SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · PUERTO RICO
Taco Maker franchise in Puerto Rico: what the public record shows
Franchisees of Taco Maker in Puerto Rico have taken 59 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $210,615). Those approved through FY2020 defaulted at a rate not clearly different from franchise loans made in the same years nationally: 10 charge-offs among 42 resolved loans, where about 7.5 would be expected (1.3×). Taco Maker's national ratio is 1.5× (not clearly different from 1.0×).
Loans in PR
59
Charged off (all years)
10 of 42
Loss ratio in PR (not clear)
1.3×
Loss ratio nationally (not clear)
1.5×
Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = PR. 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.
| System | Loans in PR | Charged off (all years) | Loss ratio in PR | Units in PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | 96 | 4 of 87 | 0.2× | 159 |
| Marco's Pizza | 34 | 0 of 12 | — | — |
| Quiznos | 29 | 4 of 20 | — | — |
| Carvel Ice Cream | 14 | 4 of 11 | — | — |
| Cold Stone Creamery | 10 | 0 of 8 | — | — |
| Blimpie | 7 | 3 of 6 | — | — |
| Arby's | 6 | — | — | — |
| Checkers Drive-in Restaurant | 5 | 0 of 5 | — | — |
Other systems in Taco Maker's sector whose franchisees borrowed in Puerto Rico. A loss ratio appears only where at least 30 loans approved through FY2020 have resolved; “—” means too few.
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 Taco Maker’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.