BL
SBA 7(a) franchise lending portfolio
Business Lenders, LLC
CRITICAL risk
- Total loans
- 401
- Loan volume
- $115.1M
- Avg loan size
- $287K
- Charge-off rate
- 32.5%
- vs 15.4% national avg
Defaults
130
Avg interest
N/A
Franchises funded
111
Risk rating
CRITICAL
Top franchise exposures
| Franchise | Loans | Volume | Default % |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Store | 30 | $5.1M | 13.3% (elevated risk) |
| Lady Of America | 29 | $3.3M | 44.8% (very high risk) |
| Quiznos | 28 | $4.3M | 57.1% (very high risk) |
| The UPS Store | 27 | $4.1M | 7.4% (moderate risk) |
| Mail Boxes Etc. Usa | 23 | $3.4M | 4.3% (low risk) |
| United Check Cashing,inc. | 18 | $2.5M | 27.8% (very high risk) |
| Matco Tools (rent Tools) | 17 | $1.9M | 88.2% (very high risk) |
| Cottman Transmission | 17 | $2.5M | 35.3% (very high risk) |
| Petland | 12 | $8.8M | 66.7% (very high risk) |
| Cold Stone Creamery, Inc. | 10 | $3.6M | 20.0% (very high risk) |
| Alphagraphics, Printshops Of T | 9 | $3.7M | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Domino's Pizza | 8 | $772K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Subway Sandwich Shop | 7 | $1.5M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Days Inn | 7 | $8.1M | 42.9% (very high risk) |
| Merlin's Muffler | 7 | $1.7M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Travelodge | 6 | $5.8M | 16.7% (high risk) |
| Cash Converters | 5 | $680K | 20.0% (very high risk) |
| Interim Healthcare | 5 | $5.9M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Bassett's Original Turkey (res | 4 | $540K | 75.0% (very high risk) |
| King Bear Auto Service | 4 | $433K | 75.0% (very high risk) |
Lending volume by year
1'94
2'95
6'96
11'97
30'98
36'99
51'00
33'01
43'02
37'03
36'04
31'05
20'06
40'07
24'08
Business Lenders, LLC charge-off rate by loan vintage
BrandNational avg
Shaded area: recent vintages with few resolved loans; rates may change as loans mature.
Geographic exposure
3729.7% (very high risk)
3441.2% (very high risk)
3354.5% (very high risk)
3215.6% (high risk)
3259.4% (very high risk)
2714.8% (elevated risk)
2533.3% (very high risk)
2416.7% (high risk)
1711.8% (elevated risk)
1637.5% (very high risk)
Portfolio summary
Total funded$115.1M
Defaults130 of 401
Risk tierCRITICAL
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA loan-level data, aggregated by FranchiseVerdict
Charge-off rate = charge-offs / (charge-offs + paid-in-full). Active, exempt, and cancelled loans are excluded. Risk ratings: Excellent (<5%), Good (5-10%), Average (10-15%), Elevated (15-20%), High Risk (>20%).
Frequently asked questions
- How many SBA 7(a) franchise loans has Business Lenders, LLC originated?
- 401 loans totaling $115.1M. The portfolio carries a 32.5% charge-off rate, earning a “CRITICAL” risk rating.
- What is the charge-off rate and why does it matter?
- Charge-off rate = charge-offs / (charge-offs + paid-in-full). For SBA 7(a) franchise lending, the national average runs 5–8%. Portfolios materially above that signal either riskier franchise selection or weaker underwriting.
- Where does this lending data come from?
- SBA 7(a) loan records released under the Freedom of Information Act. Each record carries approval date, amount, lender, business type, NAICS code, location, and outcome. See methodology.
- Which franchise brands does Business Lenders, LLC fund the most?
- The “Top franchise exposures” table above lists the brands Business Lenders, LLC has the largest concentration in. Click any brand to see its full FDD-disclosed financials, growth trajectory, and SBA loan performance across all lenders.