FASTSIGNS International Inc.

CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., the world’s leading sign and visual graphics franchisor with more than 750 FASTSIGNS® locations worldwide announces attending speakers at the International Franchise Association’s 62nd Annual Convention in San Diego Feb. 26 to March 1 at the San Diego Convention Center. The convention will highlight franchising’s impact on the nation’s economic recovery, policy proposals impacting the business model, share best practices to help all in franchising be the best they can be, and discussions about opportunities for the future of the industry.

Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International and Propelled Brands and the Chair of the International Franchise Association, will be speaking on the State of the Association on Sunday, February 27. On Monday February 28, she will also be moderating for Franchisor Speaker: Technology-fueled Transformation in the Restaurant Industry, Paul Brown, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Brands. On Tuesday March 1, Monson will be Passing the Gavel to incoming IFA Chair Charlie Chase from First Service Brands.

Mark Jameson, Chief Support and Development Officer at FASTSIGNS, will be speaking at the convention and participating at a panel discussion called “International Summit: Supporting Your Brand Internationally.”

Stan Gray, a multi-unit FASTSIGNS franchisee and military veteran, will be a panelist at the Sunday General Session sharing how military life prepared him for the role of business owner. Stan will also be awarded the Franchisee of the Year for FASTSIGNS at the “Franchisee of the Year Celebration.” This event will include FASTSIGNS and other brands who chose to recognize their franchisee of the year at IFA.

Jeff Lewis, the Assistant Vice President of Franchise Support for FASTSIGNS, will be leading the class Financial Analytics: Tools and Best Practices for Franchisee and Franchisor Profitability at the IFA breakout sessions.

“My team and I are always honored to be part of this powerful event that helps franchisors and franchisees improve their businesses, learn best practices, and expand their network in an ideal environment for growth and inspiration,” said Catherine Monson. “We look forward to sharing what we’ve learned with others in franchising and provide insight at the single most important and relevant franchising conference held today.”

IFA is the franchising sector’s only global trade association. For the first time in two years, this convention will bring together industry leaders to study the leading role franchising played in the post-pandemic economic recovery; delivering needed new, local business starts and jobs following the decline in jobs in 2020 and 2021; celebrating 30 years of proactive veteran recruitment into the ranks of franchising; sharing best practices; and looking ahead to addressing workforce challenges.

Featured speakers include NBA legend and franchising leader Shaquille O’Neal, Inspire Brands CEO Paul Brown, Self Esteem Brand’s Seth Mortenson, America’s first black female combat pilot Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour, author and workforce innovator Seth Mattison, in addition to IFA President and CEO Matthew Haller and IFA Chair Catherine Monson, and numerous executive brand leaders, and lawmakers.

About the International Franchise Association:

Celebrating 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.

Independent Survey Shows FASTSIGNS Ranks Highest in Franchisee Satisfaction in the Business Service Category Within the Top 200 Franchise Brands.

CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, was recently named Best-in-Category in the Business Service sector on Franchise Business Review’s list of the Top Franchises for 2022. This is the 17th annual ranking of the 200 best franchise opportunities as rated by franchise business owners. The list is available at https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/top-franchises/.

“It is an immense honor to be named the #1 in category for business services for Franchise Business Review’s top 200 of 2022,” said Mark Jameson, Chief Support and Development Officer at Propelled Brands. “This achievement is only possible thanks to the tireless work of our franchisees and our corporate support team and their determination to become the go-to resource for visual communications in their communities. This success will push us harder to continue attracting the best franchise candidates to our brands and delivering quality services to our franchisees and clients.”

Franchise Business Review, a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of the top 200 franchises in its annual Guide to Today’s Top Franchises.

FASTSIGNS was among over 300 franchise brands, representing more than 30,000 franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research. FASTSIGNS’ franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training & support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity.

FASTSIGNS’ survey data showed the following:

I enjoy being part of this organization: 4.5/5.0
I respect my Franchisor: 4.6/5.0
Senior Management promotes a clear vision for the company: 4.6/5.0
My Franchisor cares about my success: 4.5/5.0
Would you recommend this franchise to others? 4.5/5.0

“As an independent research firm, Franchise Business Review is committed to helping prospective franchisees get an objective view of the best franchise opportunities, based on actual feedback from franchise owners,” said Michelle Rowan, president & COO of Franchise Business Review. “We survey franchisees from franchise companies in the marketplace today and identify those with the highest levels of satisfaction and performance to educate potential buyers and help them choose which franchise to invest in. The companies on this year’s list of Top Franchises are the top-ranked brands in the key areas critical to their franchisees’ success.”

