FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

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

Fedex Ground franchise in Wisconsin: what the public record shows

Franchisees of Fedex Ground in Wisconsin have taken 14 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $155,264). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. Fedex Ground's national ratio is 0.8× (not clearly different from 1.0×).

SBA loan outcomes · Wisconsinvs same-year franchise loans

Loans in WI

14

Charged off (all years)

0 of 13

Loss ratio in WI

—

Loss ratio nationally (not clear)

0.8×

Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = WI. 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 · Wisconsin vs nationalTypical density

Businesses in this industry

442

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

7.4

national 8.1

Versus the country

-9%

thinner

Every business in Fedex Ground's industry operating in Wisconsin — 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 · Wisconsin vs nationalTypical wages

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$1,132

Wisconsin, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$1,212

same industry, all states

Versus the country

-7%

cheaper to staff

What Fedex Ground's industry actually pays workers in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin10 systems
SystemLoans in WICharged off (all years)Loss ratio in WIUnits in WI
THE UPS STORE (TRADITIONAL)402 of 18—51
Ameriprise Financial Services350 of 30——
Fastsigns171 of 9——
Minuteman Press143 of 12——
Mail Boxes Etc. Usa81 of 7——
Signs By Tomorrow80 of 6——
H&R Block70 of 2—92
Management Recruiters, Sales Consultants70 of 6—23
Express Personnel Services60 of 4——
Liberty Tax Service60 of 5——

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

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