FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · NORTH CAROLINA

BOJANGLES' franchise in North Carolina: what the public record shows

Franchisees of BOJANGLES' in North Carolina have taken 11 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $674,709). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. BOJANGLES''s national ratio is 0.7× (not clearly different from 1.0×). Its latest FDD Item 20 state table reports 181 franchised outlets in North Carolina (fiscal 2025) — about 1.64 per 100k residents.

SBA loan outcomes · North Carolinavs same-year franchise loans

Loans in NC

11

Charged off (all years)

0 of 11

Loss ratio in NC

—

Loss ratio nationally (not clear)

0.7×

Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = NC. 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.

Market density · North Carolina vs nationalTypical density

Businesses in this industry

19,235

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

174.1

national 179.9

Versus the country

-3%

thinner

Every business in BOJANGLES''s industry operating in North Carolina — franchised and independent — from the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns (2023), against 2024 population estimates. Counter-intuitively, density is not a warning: across the brand-state cells in the loan data, denser markets have historically charged off less often than the thinnest (see the research page). A crowded market is usually proven demand; an empty one is often empty for a reason.

Labor cost · North Carolina vs nationalTypical wages

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$469

North Carolina, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$537

same industry, all states

Versus the country

-13%

cheaper to staff

What BOJANGLES''s industry actually pays workers in North Carolina, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2025), employment-weighted across counties. This cost signal is independent of the FDD: a market can look demand-rich above and still carry a margin headwind here if local wages run hot for the sector.

Franchised outlets in North Carolina · FDD Item 20+2 over the disclosed window
Fiscal yearFranchisedCompany-owned
2023179171
2024180172
2025181172
Same-sector systems with SBA loan history in North Carolina12 systems
SystemLoans in NCCharged off (all years)Loss ratio in NCUnits in NC
Subway1261 of 1000.06×597
Quiznos619 of 560.7×NOT CLEAR—
Zaxby's544 of 390.8×NOT CLEAR—
JERSEY MIKE'S404 of 340.7×NOT CLEAR222
Domino's Pizza340 of 24——
DAIRY QUEEN311 of 25——
Dunkin'312 of 27——
Firehouse Subs301 of 23—64
Tropical Smoothie Cafe300 of 13—81
Culver's280 of 6——
Cicis Pizza274 of 27——
Jimmy John's271 of 19——

Other systems in BOJANGLES''s sector whose franchisees borrowed in North Carolina. A loss ratio appears only where at least 30 loans approved through FY2020 have resolved; “—” means too few.

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