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full description of the 2022 Top Franchises.

About Franchise Business Review

Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,100 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year online at http://www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com. To read our publications, visit https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/publications/.

Sign, Graphics and Visual Communications Franchisor Reports Strong Year of Growth, Ranking #47 Overall on Esteemed List of Top Franchise Opportunities.

CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS^®, the 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. Recognized 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,” said 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 FASTSIGNS network, our brand’s adaptability, and the rising demand for our services.”

FASTSIGNS experienced strong double-digit growth in 2021, exceeding more than 15% comp sales and expanding their 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 $600 million mark 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.

“The past year has been one of the most challenging for businesses in recent memory, which made putting together our 43^rd annual Franchise 500 list more enlightening than ever,” says Entrepreneur Editor in Chief Jason Feifer. “The companies named to this year’s list showed us how being resilient, supportive, and nimble can help navigate extraordinary challenges and also underscore the grit and innovation that define entrepreneurship.”

The total investment for a FASTSIGNS franchise is approximately $233,555 – $307,308 including a $49,750 franchise fee. Ideal candidates have a net worth of $300,000 of which $80K is liquid. Additionally, FASTSIGNS offers 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 savings of $24,875.

To date, FASTSIGNS operates more than 750 locations in 46 states and eight countries. Of these FASTSIGNS franchisees, more than 10% are owned by veterans.

To view FASTSIGNS in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2022 issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands January 11th.

CARROLLTON, Texas — Franchise Dictionary Magazine recognizes FASTSIGNS, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, as one of the top 100 Game Changers of 2021. This recognition highlights franchises that fill a niche, help the communities they are a part of, and provide opportunities for aspiring business owners.

“We are honored to receive such high regard from Franchise Dictionary Magazine,” said Mark Jameson, chief support and development officer at Propelled Brands. “This is only possible thanks to the hard work and commitment of our franchisees who work tirelessly to support each other and their communities. I am proud of every member of the FASTSIGNS family, and I cannot wait to see how we will continue to grow in 2022.”

FASTSIGNS provides comprehensive, captivating signage and graphic solutions to help companies communicate their message and extend their branding. There are more than 750 independently owned and operated centers around the world, offering a diverse product range. Franchisees navigated the pandemic by fulfilling the critical signage needs for customers’ including PPE and more to help hospitals, local governments, and businesses communicate important health and safety information.

“2021 was a challenging year for the world,” said Alesia Visconti, CEO / Publisher of Franchise Dictionary Magazine. “A brand that earns the Top 100 Game Changers designation raises the bar and clearly sets itself apart! We are THRILLED to recognize and showcase these 100+ fran-tastic brands that went above and beyond. Congrats to this year’s Game Changers!”

FASTSIGNS has experienced strong double-digit growth and is expected to exceed more than 15% comp sales in 2021 and continues to expand the franchise network, awarding more than 25 this year to develop locations in markets such as Southern CA, Western Canada, and Florida.

The total investment for a FASTSIGNS franchise is approximately $233,555 – $307,308 including a $49,750 franchise fee. Ideal candidates have a net worth of $300,000 of which $80K is liquid. Additionally, FASTSIGNS offers 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 savings of $24,875.

The full list of the top 100 “Game Changers” can be found in the December issue of Franchise Dictionary Magazine.

The Leading Sign, Graphics, and Visual Communications Franchise Makes the 2021 List at #5 out of 150.

CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, is ranked fifth on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2021 list of Top Franchises for Veterans.

This is the fifth year FASTSIGNS has been included on this list that highlights a wide variety of franchises that provide advantageous opportunities for veterans. FASTSIGNS, which is already associated with low start-up costs, provides veteran-friendly financing options including 50 percent off the initial franchisee fee for veterans and first responders as well as reduced royalties for the first 12 months of business.

“FASTSIGNS is proud to support and offer our veterans the opportunity to open their own business and become successful entrepreneurs,” said Mark Jameson, Chief Support and Development Officer at Propelled Brands. “Over the past several years, we have seen many veterans become highly successful franchisees due to their strong work ethic and motivation to succeed. Because of this, we look forward to each chance we get to add a veteran to our growing network of FASTSIGNS franchisees.”

