FASTSIGNS Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 1985

Franchising Since: 1986

Headquarters: Carrollton, Texas

Estimated Number of Units: 790

Franchise Description: FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the franchisor. The franchisor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Propelled Brands Franchising, LLC. The franchise offered is for a business that specializes in selling, marketing, producing, installing and repairing visual communications including signs (both non-electrical and electrical), related work involved in the maintenance, installation and de-installation of interior and exterior signage, and other related graphics, marketing services and complementary products and services. The franchisor also offers multi-unit development rights to qualified franchisees, who are granted the right to develop more than one FASTSIGNS center within a defined geographic area according to a development schedule. In addition, the franchisor may offer existing sign businesses the opportunity to convert to the FASTSIGNS system (a conversion franchise), or offer an existing operating complementary business the opportunity to establish and operate a FASTSIGNS center within the existing business (a co-brand center).
Training Overview: Before the center opening, franchisees (if the franchisee is an individual) or their managing principal, their graphic designer and visual communications specialist (or other designated personnel) must attend and complete the initial training program to the franchisor’s satisfaction. The duration of the training program is currently two weeks of classroom instruction for up to nine hours each day, up to 16 hours of online learning, plus three days in a FASTSIGNS center before the classroom training. The franchise’s visual communication specialist must complete 16 hours of online learning, and the franchise’s graphic designer must attend and complete one week of in person classroom training. With the franchisor’s approval, additional personnel may attend the initial training program. The classroom instruction is currently conducted at the franchisor’s corporate offices in Carrollton, Texas. (The franchisor reserves the right to convert the traditional classroom training of the initial training program entirely, or to live instructor led virtual training.) Franchisees and/or their employees will be required to complete online training assignments prior to attending the in-person initial training course. The franchisor provides on-site opening training, supervision and assistance to franchisees at a time it determines. The on-site training focuses on the opening, inventory control, management, sign production and marketing strategies and skills. From time-to-time the franchisor will offer additional training programs, seminars, and webinars for franchisees (if the franchisee is an individual), their managing principal, the key management employee and other employees (e.g., annual convention, vehicle wrap class, sales summit, sales boot camp, sales management training, etc.) and it may charge a fee to defray costs. Franchisees (if the franchisee is an individual) or the managing principal, or the key management employee must attend the franchise convention once within every two-year period.

Territory Granted: The Franchise Agreement grants franchisees the right to operate a single center only at the approved site. Franchisees are assigned a specific geographic area around the center (the territory). The territory encompasses an area sufficient to include a minimum of 4,000 businesses. If franchisees comply with the Franchise Agreement, the franchisor will not establish or grant others the right to establish a FASTSIGNS center in the territory unless there is an increase of at least 20% in the number of businesses in the territory.

Obligations and Restrictions: To ensure the center operates efficiently, franchisees must operate the center at the times and in the manner described in the manuals. Any center personnel the franchisee designates must satisfactorily complete the initial training program and must satisfy its educational or business experience criteria as designated at that time, and otherwise be an individual the franchisor accepts. Within 120 days from the date that the center commences business, the franchisor requires that franchisees hire an outside sales professional, and employ an outside sales professional for the remaining term of the Franchise Agreement. The center premises may be used solely for operating the center, unless franchisees are granted a franchise for a co-brand center. To ensure that the highest degree of quality and service is maintained, franchisees must operate the center in strict conformity with the methods, standards, and specifications that we provide in the manuals or otherwise in writing.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The length of the initial franchise term is 10 years. One 10-year renewal term is available, if requirements are met.

Financial Assistance: If franchisees are a conversion franchisee or co-brand franchisee and they meet the franchisor’s credit standards and qualify for financing, it may offer them financing for the initial franchise fee necessary to establish a FASTSIGNS center. The franchisor offers a reduced initial franchise fee to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who meet the requirements and qualified first responders.

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Initial Franchise Fee	$49,750	$49,750
Leasehold Improvements	$12,800	$104,116
Furniture & Fixtures	$11,385	$14,383
Deposits	$2,152	$7,905
Telephone & Networking	$3,742	$7,060
Decor and Graphics	$1,309	$2,298
Tools, Supplies and Substrate Cutter	$4,685	$8,041
Production Equipment	$66,612	$71,228
Commercial Display, Laser Measurement Solution and a Chromebox with Licenses	$998	$1,960
Center Management System Computer	$4,935	$5,947
Signage	$2,400	$5,864
Initial Inventory	$2,307	$2,307
Architectural/Engineering	$0	$4,900
Initial Advertising	$14,500	$14,500
Travel, Lodging, Meals and 2 Employees’ Costs for Initial Training	$1,845	$4,142
Administrative Supplies	$374	$709
Business Licenses and Permits	$0	$8,112
Insurance Deposits and Premiums (first 3 months)	$400	$1,000
Professional Fees	$0	$8,112
Working Capital	$35,000	$55,000
ESTIMATED TOTAL (for new, full service center)	$215,194	$377,334

 
Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Service Fee	3% of gross sales for the first year. 6% of gross sales beginning the second year through the end of the term of the Franchise Agreement. If franchisees are a new center, conversion center or co-brand center they will pay the greater of $1,250 or 6% of gross sales beginning the 13th month through the end of the term of the Franchise Agreement or the co-brand Franchise Agreement.
Ad Fee	1% of gross sales for the first year. 2% of gross sales beginning the second year through the end of the term of the Franchise Agreement.
Initial Advertising and Promotional Materials for the purchase of a Resale Center	$10,500
Interest	Lesser of 18% per annum or highest rate allowed by applicable law.
Non-Compliance Fee	2.5% of gross sales.
Transfer Fee	$17,500 plus any broker fees and other out-of-pocket costs incurred by the franchisor.
Resale Consulting Fee	$5,000
Renewal Fee	15% of then-current initial franchise fee.
Indemnification	Varies according to loss.
Attorneys' Fees and Costs and Collection Agency Costs	Amount varies.
Post-Termination and Expiration Expenses	Amount varies.
Audit Fee	Cost of the audit.
Technology Fee	$50 per month through the end of the first year of operation. Beginning the second year of operation, $100 per month.
Google Workspace Accounts	$11.50 per month per each additional account.
Franchise Convention	Amount varies.
Optional eCommerce Catalog Participation Fee	$499 set up fee, plus $199 per month for up to 5 catalogs, plus $29 per month for each additional catalog.
Early Termination Damages	Amount varies.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of FASTSIGNS. Year of FDD: 2025.
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