SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · NEW JERSEY
THE MELTING POT franchise in New Jersey: what the public record shows
Franchisees of THE MELTING POT in New Jersey have taken 8 SBA loans since 1991 (average $1,231,125)— too few resolved loans in-state to publish a local failure rate (we require a resolved cohort, never extrapolate), so the brand's national rate of 27.2% is the better guide. Its latest FDD Item 20 state table reports 1 franchised outlets in New Jersey (fiscal 2026) — about 0.01 per 100k residents.
Loans in NJ
8
Resolved
8
Local charge-off
thin
National charge-off
27.2%
Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = NJ. Charge-off rate = charged-off ÷ (charged-off + paid-in-full); open loans excluded. A local rate is published only when the resolved cohort clears our floor of 30 loans.
| Fiscal year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 | 1 |
| System | Loans in NJ | Local charge-off | Units in NJ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | 188 | 17.1% | 140 |
| Matco Tools | 32 | 21.9% | — |
| DAIRY QUEEN | 28 | 15.0% | — |
| EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS | 26 | 14.3% | 43 |
| Fastsigns | 19 | 8.3% | — |
| Alphagraphics, Printshops of the Futu | 14 | 9.1% | — |
| Sir Speedy Printing | 14 | thin | 4 |
| MASSAGE ENVY | 13 | 9.1% | 38 |
| CODE NINJAS | 11 | thin | 17 |
| JERSEY MIKE'S | 11 | thin | 140 |
| Budget Blinds | 10 | thin | — |
| Firehouse Subs | 10 | thin | 6 |
Same sector, same state, same public records — how THE MELTING POT compares to the systems a buyer in New Jersey would actually be choosing between. Local rates under 10 resolved loans are marked thin, not hidden.
A broker is paid by the franchisor to place you. An independent CPA is paid by you — and the job is pressure-testing THE MELTING POT's numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.
Talk to an independent CPA before you buy →