SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · CALIFORNIA
Ace Hardware franchise in California: what the public record shows
Franchisees of Ace Hardware in California have taken 121 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $753,486). Those approved through FY2020 defaulted at a rate not clearly different from franchise loans made in the same years nationally: 11 charge-offs among 65 resolved loans, where about 9.9 would be expected (1.1×). Ace Hardware's national ratio is 0.8×.
Loans in CA
121
Charged off (all years)
11 of 69
Loss ratio in CA (not clear)
1.1×
Loss ratio nationally
0.8×
Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = CA. Loss ratio = charge-offs among loans approved through FY2020 ÷ the charge-offs expected if each had defaulted at the national rate for franchise loans approved the same year; 1.0× is the same. Only charged-off and paid-in-full loans count. A ratio is shown at 30+ such loans; “not clear” marks a ratio chance alone could produce. The all-years count mixes every era and is evidence, not a rate to compare. Borrowers are matched to the brand by name and SBA franchise code; some matches may be wrong or missing.
| System | Loans in CA | Charged off (all years) | Loss ratio in CA | Units in CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naturals2Go | 26 | 0 of 4 | — | — |
| Play It Again Sports | 25 | 1 of 21 | — | — |
| True Value Hardware | 25 | 4 of 22 | — | — |
| General Nutrition Center | 21 | 3 of 18 | — | — |
| WaterStation | 20 | 1 of 13 | — | — |
| Fastframe | 19 | 3 of 15 | — | — |
| Batteries Plus | 18 | 1 of 13 | — | — |
| Fleet Feet | 15 | 1 of 8 | — | 16 |
| Cartridge World | 12 | 7 of 12 | — | — |
| Golf Etc. | 11 | 3 of 7 | — | — |
| Max Muscle | 11 | 5 of 10 | — | — |
| Once Upon a Child | 11 | 0 of 6 | — | — |
Other systems in Ace Hardware's sector whose franchisees borrowed in California. A loss ratio appears only where at least 30 loans approved through FY2020 have resolved; “—” means too few.
A broker is usually paid by the franchisor to place you. I'm paid only by you, never by a franchisor you're considering — and the job is pressure-testing Ace Hardware’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.