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FranchiseVerdict

SBA 7(a) franchise lending

Tennessee

TN

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Tile-grid map: TN highlighted. Tiles approximate geographic position; sizes are intentionally uniform so small states aren't hidden.
Total loans
2,221
Loan volume
$1.3B
Charge-off rate
17.3%
Jobs created
29,602

Defaults

245

Avg interest

7.39%

Job velocity

2.4

per $100K loaned

Franchises active

978

Highest charge-off rates in Tennessee

FranchiseLoansState %National %
Cold Stone Creamery, Inc.5charge-off rate: 100.0%33.9%
Matco Tools (rent Tools)16charge-off rate: 68.8%34.8%
Planet Beach5charge-off rate: 60.0%55.7%
Merle Norman Cosmetics5charge-off rate: 60.0%20.0%
Quiznos11charge-off rate: 45.5%28.1%
Econo Lodge Motel9charge-off rate: 44.4%10.7%
Pakmail Centers Of America5charge-off rate: 40.0%23.8%
Central Park Hamburgers5charge-off rate: 40.0%36.4%
Schlotzsky's Sandwich Shop16charge-off rate: 37.5%21.3%
Smoothie King (health Food Sto8charge-off rate: 37.5%19.2%

Lowest charge-off rates in Tennessee

FranchiseLoansDefault %
Days Inn10charge-off rate: 0.0%
Best Western Inn6charge-off rate: 0.0%
Sears Catalog Store5charge-off rate: 0.0%
Hampton Inns5charge-off rate: 0.0%
Great Clips7charge-off rate: 0.0%
Hobbytown Usa7charge-off rate: 0.0%
Super 8 Motel20charge-off rate: 0.0%
Comfort Inn6charge-off rate: 0.0%
Midas Muffler Shop5charge-off rate: 0.0%
Dunkin Donuts8charge-off rate: 0.0%

Industry performance (NAICS)

Industry (NAICS)LoansVolumeDefault %Risk
Hotels & Motels721110184$387.8Mcharge-off rate: 10.4%
Limited-Service Restaurants722513184$106.2Mcharge-off rate: 7.7%
Fitness & Recreational Sports713940147$56.3Mcharge-off rate: 12.7%
Limited-Service Restaurants722211137$37.2Mcharge-off rate: 23.5%
Snack & Beverage Bars72251560$39.6Mcharge-off rate: 18.8%
Full-Service Restaurants72251157$40.0Mcharge-off rate: 6.5%
Full-Service Restaurants72211048$20.1Mcharge-off rate: 29.8%
Other Personal Care Services81219946$21.5Mcharge-off rate: 26.7%
General Automotive Repair81111143$18.0Mcharge-off rate: 16.1%
Beauty Salons81211234$7.2Mcharge-off rate: 3.6%

Tennessee charge-off rate by loan vintage

BrandNational avg
Tennessee charge-off rate by loan vintage. Showing 34 vintages from 1992 to 2025. Rates range from 0.0% to 46.3%.0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%'92'97'02'07'12'17'22'25

Shaded area: recent vintages with few resolved loans; rates may change as loans mature.

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. Job velocity = jobs created per $100K loaned.

Frequently asked questions

How many SBA 7(a) franchise loans has Tennessee received?
2,221 loans totaling $1254.8M, with 245 charged off. The statewide charge-off rate is 17.3%.
What is a charge-off rate and how should I interpret it?
Charge-off rate = charge-offs / (charge-offs + paid-in-full). For SBA 7(a) franchise lending, the national average runs 5–8%. Rates materially above that suggest higher-risk franchise selection or weaker borrower vetting in this state.
Which franchise brands perform best and worst in Tennessee?
The “Highest charge-off rates” and “Lowest charge-off rates” tables above rank the franchise brands operating in Tennessee by their statewide loan performance. Click any brand for full FDD-disclosed financials and nationwide SBA history.
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.