SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · VIRGINIA
HobbyTown franchise in Virginia: what the public record shows
Franchisees of HobbyTown in Virginia have taken 6 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $175,416). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. HobbyTown's national ratio is 0.8× (not clearly different from 1.0×).
Loans in VA
6
Charged off (all years)
0 of 4
Loss ratio in VA
—
Loss ratio nationally (not clear)
0.8×
Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = VA. 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.
| System | Loans in VA | Charged off (all years) | Loss ratio in VA | Units in VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Once Upon a Child | 12 | 0 of 10 | — | — |
| Plato'S Closet | 12 | 1 of 9 | — | — |
| Naturals2Go | 10 | 1 of 3 | — | — |
| Play N Trade | 9 | 4 of 9 | — | — |
| WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED | 8 | 0 of 4 | — | 14 |
| Computer Renaissance | 7 | 1 of 5 | — | — |
| KID TO KID | 7 | 1 of 4 | — | — |
| Play It Again Sports | 7 | 0 of 5 | — | — |
| Uptown Cheapskate | 7 | 0 of 3 | — | — |
| Ace Hardware | 6 | 1 of 4 | — | — |
| Athlete'S Foot | 6 | 0 of 3 | — | — |
| Experimac | 6 | 2 of 3 | — | — |
Other systems in HobbyTown's sector whose franchisees borrowed in Virginia. A loss ratio appears only where at least 30 loans approved through FY2020 have resolved; “—” means too few.
A broker is usually paid by the franchisor to place you. I'm paid only by you, never by a franchisor you're considering — and the job is pressure-testing HobbyTown’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.