How it worksAbout AndrewCommon SBA Q&AFor brokers & CPAs
Financing pathsMy deal is stuck or declinedGet a free second opinionSBA vs. conventionalBuy a businessCommercial real estateFranchise financingMedical & dental practicesSelf-storage & hospitality
Planning toolsAll planning tools
Model the deal01Business acquisition03Owner-used real estate05Cash injection06Scenario comparison09Payment stress test
Prepare the project027(a) vs. 50404Loan readiness07Application timeline08Document checklist10LOI financing preflight
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SBA financing for franchise owners

Open the franchise.
Fund the complete opening.

Organize the franchise fee, acquisition cost, buildout, equipment, opening inventory, working capital, borrower experience, and available cash into one financing conversation.

Get my free SBA game plan Check program direction
For new units, resales, and multi-unit expansion

What deserves attention

Finance the complete project—not a shorthand version.

01

Fund the full opening

A realistic project budget should reach beyond the franchise fee to include construction, equipment, professional costs, inventory, and operating cushion.

02

Separate brand from borrower

A recognized franchise system does not replace the need to review the borrower, location, project economics, and management plan.

03

Use supportable assumptions

Projections should be tied to the market, unit economics, franchisor information, and a reasonable ramp—not copied blindly from a best-case scenario.

Prepare the conversation

Start organizing the evidence.

These are practical starting items, not a complete lender document request. The exact list changes with the borrower, project, lender, and current program requirements.

Get my project checklist
  1. 01Franchise disclosure document and proposed agreement
  2. 02Complete project budget and opening timeline
  3. 03Location, lease, or acquisition information
  4. 04Buyer resume, liquidity, personal financial statement, and projections

Questions worth asking

Clear answers before assumptions.

Does the franchise brand guarantee financing?

No. The brand is only one part of the review. Lenders evaluate the borrower, project, economics, location, structure, and current program requirements.

Can working capital be included?

Eligible working capital may be part of a broader SBA 7(a) project when the amount and purpose are supported and approved.

Can a franchise resale be financed?

A resale may be evaluated as a business acquisition, including historical cash flow, purchase terms, buyer qualifications, and franchise requirements.

Make the next conversation more productive

Bring the project into focus.

Tell Andrew what you are trying to do and receive a plain-English first look with possible program direction, questions to review, and a project-specific starting checklist.

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