Fastsigns, operating as SignWave in Australia, has been voted number one franchise for the sign industry category in Entrepreneur magazine's Top 500, and 47th overall in all categories - the only sign & graphics franchise in the top 100. Currently with 18 outlets in Australia, SignWave, under General Manager Linda Sultmann, is looking to expand during 2022.
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| SignWave's Ryde, NSW franchise, one of eighteen currently across Australia |
Fastsigns International, Inc., franchisor of Fastsigns and SignWave, a leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today it has been ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500, for the sixth consecutive year. Recognised as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the Franchise 500 ranks Fastsigns as #47 overall — the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100 — for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.
“We are thrilled to once again be named the #1 franchise opportunity for signage, graphics, and visual communication in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list,” says Mark Jameson, Chief Support and Development Officer at Propelled Brands. “Our franchisees’ role of being the go-to resource for visual communications in their communities continues to grow stronger every day. The growth and momentum we’ve experienced is a true testament to the strong Fstsigns network, our brand’s adaptability, and the rising demand for our services.”
Fastsigns/SignWave experienced strong double-digit growth in 2021, exceeding more than 15% comp sales and expanding its franchise network, awarding more than 25 franchises last year to develop locations in markets such as Southern CA, Western Canada, and Florida. This, combined with Fastsigns crossing the USD$600 million mark (AUD$800 million) in network sales for the first time in company history, underscores the brands’ adaptability to a rapidly changing business environment and the continued demand for signage and visual graphics.
In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s 43-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors that go into the evaluation, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order.
One factor in the way Fastsigns offers its franchises in the USA is a special incentive for veterans and first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs and firefighters, which includes a 50% reduction on the franchise fee - a saving of USD$24,875.
Fastsigns/SignWave currently operates over 750 locations in 46 US states and eight countries. Of these Fastsigns franchisees, more than 10% are owned by military and other veterans.
Fastsigns/SignWave also offers name-conversion and co-branding for existing sign businesses.
