FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

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

Matco Tools franchise in Virginia: what the public record shows

Franchisees of Matco Tools in Virginia have taken 12 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $75,750). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. Matco Tools's national ratio is 1.9×.

SBA loan outcomes · Virginiavs same-year franchise loans

Loans in VA

12

Charged off (all years)

1 of 10

Loss ratio in VA

—

Loss ratio nationally

1.9×

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.

Market density · Virginia vs nationalTypical density

Businesses in this industry

2,691

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

30.5

national 30.2

Versus the country

+1%

denser

Every business in Matco Tools's industry operating in Virginia — 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 · Virginia vs nationalTypical wages

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$1,011

Virginia, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$1,002

same industry, all states

Versus the country

+1%

costlier to staff

What Matco Tools's industry actually pays workers in Virginia, 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 Virginia12 systems
SystemLoans in VACharged off (all years)Loss ratio in VAUnits in VA
Meineke263 of 11——
All Tune and Lube212 of 11——
Aamco Transmissions196 of 11——
Midas Muffler Shop131 of 9——
Maaco111 of 10——
Texaco Service Station91 of 5——
Cottman Transmission71 of 7——
Exxon71 of 5——
LINE-X61 of 5—4
Mobil Oil (Stations)61 of 3——
Valvoline Instant Oil Change60 of 3——
Precision Tune Auto Care52 of 5—4

Other systems in Matco Tools'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.

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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 Matco Tools’ numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.

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

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