disclosure Document and can provide a path for an owner who later wants to exit or transfer the business.

The Great Frame Up is an established franchise in the custom framing and home decor market. Founded in 1971 and franchising since 1975, it operates as a franchise system with 54 U.S. locations and 78 total units in the reported figures. Franchise Concepts Inc. provides the corporate relationship, while the reported investment information includes a $30,000 initial franchise fee and total investment ranges from $113,682 to $209,465. The brand's long history, FCI affiliation, national expansion plans, and focus on personalized products are relevant factors for buyers assessing the opportunity. PeerSense is a commercial capital advisory firm that introduces franchise buyers to SBA and conventional lenders. PeerSense does not lend money or approve financing. Its franchise research resources include SBA lending history, a Loan Activity Score, location maps with Google ratings, FDD financial data, and side by side comparison tools.