Gaby Mullinax is a franchise owner of multiple FASTSIGNS locations alongside her husband Bob Mullinax, daughter Kaitlyn Fischer, and son-in-law, Aaron Fischer. They were awarded the Franchisee Excellence Award in 2026 for their leadership, community involvement, and consistently being in the top 25% of performance for both of their centers.
Gaby became the owner of a Fullerton Photographics shop in 1999, where she gained valuable business acumen and brought the brand into the digital age.
In 2016, Gaby decided to co-brand her photo business with FASTSIGNS to expand the company’s offerings and better serve her customers. She and her husband, Bob brought their daughter and son-in-law into the business after expanding to their second location in Brea.
Over the last two decades, this team has become a proven industry leader. Most recently serving as president of the Photo Marketing Association International, of which she served as the first-ever woman president. Gaby was also the first-ever chairwoman of the Buck Rogers National Photofinishers Group and a member of Independent Photo Imagers.
For All the Arts for All the Kids Foundation, FASTSIGNS of Fullerton, CA, created interactive murals showcasing young artists’ work in the community. Using the free Live Portrait app, viewers can scan a print on the wall with their smartphone and are then directed to a video of the artist telling their story of the piece.
The family exemplifies community involvement and leading with heart. They were intentional with boundaries and communication to ensure the business would not interfere with their family dynamic. And they are always seeking ways to support community initiatives.
Read Our Q&A With Gaby Mullinax, Franchise Owner at FASTSIGNS Franchise
When did you start your business?
We’re a family business with me, my husband, my daughter, and my son-in-law! We own the FASTSIGNS in Fullerton and Brea, CA, with another location opening in Spring 2026. I started in 2016.
During your research, what made your franchise brand stand out?
We were in a unique situation where FASTSIGNS came to us! The brand had insightfully recognized and identified the print and photo industries as potential co-brands.
The timing of our introduction to the brand could not have been more perfect for us and our industry. The writing was on the wall; a big change was needed to move our business forward. FASTSIGNS presented what would turn into an opportunity of a lifetime. So many strengths of the brand were evident, but their reputation in the marketplace as the Visual Communications industry leader was especially important to us.
As we talked to other franchisees, we noted the high satisfaction scores, and we loved the idea of a B2B business, allowing for a greater work-life balance. The biggest “aha” moment came in the first weeks of FASTSIGNS ownership when we realized the difference between being an independent entrepreneur trying to drive business forward and the power and resources of an international brand. FASTSIGNS delivered opportunity. The part we were good at was turning that into revenue!
How did your franchisor help you to prepare for and launch your business?
FASTSIGNS offers strong support in so many areas. From two weeks of training at the corporate office to marketing support and operational support. There is an extremely robust system in place. The marketing team launched their campaign on our behalf 8 weeks before opening our center.
We converted a large sale on the very first day we were open! We can’t say enough about the tech support as well. The expertise in software and equipment is second to none. We still seek advice from them on an ongoing basis.
What advice would you give potential franchisees considering your brand?
FASTSIGNS delivers opportunities to your inbox and phone, simply because of the strong brand recognition and the trust the franchise has built in the signage space. This is a great advantage, and I believe it is what sets this brand apart. A franchisee will need to take it from there, but what a leg up they will have!
Other things to note… The FASTSIGNS corporate team is invested in your success. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Communication and customer delight are key to success, but don’t forget that cash flow is important too!
What specific things set YOUR franchise apart?
I think what sets us apart is that we recognized from early on that smart young people are the key to ongoing success. For this reason, we asked our daughter Kaitlyn and son-in-law Aaron to join our company, and we are building a legacy with them at the helm.
Driving our business forward with the focus on our core values and hiring smart, tech-savvy people is a strength. We also know what solutions we are experts in, and we communicate that to our customers, so that they will know about it too. We’ve had years of experience in interior décor solutions, and we are confident in sharing our knowledge and expertise with our clients.
What specific things contributed to your success?
The FASTSIGNS franchise network is incredible, and the knowledge we’ve gained from this community is immeasurable and a big part of our success. Leveraging machines and technology to work for you, freeing up your time to focus on higher-priority tasks.
What unique strengths and skills do YOU bring to your franchise?
We’re very fortunate that all four of us have unique strengths. When Covid hit, the four of us and a remote designer operated our business for over a year, and our real strengths showed up!
My son-in-law, Aaron, is a data and numbers person, controls all our costs incredibly well, and knows the ins and outs of every piece of equipment in our facility.
My daughter Kaitlyn is a people person, and people love to buy from her! She sets the tone of our centers by always saying YES and then uses our whole team to figure out creative solutions.
And Bob, my husband, is where we need him, when we need him, and puts himself in the position to help in every and any way. He’s our go-to person for all the extra things that must be done.
After many years of reinventing my photo business on an almost daily basis and figuring out how to stay relevant, I have my eye on the big picture and am laser-focused on our KPIs. We are very lucky to have unique strengths that, combined with our team, make us successful.
What is something that might surprise people about franchise ownership?
People might be surprised by the incredible network of franchisee support. As well as the enormous buying power being part of a franchise affords, and the great brand recognition that FASTSIGNS has built. For us, though, the biggest surprise is that the value we get from this brand makes paying royalties actually very worth it!
The FASTSIGNS Franchise Opportunity:
FASTSIGNS is the leading sign and visual communications franchise in North America, operating over 775 independently owned locations across seven countries. Serving businesses across industries with offerings ranging from traditional signage to digital displays, promotional products, and printing services.
The franchise operates in the $29 billion sign and graphics industry. With franchisees benefiting from one of the industry’s highest franchisee-to-corporate support ratios, with over 120 corporate employees serving the network.
Each year, FASTSIGNS uses the FBR franchisee satisfaction survey to gain unbiased insights into their franchisees, and they have ranked highly on our unbiased awards lists for many years, including:
- Top 200 Franchise 2026
- Top Business Services Franchises
- Most Profitable Franchises
- Top Franchises For Veterans
Interested in Becoming a FASTSIGNS Franchise Owner?
FASTSIGNS offers special incentives, including 50% off franchise fees for veterans and first responders, 24/7 online education through FASTSIGNS University, and comprehensive training and ongoing support focused on four objectives: franchise growth, franchise profitability, brand growth, and franchisee satisfaction.
To learn more about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity and get more information, call (888) 285-5935 or visit fsfastsigns.com.
