FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

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

Manhattan Bagel franchise in Massachusetts: what the public record shows

Franchisees of Manhattan Bagel in Massachusetts have taken 5 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $130,400). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. Manhattan Bagel's national ratio is 1.2× (not clearly different from 1.0×).

SBA loan outcomes · Massachusettsvs same-year franchise loans

Loans in MA

5

Charged off (all years)

0 of 4

Loss ratio in MA

—

Loss ratio nationally (not clear)

1.2×

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

Businesses in this industry

14,561

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

204

national 179.9

Versus the country

+13%

denser

Every business in Manhattan Bagel's industry operating in Massachusetts — 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 · Massachusetts vs nationalHigh wage pressure

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$636

Massachusetts, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$537

same industry, all states

Versus the country

+18%

costlier to staff

What Manhattan Bagel's industry actually pays workers in Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts12 systems
SystemLoans in MACharged off (all years)Loss ratio in MAUnits in MA
Subway18620 of 1640.7×NOT CLEAR257
Honey Dew Donuts636 of 460.8×NOT CLEAR—
Domino's Pizza523 of 350.6×NOT CLEAR—
Quiznos4411 of 351.2×NOT CLEAR—
Dunkin'330 of 21——
EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS260 of 19—24
Ben & Jerry'S Ice Cream191 of 16——
Tropical Smoothie Cafe170 of 4—30
CRUMBL120 of 6—21
DAIRY QUEEN110 of 4——
JERSEY MIKE'S110 of 2—56
Cold Stone Creamery94 of 7——

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

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