• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About Franchise Chatter
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Affiliate Disclosures
  • Subscribers Only
    • Login
    • New to Franchise Chatter? Start Here
    • America’s Most Lucrative Franchises
    • Franchises Ranked by Average Revenues
    • Franchises Ranked by Average Profits
    • Franchise Winners, Survivors and Losers Last Year
    • FDD Talk
    • Search by Name
  • Top Franchises
  • Franchise Earnings
  • Costs
  • Fees
  • Quiz
  • Search

The 4 Best Sign Franchises of 2022 (Updated Rankings)

Last updated on March 29, 2022 by Franchise Chatter Leave a Comment
in Franchise Chatter Hot List, Sign Franchises

SIGNARAMA Photo



Learn Which Franchises Can Make You Rich

This annual list of the best sign franchises was revised and updated on March 29, 2022.

Signs are all around us, from the big boards directing us around cities to the names on doors inside businesses. We need them to navigate the world, to make businesses work efficiently, and to let customers know that they are there. While more and more businesses are operating entirely online, there are still plenty of brick-and-mortar businesses that need signs on and near their physical building or facilities, and this has allowed franchises to continue in this space. However, the future for the industry is not a promising one.


💵America's Most Lucrative Franchises of the Year (Subscribe Now to Unlock)



🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)


Billboard and sign manufacturing is worth a total of $14 billion in the US, but the vast majority of this is spent on electronic signs and big business items, rather than the printed signs and banners that sign franchises specialize in. The franchised sign and banner industry is worth a tiny fraction of the overall sign manufacturing industry.

The successful sign franchises emerged from the 1980s or 1990s to bring new computerized technologies to sign making. They provide a wide array of indoor and outdoor signage and display solutions to serve a wide variety of needs, functioning more like graphic design and print shops than the sign-making companies of yesteryear. Instead of printing paper publications, they produce a wide variety of signs, banners, and displays.

New technologies have allowed better, higher definition signs to be printed at lower costs, increasing the quality of sign making and so the services these businesses offer. But this is also creating a challenge for sign companies, as others in the printing industry are more able to offer sign services, encroaching on the signage business. The rise of digital billboards has also had an impact, as old-fashioned advertising boards are used less often.

Despite the growth of the wider economy, the 2010s saw steady decline for sign and banner manufacturing franchises. Annualized market growth over the past five years has been -14%. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t even show on a graph of the industry’s revenues, because it was already in such a steady decline. Work for essential services such as pharmacies and food and beverage retailers helped the industry to maintain its existing situation during the pandemic, but this was a situation of continuing loss.

The franchised sign industry’s decline isn’t as sharp as it once was, with predicted growth of -11.7% for 2022 – terrible by most standards, but an improvement for this industry. A growing economy and increased marketing budgets could, in theory, benefit sign franchises. However, with so much business lost to electronic billboards, online advertising, and other print competitors, there is no expectation of growth, or yet of stabilization.


🥇Franchises Ranked by Average Revenues & Profits (Subscribe Now to Unlock)



🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)


The Top Sign Franchises of 2022

1. FastSigns

FastSigns has been growing quickly in recent years, adding 27 locations during 2019. And the company just recently announced it has acquired Sign Me Up Signs & Advertising, a chain with six locations in Long island, New York and one in New Jersey, all of which will be converted to the FastSigns brand. The company is also growing its international footprint, with plans to open as many as 12 locations throughout France and Monaco.

The company is all about raising business visibility through visual communications. The offerings include all types of signs and graphics, exhibits and displays, digital and interactive signage, printing and mailing, promotional products, point-of-purchase signs, and interior décor. Additional services include graphic design, surveying and permitting for signage compliance with local codes and ordinances, signage installation, visual communications content development, and comprehensive project management.

Founded by Gary Salomon and Robert Schanbaum in Dallas, Texas in 1985 and franchising since 1986, the number of locations has grown in recent years from 538 in 2012 to the current total of 756 (up from the previously reported total of 741), of which none are company-owned and 87 are located outside the US.

2. Signarama

Signarama can make a wide array of both outdoor and indoor signs for businesses of all types. For outdoor signs, options include building-mounted signs, freestanding signs, banners, lighted signs, wayfaring signs, and promotional signs, as well as vehicle and boat graphics (wraps, decals, magnetic).

Indoor signage options include all types of office signs and various signs for retailers, including digital displays, banner stands, floor decals, wall graphics, retractable banners, and so on. Additional services offered include graphic design, installation, project management, large-format printing, and financing.


🏆Franchise Winners, Survivors and Losers Last Year (Subscribe Now to Unlock)



🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)


Founded by father-son team Roy and Ray Titus in Farmingdale, New York in 1986 and franchising since 1987, the number of locations has been on the rise in recent years from 672 in 2013 to the current total of 706 (down from the previously reported total of 727), of which none are company-owned and 302 are located outside the US.

3. Image360

Image360 is all about collaboration and consultation from imagination to installation to meet the graphics, signage, and display needs of today’s businesses. Products include illuminated signs and message boards, banners and flags, decals and custom appliqués, custom art printing, event signs, trade show signs and displays, engraved signs and products, all types of interior signage and graphics, regulatory and ADA compliant signs, monument signage, roadside signs, building signage, storefront and window signs, vehicle wraps and decals, printed marketing materials, and promotional products and gifts.

Additional services include installation of signs/banners, booth lighting, bulk sign orders, changeable sign letter sets, custom digital printing, dimensional letter installations, and much more.

