SBA 7(a) loan outcomes · FY2010–FY2019 cohort · Statuses as of June 30, 2026 · Last updated August 17, 2026

Sign Manufacturing Franchise Failure Rates: SBA Loan Defaults for 5 Brands

Sign Manufacturing franchises charged off 11.3% of SBA 7(a) loans approved FY2010–FY2019, versus 10.2% for all franchises and 8.0% for all SBA borrowers. This page tracks 5 brands: default rates ranged from Fastsigns (7.9%) to Signarama (40.8%). Source: U.S. SBA FOIA dataset, statuses as of June 30, 2026.

How do Sign Manufacturing franchises perform on SBA loans?

Across the 5 Sign Manufacturing brands tracked here, 267 SBA 7(a) loans were approved between fiscal 2010 and 2019 and 47 were charged off — a pooled rate of 17.6% for these brands against a 11.3% benchmark for all Sign Manufacturing franchise loans. 1 brand with 20+ loans ran at more than twice the industry benchmark; 0 brands with 40+ loans recorded zero defaults. Statuses as of June 30, 2026.

• Brands tracked5
• SBA 7(a) loans, FY2010–2019267
• Charged off47
• Pooled rate, these brands17.6%
• Sign Manufacturing benchmark (all franchise loans)11.3%
• All-franchise benchmark10.2%
• All SBA borrowers8.0%
• Lowest rateFastsigns · 7.9%
• Highest rateSignarama · 40.8%

Which Sign Manufacturing franchise brands have the highest and lowest SBA default rates?

Every Sign Manufacturing brand with at least five resolved SBA 7(a) loans, sorted from highest to lowest default rate. Click a column heading to re-sort; use the filter to find a brand.

* Small sample (5–19 loans): rate shown for completeness; treat as a diligence flag, not a verdict. Loans since 2020 and early charge-offs are counts only — that cohort is too young for a rate.