Updated with official SBA FOIA data through December 31, 2025
Franchise businesses are among the most popular uses of SBA 7(a) loans — and for good reason. SBA lenders love franchises because they come with established brand recognition, proven systems, and lower failure rates than independent startups.
We analyzed every franchise-backed SBA loan in 2025 using official FOIA data. Here are the 30 most-funded franchise brands.
Top 30 SBA-Funded Franchises (2025)
| # | Franchise | Loans | Volume | Avg Size | Avg Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The UPS Store (f/k/a Mail Box | 171 | $74.0M | $433K | 9.05% |
| 2 | The Back Nine | 89 | $27.0M | $304K | 9.81% |
| 3 | Hotworx | 59 | $25.6M | $433K | 9.77% |
| 4 | Bricks & Minifigs | 58 | $11.1M | $191K | 9.97% |
| 5 | Naturals2Go | 54 | $6.6M | $122K | 10.23% |
| 6 | Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming | 53 | $15.4M | $290K | 9.90% |
| 7 | Domino’s | 51 | $63.0M | $1.2M | 9.21% |
| 8 | Tropical Smoothie Cafe | 50 | $30.6M | $612K | 9.53% |
| 9 | Subway | 48 | $19.5M | $405K | 9.29% |
| 10 | Scooter’s Coffee | 46 | $50.0M | $1.1M | 9.00% |
| 11 | Ace Hardware | 46 | $49.9M | $1.1M | 8.50% |
| 12 | The Goddard School | 46 | $86.6M | $1.9M | 7.75% |
| 13 | Quality Inn by Choice Hotels / | 44 | $125.0M | $2.8M | 8.85% |
| 14 | D1T raining | 40 | $21.3M | $533K | 9.76% |
| 15 | Alloy Personal Traning | 39 | $10.4M | $266K | 9.87% |
| 16 | The Little Gym | 38 | $13.4M | $353K | 9.72% |
| 17 | Paris Baguette | 36 | $50.1M | $1.4M | 9.47% |
| 18 | Teriyaki Madness | 36 | $17.2M | $478K | 9.73% |
| 19 | Voda Cleaning & Restoration | 35 | $7.5M | $215K | 10.09% |
| 20 | Kiddie Academy | 35 | $61.1M | $1.7M | 8.74% |
| 21 | Super 8 by Wyndhan | 34 | $70.4M | $2.1M | 8.60% |
| 22 | Days Inn by Wyndham | 33 | $93.4M | $2.8M | 8.73% |
| 23 | Jersey Mike’s | 33 | $22.6M | $686K | 9.27% |
| 24 | Cold Stone Creamery | 33 | $13.3M | $404K | 9.77% |
| 25 | Primrose Schools | 32 | $52.2M | $1.6M | 7.54% |
| 26 | The Learning Experience | 31 | $18.7M | $604K | 8.88% |
| 27 | Playa Bowls | 31 | $13.0M | $418K | 9.59% |
| 28 | Pirtek | 30 | $19.1M | $636K | 9.85% |
| 29 | Sam the Concrete Man | 30 | $4.5M | $149K | 10.19% |
| 30 | Anytime Fitness | 30 | $21.1M | $702K | 9.67% |
Key Insights
Franchise loans average 9.64% — 64 basis points lower than non-franchise SBA loans (10.28%). Lenders offer better rates because franchise brands have established track records and SBA has historical performance data on most major systems.
Why These Franchises Dominate SBA Lending
- The UPS Store leads with 171 loans — low startup costs and consistent demand make it a lender favorite
- Food & beverage franchises (Domino’s, Scooter’s Coffee, Tropical Smoothie) dominate because acquisition financing is a natural fit
- Fitness concepts (Hotworx, various gym franchises) are booming as health spending increases
- Low-cost franchises (Naturals2Go vending, Bricks & Minifigs) show strong loan counts at smaller dollar amounts
Click any franchise below to see which SBA lenders fund the most deals for that brand:
Buying a Franchise? Get Matched with the Right SBA Lender.
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Data source: U.S. Small Business Administration FOIA 7(a) loan data, calendar year 2025.
