FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

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

Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in New York: what the public record shows

Franchisees of Kentucky Fried Chicken in New York have taken 12 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $469,000). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. Kentucky Fried Chicken's national ratio is 0.8× (not clearly different from 1.0×).

SBA loan outcomes · New Yorkvs same-year franchise loans

Loans in NY

12

Charged off (all years)

1 of 7

Loss ratio in NY

—

Loss ratio nationally (not clear)

0.8×

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

Businesses in this industry

44,621

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

224.6

national 179.9

Versus the country

+25%

denser

Every business in Kentucky Fried Chicken's industry operating in New York — 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 · New York vs nationalHigh wage pressure

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$682

New York, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$537

same industry, all states

Versus the country

+27%

costlier to staff

What Kentucky Fried Chicken's industry actually pays workers in New York, 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 New York12 systems
SystemLoans in NYCharged off (all years)Loss ratio in NYUnits in NY
Subway37835 of 2890.6×664
Dunkin'22818 of 1600.6×—
Quiznos13436 of 1051.4×—
Cold Stone Creamery5115 of 301.9×—
Domino's Pizza374 of 26——
EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS332 of 25—67
Burger King323 of 21——
Tropical Smoothie Cafe252 of 12—62
IHOP230 of 13—62
Papa Johns235 of 16——
Little Caesars212 of 16——
DAIRY QUEEN204 of 12——

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

Before you sign anythingfree · 30 min · no commission

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 Kentucky Fried Chicken’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.

Don Drummond, CPA — Virginia #43775 · what I charge

Book a free 30-minute call →