SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · CALIFORNIA
HobbyTown franchise in California: what the public record shows
Franchisees of HobbyTown in California have taken 6 SBA loans since 1991 (average $207,416)— too few resolved loans in-state to publish a local failure rate (we require a resolved cohort, never extrapolate), so the brand's national rate of 13.7% is the better guide.
Loans in CA
6
Resolved
6
Local charge-off
thin
National charge-off
13.7%
Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = CA. Charge-off rate = charged-off ÷ (charged-off + paid-in-full); open loans excluded. A local rate is published only when the resolved cohort clears our floor of 30 loans.
| System | Loans in CA | Local charge-off | Units in CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE UPS STORE NON-TRADITIONAL | 283 | 10.3% | 859 |
| Naturals2Go | 26 | thin | — |
| Play It Again Sports (Retail Sports) | 25 | 4.8% | — |
| Batteries Plus Bulbs | 18 | 7.7% | — |
| Cartridge World | 12 | 58.3% | — |
| Golf Etc. | 11 | thin | — |
| Once Upon a Child | 11 | thin | — |
| Country Clutter (Bed & Breakfast) | 10 | thin | — |
| Partyland (Retail Party Goods) | 9 | thin | — |
| California Closet | 8 | thin | — |
| Foot Solutions | 8 | thin | — |
| Hallmark Card Shop | 6 | thin | — |
Same sector, same state, same public records — how HobbyTown compares to the systems a buyer in California would actually be choosing between. Local rates under 10 resolved loans are marked thin, not hidden.
A broker is paid by the franchisor to place you. An independent CPA is paid by you — and the job is pressure-testing HobbyTown's numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.
Talk to an independent CPA before you buy →