Founded in 1986 and franchising since 1987, the number of locations has fallen in recent years from 340 in 2013 to the current total of 301 (down from the previously reported total of 304), of which two are company-owned and 10 are located outside the US.

4. SpeedPro Imaging

SpeedPro Imaging offers a wide variety of signs and sign-related products similar to the other companies on this list, but one of its better-known specialties is producing dramatic large-format graphics for wall murals and large displays.

Other products include window graphics/clings, banners, event tents, vehicle wraps, decals, flags, tradeshow displays, digital signage, floor graphics, table covers and table toppers, directional signage, stadium-size banners, elevator wraps, retractable banner stands, event graphics, point-of-purchase displays, and more.

Founded by Blair Gran in Alberta, Canada in 1992 and franchising in the US since 2005, the number of locations currently stands at 170 (down from the previously reported total of 177), of which none are company-owned and 47 are located outside the US.

An Important Note About Our Methodology

The franchises on this list were ranked according to the number of units in the franchise system. If you are a prospective franchisee searching for franchise opportunities that meet or exceed certain performance benchmarks for sales, profits, and return on investment, please check out this list of America’s Most Lucrative Franchises.


💰How Much Franchise Can You Afford? Use Our Free Financial Calculator



🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)



Tagged as: FASTSIGNS, Image360, Signarama, SpeedPro Imaging

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous post: FDD Talk 2018: Pure Barre Franchise Review (Financial Performance Analysis, Costs, Fees, and More)

Next post: Orangetheory Fitness: A Franchise on Fire?

Primary Sidebar

https://youtu.be/-pkxCF6_QOs

🤷‍♀️Why Work with a Franchise Broker?

A good franchise broker can help you to find the right franchise. They provide:

✅ Recommendations based on their assessment of historical financial performance (Item 19, FDD) instead of just franchise marketing materials.

✅ Franchise matches based on your goals, strengths, and passions.

✅ Demographic analysis to find franchises that could work in your area.

✅ A portfolio of franchises to meet almost any budget, interest, or goals.

✅ Referrals to other specialists, like franchise lawyers.

✅ Information on financing sources.

✅ Coaching in the due diligence process, based on experience with dozens of candidates.

✅ Help presenting yourself in the best light, to increase your chances of success.

✅ No fees for their services: franchisors pay them a success fee if an agreement is signed.

To get started, fill out this form, and a specialist from the Franchise Brokers Association will reach out to you.

Login

Remember Me
Register | Lost your Password?
Reminder: Your username and password are case-sensitive.

Need help? Email franchisechatterblog@gmail.com

🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)

💰How Much Franchise Can You Afford? Use Our Free Financial Calculator

As seen in:  New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, and CNBC

🚀 Daily FDD Talk Posts

Papa Murphy’s Franchise

Pure Barre Franchise

Schlotzsky’s Franchise

Assisting Hands Home Care Franchise

Wireless Zone Franchise

All Dry Services Franchise

ZIPS Dry Cleaners Franchise

Domino’s Pizza Franchise

Property Management Inc. Franchise

Synergy HomeCare Franchise

Fastest Labs Franchise

Units Moving and Portable Storage Franchise

Checkers & Rally’s Franchise

ShelfGenie Franchise

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Franchise

Mr. Electric Franchise

KFC Franchise

Real Property Management Franchise

Dunkin’ Franchise

RockBox Fitness Franchise

Jimmy John’s Franchise

Five Star Painting Franchise

Noodles & Company Franchise

Relax the Back Franchise

MOOYAH Franchise

Senior Helpers Franchise

Slim Chickens Franchise

Salons by JC Franchise

Teriyaki Madness Franchise

Storm Guard Roofing and Construction Franchise

Baskin-Robbins Franchise

Anytime Fitness Franchise

Blaze Pizza Franchise

Jiffy Lube Franchise

DQ Grill & Chill Franchise

🏆 Best Franchises by Industry

Best Franchises by Industry (All Lists)

Best Barbershop Franchises

Best Laundromat Franchises

Best Storage Unit Franchises

Best Car Wash Service Franchises

Best Gym and Fitness Franchises

Best Pizza Franchises

Best Sandwich Franchises

Best Childcare Franchises

Best Ice Cream Franchises

Best Coffee Franchises

Best Hamburger Franchises

Best Salon and Beauty Franchises

Best Chicken Franchises

Best Smoothie and Juice Franchises

Best Maid Service Franchises

Best Mexican Restaurant Franchises

Best Massage Service Franchises

Best Tutoring Franchises

Best Auto Repair Franchises

Best Auto Oil Change Franchises

Best Asian Restaurant Franchises

Best Pet Franchises

Best Commercial Cleaning Franchises

Best Sports Bar Franchises

Best Baked Goods Franchises

Best Moving/Junk Removal Franchises

Best Mailbox Franchises

Best Apparel Retail Franchises

Best Senior Care Franchises

Best Restoration Franchises

Best Tech Franchises

Best Travel Agency Franchises

Best Trampoline Park Franchises

Best Tools Distribution Franchises

Best Salon Suites Franchises

Best Property Management Franchises

Best Laboratory Services Franchises

Best Staffing/Recruiting Franchises

Best Real Estate Franchises

Most Profitable Franchises

Top Low Cost Franchises

Starting a Business During a Recession

Franchise Chatter uses affiliate links for Franchise Help and the Franchise Brokers Association.

Franchise Chatter © 2022