To develop the list of the Top Franchises for Veterans, Entrepreneur invited hundreds of companies to take part in a survey that requested information regarding each company’s veteran programs. Such information included the company’s veteran incentives and how veteran franchisees are attracted to and supported by the company, as well as how each company scored in the 2020 Franchise 500 list.

“What makes FASTSIGNS stand out is the high-quality support offered by Catherine Monson and the team at FASTSIGNS International,” said Darrin Lawrence, Army veteran and FASTSIGNS franchisee in Richardson, Texas. “During the pandemic, I could see FASTSIGNS working constantly to ensure their franchise centers were deemed essential businesses. Their support allowed me to open my doors in 2020 when everything else was shutting down and helped me transition into my current role as an owner and operator.”

The total investment for a FASTSIGNS franchise is approximately $233,555 – $307,308 including a $49,750 franchise fee. Ideal candidates have a net worth of $300,000 of which $80K is liquid. Additionally, FASTSIGNS offers 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 savings of $24,875.

To date, FASTSIGNS operates more than 750 locations in 46 states and eight countries. Of these FASTSIGNS franchisees, around 10% are owned by veterans.

To view FASTSIGNS in the full Entrepreneur magazine Top Franchises for Veterans listing, visit https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/topfranchiseveterans.

For more information about owning a FASTSIGNS franchise, visit https://www.fsfastsigns.com/own-a-fastsigns/.

Industry leaders team up to provide LED video boards for rent.

CARROLLTON, Texas —  FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS^®, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, announced today a partnership with Ultravision LED Solutions, leading innovator, and supplier of LED Digital Displays, to bring rental LED Digital Displays to FASTSIGNS customers.

“With more in-person events starting to take place, there is an increasing demand for advertising display options,” said Wayne Rasor, Director of Digital and Exterior Technology at FASTSIGNS. “Our exclusive partnership with Ultravision LED Solutions offers our customers a turnkey option to rent customized LED displays from the leading provider in the industry.”

LED Digital Display Rentals will provide FASTSIGNS customers the use of large format LED Digital Displays as a medium to get a message across in bright, bold digital content. The rental program will include all of the hardware needed including the LED Digital Display, frame/stand, video controller and extra parts for any repairs; an on-site installation crew will receive and set up the board, and then tear it down and ship it back after the event/rental is concluded. FASTSIGNS will offer a choice of indoor or outdoor options, as well as a variety of sizes.

“We are thrilled to partner with FASTSIGNS and bring their customers the convenience of renting LED Digital Displays for their events,” said Colton McKey, VP of Operations. “Our partnership with FASTSIGNS reflects a shared goal of providing unmatched opportunities for event-centered marketing in a creative way that connects with consumers at a variety of touchpoints.”

The founder of Ultravision LED Solutions, William Hall, has led the way in Modular LED display panel technology with more than 30 patents for LED Display technology.

For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679).

About Ultravision LED Solutions

Ultravision LED Solutions has become a leader in the LED Digital Display industry. The founder has over 60 patents in LED Digital Displays and Outdoor LED Lighting technology to date. The founder designed and patented the modular LED Display Panel, an innovation that fundamentally changed the LED display industry by eliminating the need for bulky cabinets and making large LED Video Walls and LED Digital Display Rentals part of today’s landscape. Although Ultravision LED Solutions delivers quality LED Digital Displays solutions and products worldwide, Ultravision LED Solution’s LED Digital Displays and Outdoor LED Lighting are proudly built in North Texas, USA.  Ultravision LED Solutions’s LED Digital Displays solutions make it simple for customers to engage with audiences worldwide. Learn more about Ultravision LED Solutions and its products at ultravisionledsolutions.com.

SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc.

Leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise aims to enrich its business and promote broader inclusivity across the signage and franchising industries.

CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS^®, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, announced today the formation of its Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Comprised of a diverse group of FASTSIGNS franchisees selected from the brand’s global network, the committee was created to foster an environment that promotes and prioritizes diversity and inclusion within not only the FASTSIGNS system but also the broader signage and franchising industries.

“Every company should value diversity and inclusion because of the richness and strength it brings to their business. Over the years, the signage and franchising industries have become more diverse and inclusive, but there’s more we can do — and as the leader in our sector, FASTSIGNS is proud to lead the way,” said Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc., CEO of Propelled Brands, and Chair of the International Franchise Association. “Diversity and inclusion needs to extend beyond personalities, professional backgrounds, and other life experiences, and encompass all of an individual’s unique characteristics and experiences, including race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation. Supporting and building diversity and inclusion is the right thing to do for our employees, our franchisees, our franchisees’ teams, our stakeholders, our customers, and our industry. We look forward to expanding this initiative across Propelled Brands.”

