FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

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

Meineke franchise in Tennessee: what the public record shows

Franchisees of Meineke in Tennessee have taken 17 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $212,126). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. Meineke's national ratio is 1.5×.

SBA loan outcomes · Tennesseevs same-year franchise loans

Loans in TN

17

Charged off (all years)

4 of 15

Loss ratio in TN

—

Loss ratio nationally

1.5×

Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = TN. 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 · Tennessee vs nationalThin market

Businesses in this industry

1,645

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

22.8

national 30.2

Versus the country

-25%

thinner

Every business in Meineke's industry operating in Tennessee — 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 · Tennessee vs nationalTypical wages

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$1,036

Tennessee, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$1,002

same industry, all states

Versus the country

+3%

costlier to staff

What Meineke's industry actually pays workers in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee9 systems
SystemLoans in TNCharged off (all years)Loss ratio in TNUnits in TN
Matco Tools1811 of 16——
Christian Brothers Automotive150 of 10——
Midas Muffler Shop100 of 5——
All Tune and Lube81 of 6——
Exxon80 of 3——
Maaco81 of 7——
Milex/ Mr. Transmission83 of 7——
Aamco Transmissions60 of 2——
Amoco (Gas Station)51 of 2——

Other systems in Meineke's sector whose franchisees borrowed in Tennessee. 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 Meineke’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.

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

Book a free 30-minute call →