Franchising Since: 1986
Headquarters: Carrollton, Texas
Estimated Number of Units: 775
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, product wraps 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 may provide training at other locations or through live, instructor led virtual training, in whole or in part, at its discretion.) 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. 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 years.
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 | $28,300 | $112,177 |
| Furniture & Fixtures | $5,505 | $5,735 |
| Deposits | $2,500 | $14,149 |
| Telephone & Networking | $810 | $810 |
| Decor and Graphics | $788 | $788 |
| Tools and Supplies | $3,540 | $3,540 |
| Production Equipment | $74,341 | $78,152 |
| Center Management System Computer | $5,084 | $7,954 |
| Signage | $2,400 | $5,864 |
| Initial Inventory | $1,814 | $1,814 |
| Architectural Engineering | $0 | $9,400 |
| Initial Advertising | $14,500 | $14,500 |
| Travel, Lodging, Meals and 2 Employees’ Costs for Initial Training | $3,525 | $7,565 |
| Administrative Supplies | $1,113 | $2,440 |
| Business Licenses, Permits and Permit Expediter | $1,035 | $7,220 |
| Insurance Deposits and Premiums (first 3 months) | $720 | $1,315 |
| Professional Fees | $500 | $8,112 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $35,000 | $55,000 |
| ESTIMATED TOTAL (for new, full service center) | $231,225 | $386,285 |
Other Fees
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Service Fee | The greater of $1,250 or 6% of gross sales for new franchised businesses. See FDD for the conversion center or co-brand center service fee. |
| Ad Fee | 2% of gross sales. See FDD for the conversion center or co-brand center ad fee. |
| Initial Advertising and Promotional Materials | $14,500 for new franchised businesses. $10,500 for conversion franchises, co-brand franchised businesses, and resale centers. |
| Technology Fee | $175 per month. |
| Interest | Lesser of 18% per annum or highest rate allowed by applicable law. |
| Non-Compliance Fee | 2.5% of gross sales. |
| Relocation Management Fee | $1,000 |
| Transfer Fee | See FDD. |
| Resale Consulting Fee | $15,000 |
| Renewal Fee | 50% 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. |
| Google Workspace Accounts | Two Enterprise Basic Google Workspace licenses are provided. $14 per month for each additional Enterprise Basic license and / or $25 per month for each additional Enterprise Premium license. |
| 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 |
Franchise Direct's Disclaimer