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.
| # | Brand | Distinct lenders FY21+ vs FY16–20 | Record | SBA loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshii | −96% | 1 lenders FY21+ vs 24 FY16–20 · 1 loans since FY2021 | 43 |
| 2 | SERVICEMASTER CLEAN | −95% | 1 lenders FY21+ vs 20 FY16–20 · 1 loans since FY2021 | 84 |
| 3 | Planet Fitness | −95% | 1 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY2021 | 173 |
| 4 | I LOVE KICKBOXING | −93% | 2 lenders FY21+ vs 30 FY16–20 · 2 loans since FY2021 | 119 |
| 5 | Bishops | −93% | 1 lenders FY21+ vs 14 FY16–20 · 1 loans since FY2021 | 40 |
| 6 | Which Wich | −93% | 3 lenders FY21+ vs 40 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY2021 | 204 |
| 7 | Experimac | −90% | 1 lenders FY21+ vs 10 FY16–20 · 2 loans since FY2021 | 82 |
| 8 | Valvoline Instant Oil Change | −89% | 1 lenders FY21+ vs 9 FY16–20 · 3 loans since FY2021 | 96 |
| 9 | Pinot's Palette | −87% | 2 lenders FY21+ vs 15 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY2021 | 49 |
| 10 | UFC GYM | −85% | 2 lenders FY21+ vs 13 FY16–20 · 3 loans since FY2021 | 31 |
| 11 | Zoup | −85% | 2 lenders FY21+ vs 13 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY2021 | 96 |
| 12 | Honest-1 | −84% | 3 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 3 loans since FY2021 | 85 |
| 13 | Orange Leaf | −84% | 3 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY2021 | 106 |
| 14 | Tutor Doctor | −80% | 2 lenders FY21+ vs 10 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY2021 | 84 |
| 15 | 9ROUND | −79% | 8 lenders FY21+ vs 38 FY16–20 · 10 loans since FY2021 | 118 |
| 16 | PITA PIT | −79% | 4 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 7 loans since FY2021 | 161 |
| 17 | Knights Inn | −76% | 8 lenders FY21+ vs 34 FY16–20 · 12 loans since FY2021 | 203 |
| 18 | Painting With a Twist | −76% | 5 lenders FY21+ vs 21 FY16–20 · 12 loans since FY2021 | 68 |
| 19 | Holiday Inn | −76% | 9 lenders FY21+ vs 37 FY16–20 · 31 loans since FY2021 | 494 |
| 20 | SMARTSTYLE | −75% | 4 lenders FY21+ vs 16 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY2021 | 75 |
| 21 | GOLD'S GYM | −75% | 3 lenders FY21+ vs 12 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY2021 | 245 |
| 22 | Buffalo Wings & Rings | −75% | 2 lenders FY21+ vs 8 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY2021 | 73 |
| 23 | Fantastic Sams | −73% | 7 lenders FY21+ vs 26 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY2021 | 539 |
| 24 | TITLE BOXING CLUB | −73% | 7 lenders FY21+ vs 26 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY2021 | 99 |
| 25 | WINGS ETC. | −73% | 3 lenders FY21+ vs 11 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY2021 | 73 |
| 26 | H&R Block | −71% | 10 lenders FY21+ vs 35 FY16–20 · 16 loans since FY2021 | 150 |
| 27 | Yogurtland | −71% | 5 lenders FY21+ vs 17 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY2021 | 82 |
| 28 | MASSAGE ENVY | −70% | 15 lenders FY21+ vs 50 FY16–20 · 20 loans since FY2021 | 598 |
| 29 | COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL | −70% | 3 lenders FY21+ vs 10 FY16–20 · 3 loans since FY2021 | 33 |
| 30 | FARRELL'S EXTREME BODYSHAPING | −70% | 3 lenders FY21+ vs 10 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY2021 | 28 |
| 31 | Century 21 | −68% | 6 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 14 loans since FY2021 | 212 |
| 32 | Retrofitness | −68% | 6 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY2021 | 129 |
| 33 | Hawthorne Suites Franchising | −67% | 4 lenders FY21+ vs 12 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY2021 | 70 |
| 34 | SUPERCUTS | −64% | 13 lenders FY21+ vs 36 FY16–20 · 19 loans since FY2021 | 287 |
| 35 | Frenchies | −64% | 4 lenders FY21+ vs 11 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY2021 | 34 |
| 36 | Mellow Mushroom | −63% | 7 lenders FY21+ vs 19 FY16–20 · 13 loans since FY2021 | 203 |
| 37 | Dickey'S Barbeque | −62% | 20 lenders FY21+ vs 53 FY16–20 · 62 loans since FY2021 | 403 |
| 38 | Howard Johnson | −61% | 9 lenders FY21+ vs 23 FY16–20 · 12 loans since FY2021 | 353 |
| 39 | MENCHIE'S | −58% | 15 lenders FY21+ vs 36 FY16–20 · 40 loans since FY2021 | 267 |
| 40 | Advantaclean | −58% | 5 lenders FY21+ vs 12 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY2021 | 60 |
| 41 | Fitness Together | −57% | 6 lenders FY21+ vs 14 FY16–20 · 8 loans since FY2021 | 140 |
| 42 | Row House | −56% | 7 lenders FY21+ vs 16 FY16–20 · 10 loans since FY2021 | 55 |
| 43 | Healthsource Chiropractic | −56% | 11 lenders FY21+ vs 25 FY16–20 · 32 loans since FY2021 | 126 |
| 44 | Hardware Hank | −56% | 4 lenders FY21+ vs 9 FY16–20 · 4 loans since FY2021 | 103 |
| 45 | HUDDLE HOUSE | −56% | 4 lenders FY21+ vs 9 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY2021 | 138 |
| 46 | Red Carpet Inn | −56% | 4 lenders FY21+ vs 9 FY16–20 · 5 loans since FY2021 | 65 |
| 47 | Kids R Kids | −55% | 10 lenders FY21+ vs 22 FY16–20 · 28 loans since FY2021 | 331 |
| 48 | Padgett Business Service | −55% | 5 lenders FY21+ vs 11 FY16–20 · 9 loans since FY2021 | 65 |
| 49 | Orangetheory | −54% | 27 lenders FY21+ vs 59 FY16–20 · 61 loans since FY2021 | 465 |
| 50 | Snap Fitness | −54% | 22 lenders FY21+ vs 48 FY16–20 · 35 loans since FY2021 | 327 |
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.
- Comfort/ Comfort Inn & Suites/ Comfort Suites — 55 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018
- Burgerim — 51 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2020
- Bright Star Healthcare/Brightstar — 22 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018
- True Value Hardware — 16 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018
- Elements Therapeutic Massage — 15 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018
- Complete Nutrition — 13 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018
- Doctors Express — 12 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018
- Mathnasium Centers — 11 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018 · ✓ current FDD, units operating
- WE ROCK THE SPECTRUM KID'S GYM FOR ALL KIDS — 11 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2017 · ✓ current FDD, units operating
- Baja Fresh Mexican Grill — 10 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2020
- General Nutrition Center — 10 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018
- Napa Auto Parts — 10 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2017
- 18/8 Fine Men'S Salons — 8 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018
- Philly Soft Pretzel Factory — 8 lenders FY16–20 · last SBA loan FY2018
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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