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SBA 7(a) franchise lending portfolio
CRF Small Business Loan Company, LLC
AVERAGE risk
- Total loans
- 235
- Loan volume
- $80.9M
- Avg loan size
- $344K
- Charge-off rate
- 14.1%
- vs 15.4% national avg
Defaults
22
Avg interest
6.89%
Franchises funded
126
Risk rating
AVERAGE
Top franchise exposures
| Franchise | Loans | Volume | Default % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firehouse Subs | 17 | $4.5M | 6.7% (moderate risk) |
| Papa Murphy's | 15 | $3.2M | 8.3% (moderate risk) |
| Elements Therapeutic Massage | 14 | $2.9M | 7.7% (moderate risk) |
| Success On The Spectrum | 9 | $3.8M | N/A |
| Which Wich | 7 | $2.1M | 60.0% (very high risk) |
| Menchie's | 6 | $1.7M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| The Halal Guys | 5 | $2.8M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Beef Jerky Outlet Franchise | 5 | $826K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | 5 | $2.5M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Wayback Burgers | 4 | $570K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Lapels Dry Cleaning | 4 | $2.1M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Bright Star Healthcare/Brights | 3 | $675K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Meineke | 3 | $942K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
| Rosati's Pizza | 3 | $894K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Wingstop | 3 | $515K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Retro Fitness | 2 | $1.6M | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Philly Pretzel Factory | 2 | $756K | N/A |
| Jake's Wayback Burgers | 2 | $455K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| The Dog Stop | 2 | $285K | 0.0% (low risk) |
| Fastsigns | 2 | $423K | 100.0% (very high risk) |
Lending volume by year
4'12
22'13
37'14
39'15
22'16
27'17
11'18
10'19
18'20
7'21
8'22
7'23
10'24
12'25
1'26
CRF Small Business Loan Company, LLC charge-off rate by loan vintage
BrandNational avg
Geographic exposure
3419.2% (high risk)
2014.3% (elevated risk)
1925.0% (very high risk)
170.0% (low risk)
130.0% (low risk)
1220.0% (very high risk)
100.0% (low risk)
1028.6% (very high risk)
90.0% (low risk)
90.0% (low risk)
Portfolio summary
Total funded$80.9M
Defaults22 of 235
Risk tierAVERAGE
Avg rate6.89%
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 CRF Small Business Loan Company, LLC originated?
- 235 loans totaling $80.9M. The portfolio carries a 14.1% charge-off rate, earning a “AVERAGE” 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 CRF Small Business Loan Company, LLC fund the most?
- The “Top franchise exposures” table above lists the brands CRF Small Business Loan Company, 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.