FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

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

Simple Simon'S Pizza franchise in Arkansas: what the public record shows

Franchisees of Simple Simon'S Pizza in Arkansas have taken 5 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $176,800). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. Simple Simon'S Pizza's national ratio is 1.0× (not clearly different from 1.0×).

SBA loan outcomes · Arkansasvs same-year franchise loans

Loans in AR

5

Charged off (all years)

0 of 2

Loss ratio in AR

—

Loss ratio nationally (not clear)

1.0×

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

Businesses in this industry

4,937

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

159.9

national 179.9

Versus the country

-11%

thinner

Every business in Simple Simon'S Pizza's industry operating in Arkansas — 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 · Arkansas vs nationalBelow-average wages

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$421

Arkansas, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$537

same industry, all states

Versus the country

-22%

cheaper to staff

What Simple Simon'S Pizza's industry actually pays workers in Arkansas, 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 Arkansas12 systems
SystemLoans in ARCharged off (all years)Loss ratio in ARUnits in AR
Subway342 of 310.3×NOT CLEAR240
Domino's Pizza151 of 13——
Firehouse Subs140 of 12—19
Quiznos100 of 8——
DAIRY QUEEN91 of 6——
Western Sizzlin Steak House80 of 8——
Jimmy John's70 of 5——
Tropical Smoothie Cafe70 of 7—32
Cicis Pizza60 of 5——
Daylight Donut Shop62 of 5——
JERSEY MIKE'S60 of 2—16
Smoothie King61 of 4——

Other systems in Simple Simon'S Pizza's sector whose franchisees borrowed in Arkansas. 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 Simple Simon'S Pizza’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.

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

Book a free 30-minute call →