FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

RANKED · 306 BRANDS QUALIFY · SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT

Which franchises show the largest drop in distinct SBA lenders?

Ranked by the steepest drop in the number of distinct banks making SBA loans to the brand's franchisees — fiscal 2021-and-later approvals against 2016–2020. A drop can mean fewer franchise sales, buyers using conventional financing, a change in how the SBA codes the brand, or lender caution; this list does not tell you which.

Top 50Distinct lenders FY21+ vs FY16–20
#BrandDistinct lenders FY21+ vs FY16–20RecordSBA loans
1Freshii−96%1 lenders FY21+ vs 24 FY16–20 · 1 loans since FY202143
2SERVICEMASTER CLEAN−95%1 lenders FY21+ vs 20 FY16–20 · 1 loans since FY202184
3Planet Fitness−95%1 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY2021173
4I LOVE KICKBOXING−93%2 lenders FY21+ vs 30 FY16–20 · 2 loans since FY2021119
5Bishops−93%1 lenders FY21+ vs 14 FY16–20 · 1 loans since FY202140
6Which Wich−93%3 lenders FY21+ vs 40 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY2021204
7Experimac−90%1 lenders FY21+ vs 10 FY16–20 · 2 loans since FY202182
8Valvoline Instant Oil Change−89%1 lenders FY21+ vs 9 FY16–20 · 3 loans since FY202196
9Pinot's Palette−87%2 lenders FY21+ vs 15 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY202149
10UFC GYM−85%2 lenders FY21+ vs 13 FY16–20 · 3 loans since FY202131
11Zoup−85%2 lenders FY21+ vs 13 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY202196
12Honest-1−84%3 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 3 loans since FY202185
13Orange Leaf−84%3 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY2021106
14Tutor Doctor−80%2 lenders FY21+ vs 10 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY202184
159ROUND−79%8 lenders FY21+ vs 38 FY16–20 · 10 loans since FY2021118
16PITA PIT−79%4 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 7 loans since FY2021161
17Knights Inn−76%8 lenders FY21+ vs 34 FY16–20 · 12 loans since FY2021203
18Painting With a Twist−76%5 lenders FY21+ vs 21 FY16–20 · 12 loans since FY202168
19Holiday Inn−76%9 lenders FY21+ vs 37 FY16–20 · 31 loans since FY2021494
20SMARTSTYLE−75%4 lenders FY21+ vs 16 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY202175
21GOLD'S GYM−75%3 lenders FY21+ vs 12 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY2021245
22Buffalo Wings & Rings−75%2 lenders FY21+ vs 8 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY202173
23Fantastic Sams−73%7 lenders FY21+ vs 26 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY2021539
24TITLE BOXING CLUB−73%7 lenders FY21+ vs 26 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY202199
25WINGS ETC.−73%3 lenders FY21+ vs 11 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY202173
26H&R Block−71%10 lenders FY21+ vs 35 FY16–20 · 16 loans since FY2021150
27Yogurtland−71%5 lenders FY21+ vs 17 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY202182
28MASSAGE ENVY−70%15 lenders FY21+ vs 50 FY16–20 · 20 loans since FY2021598
29COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL−70%3 lenders FY21+ vs 10 FY16–20 · 3 loans since FY202133
30FARRELL'S EXTREME BODYSHAPING−70%3 lenders FY21+ vs 10 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY202128
31Century 21−68%6 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 14 loans since FY2021212
32Retrofitness−68%6 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY2021129
33Hawthorne Suites Franchising−67%4 lenders FY21+ vs 12 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY202170
34SUPERCUTS−64%13 lenders FY21+ vs 36 FY16–20 · 19 loans since FY2021287
35Frenchies−64%4 lenders FY21+ vs 11 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY202134
36Mellow Mushroom−63%7 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 13 loans since FY2021203
37Dickey'S Barbeque−62%20 lenders FY21+ vs 53 FY16–20 · 62 loans since FY2021403
38Howard Johnson−61%9 lenders FY21+ vs 23 FY16–20 · 12 loans since FY2021353
39MENCHIE'S−58%15 lenders FY21+ vs 36 FY16–20 · 40 loans since FY2021267
40Advantaclean−58%5 lenders FY21+ vs 12 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY202160
41Fitness Together−57%6 lenders FY21+ vs 14 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY2021140
42Row House−56%7 lenders FY21+ vs 16 FY16–20 · 10 loans since FY202155
43Healthsource Chiropractic−56%11 lenders FY21+ vs 25 FY16–20 · 32 loans since FY2021126
44Hardware Hank−56%4 lenders FY21+ vs 9 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY2021103
45HUDDLE HOUSE−56%4 lenders FY21+ vs 9 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY2021138
46Red Carpet Inn−56%4 lenders FY21+ vs 9 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY202165
47Kids R Kids−55%10 lenders FY21+ vs 22 FY16–20 · 28 loans since FY2021331
48Padgett Business Service−55%5 lenders FY21+ vs 11 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY202165
49Orangetheory−54%27 lenders FY21+ vs 59 FY16–20 · 61 loans since FY2021465
50Snap Fitness−54%22 lenders FY21+ vs 48 FY16–20 · 35 loans since FY2021327
No SBA loans at all since FY202114 brands · not ranked

These brands had at least 8 distinct SBA lenders in FY2016–2020 and no SBA loans recorded since. Check whether the SBA now codes the brand under a new name before reading anything into it. Marked ✓ where we hold a current FDD showing franchised units still operating.

Methodology & sourcing

For each brand we count distinct lending banks in two windows — fiscal 2016–2020 and fiscal 2021 to present — from the SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files, and rank by the largest proportional decline. Brands need at least 8 distinct lenders in the earlier window. Brands with NO SBA loans at all since FY2021 are listed separately below the ranking rather than hidden: a drop to zero is as often a renamed or recoded SBA franchise entry as lenders leaving, so it can't be ranked against a measured decline. Brands whose lender counts and loan counts disagree (lenders recorded as zero while loans exist — a sign two SBA name records were merged) are left out. Fuel supply contracts, insurance agencies and similar non-franchise SBA codes are excluded.

Universe: every franchise brand matched in the U.S. Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 loan FOIA files, fiscal 1991 to present, excluding SBA franchise codes that are not franchises a buyer can purchase (fuel supply contracts, insurance agencies, vehicle dealerships, direct selling) (data.sba.gov). This is federal public-record data about loans to franchisees — independent of anything the franchisor discloses. Brand links lead to the full sourced profile where one exists. See the site methodology for name-matching and cohort rules.

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