FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

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

Century 21 franchise in Arizona: what the public record shows

Franchisees of Century 21 in Arizona have taken 7 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $428,428). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. Century 21's national ratio is 0.7× (not clearly different from 1.0×).

SBA loan outcomes · Arizonavs same-year franchise loans

Loans in AZ

7

Charged off (all years)

1 of 5

Loss ratio in AZ

—

Loss ratio nationally (not clear)

0.7×

Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = AZ. 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 · Arizona vs nationalDense market

Businesses in this industry

6,268

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

82.7

national 47.9

Versus the country

+73%

denser

Every business in Century 21's industry operating in Arizona — 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 · Arizona vs nationalTypical wages

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$1,731

Arizona, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$1,785

same industry, all states

Versus the country

-3%

cheaper to staff

What Century 21's industry actually pays workers in Arizona, 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.

Same-sector systems with SBA loan history in Arizona3 systems
SystemLoans in AZCharged off (all years)Loss ratio in AZUnits in AZ
HomeSmart70 of 5—13
RE/MAX62 of 5—49
Property Management Inc.5——13

Other systems in Century 21's sector whose franchisees borrowed in Arizona. A loss ratio appears only where at least 30 loans approved through FY2020 have resolved; “—” means too few.

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