The eight committee members will tackle subjects such as increasing the number of minority franchisees within the FASTSIGNS system, promoting more open dialogue and collaboration, workplace environments, training protocols, education, and other topics with the goal of creating more inclusive initiatives. Additionally, the committee will work to ensure diverse individuals can lead a rewarding career at FASTSIGNS International and FASTSIGNS locations.

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee members include:

• Kevin Jones, franchisee at FASTSIGNS of Santa Rosa and Petaluma, California
• Howard James, franchisee at FASTSIGNS of Washington, D.C.
• Carmen Ruiz, franchisee at FASTSIGNS of Daytona, Florida
• Jose Corujo, franchisee at FASTSIGNS of Puerto Rico
• Sarosh Nayar, franchisee at FASTSIGNS of Dallas, Texas
• Denise Acquaye, franchisee at FASTSIGNS of Newark, New Jersey
• Shu Yang, franchisee at FASTSIGNS of Burnaby, British Columbia
• Shimon Osibel, franchisee at FASTSIGNS of Brooklyn, New York

“Throughout my career, I’ve always sought opportunities to be a part of organizations that value diversity and inclusion — and that’s a big part of what attracted me to FASTSIGNS,” said Kevin Jones. “I’m extremely proud to leverage my experience working for an LGBTQ-focused non-profit and serving on several boards to assist FASTSIGNS in furthering its diversity and inclusion initiatives to build a stronger brand and promote change in our industry.”

For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@propelledbrands.com or 214-346-5679).

FASTSIGNS Engages Over 400 Sales Professionals Across 5 Countries. 

CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., the world’s leading sign and visual graphics franchisor with more than 750 FASTSIGNS^® locations in eight countries worldwide, hosted its 11th annual Outside Sales Summit August 9-13 in a virtual setting. There were over 400 people from 5 countries in attendance.

With a Rebound theme, the 2021 Outside Sales Summit celebrated the FASTSIGNS network’s sales achievements between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. At the virtual awards event on Friday, 195 Outside Sales Professionals were recognized, including 24 who received the prestigious Platinum Award for achieving over $1 million in individual sales during the 12-month period. Additionally, 15 individuals became Certified FASTSIGNS Sales Executives after completing an extensive certification program during the same period.

2021 marked the third year for presenting the Catherine Monson Salesperson of the Year Award. With this award, FASTSIGNS recognizes one Outside Sales Professional who best represents the concept and the spirit of the brand, both in the business community and within the FASTSIGNS network. Patrick Pennell from FASTSIGNS® of Jacksonville-St. Johns Bluff was recognized as this year’s recipient of the Catherine Monson Salesperson of the Year Award.

“We were thrilled to host our 11th annual Outside Sales Summit, held this year, as last year, in a virtual setting. This energy-packed event allowed us to provide the over 400 attendees with education and tools to continue honing their selling skills, as well as to recognize and celebrate the impressive work and achievements of FASTSIGNS Outside Sales Professionals from locations around the world,” said Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. and Chair of the International Franchising Association.

One of the featured speakers included Ryan Serhant, star of Bravo’s hit series Million Dollar Listing New York and Sell it Like Serhant who delivered a highly energetic and advice-packed keynote session: How to Become the Ultimate Sales Machine.

Additional speakers from the FASTSIGNS International team covered a variety of topics including Industry Insights and Learning to Leverage Buying Trends, What Everyone Ought to Know about Selling Digital Content First, Achieving Success During a Pandemic Panel and more.

64 vendors participated at this year’s Virtual Outside Sales Summit Event, including six Diamond Sponsors. The Kickoff Session on Monday August 9th was sponsored by Orbus. Our Awards Event on Friday was sponsored by MUTOH America. FASTSIGNS also hosted 15 Vendor Training Workshops from Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), Art Sign Works, Avery Dennison, Baker Sign Group, BEst Exhibits, ChromeSignage, Grimco, MUTOH America, Navitor, Showdown Displays, SignComp, SinaLite, Stouse, and TrueVert. There were also 11 Vendor Sponsored Commercials throughout the week and 12 Vendor Sponsored Gamification Games from 4Over, Avery Dennison, Clarity Voice, Clevertouch, Epson, Fellers, Grimco, Kapco, LexJet, Snap Frames, Stouse, and Trotec.