FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

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

Harley Davidson franchise in Colorado: what the public record shows

Franchisees of Harley Davidson in Colorado have taken 6 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $2,670,916). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. Harley Davidson's national ratio is 0.8× (not clearly different from 1.0×).

SBA loan outcomes · Coloradovs same-year franchise loans

Loans in CO

6

Charged off (all years)

0 of 1

Loss ratio in CO

—

Loss ratio nationally (not clear)

0.8×

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

Businesses in this industry

1,942

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

32.6

national 30.2

Versus the country

+8%

denser

Every business in Harley Davidson's industry operating in Colorado — 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 · Colorado vs nationalHigh wage pressure

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$1,153

Colorado, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$1,002

same industry, all states

Versus the country

+15%

costlier to staff

What Harley Davidson's industry actually pays workers in Colorado, 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 Colorado12 systems
SystemLoans in COCharged off (all years)Loss ratio in COUnits in CO
BIG O TIRES826 of 580.6×NOT CLEAR70
Grease Monkey417 of 341.2×NOT CLEAR—
Christian Brothers Automotive340 of 15——
Meineke240 of 20——
Matco Tools218 of 20——
Maaco171 of 15——
Napa Auto Parts151 of 15——
World Fuel Services140 of 6——
Aamco Transmissions134 of 12——
Conoco Service Station122 of 10——
Shell Service Station100 of 6——
All Tune and Lube73 of 7——

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

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