Franchise FAQ

can you get a small business loan for a franchise

by Alvina Wilkinson Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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What banks offer small business loans?

The Best Banks for SBA Loans

  1. Live Oak Bank. In 2020, Live Oak Bank took the #1 spot on the SBA’s list of the top SBA lenders in the country, lending a total of $369,181,900 ...
  2. Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo is another prolific SBA lender in the country, which is why they made our list of best banks for conventional loans and best banks for ...
  3. Huntington National Bank. ...
  4. Celtic Bank. ...

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What are the best long term loans for small business?

Top Long-Term Business Loans for 2021

  • Bank of America: Best for long-term business loans from a bank
  • Funding Circle: Best for fast, low-cost funding from an online lender
  • Fundation: Best for businesses with at least three employees and average credit
  • Opportunity Fund: Best for newer businesses, underserved business owners like women and minorities

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What's the best financing for small businesses?

How to Finance Your Small Business

  1. Bank loans. Start by looking into a bank business loan. ...
  2. Small Business Administration loans. Another option is a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan. ...
  3. Business line of credit. A business line of credit offers flexibility. ...
  4. Small business grants. ...
  5. Venture capital. ...
  6. Crowdfunding. ...
  7. Equipment financing. ...

How can small businesses qualify for a business loan?

  • Credit score: Your credit score is very valuable when applying for a loan. ...
  • Annual revenue: Most lenders will ask for your annual revenues before starting the loan application process.
  • Net operating income: To be confident you can repay on time, some lenders will go an extra mile to make sure your income is higher than your total expenses .

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Can you get a loan to franchise a business?

Franchise agreements require franchisees to pay certain costs, like advertising fees, a franchise fee, and royalties. While such costs might seem daunting, financing for franchises is available through commercial lenders, franchise financing companies, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

How do you qualify for a franchise loan?

How Do You Qualify for Franchise Financing?Acceptable personal credit history. Your personal credit score reflects whether you are reliable as a borrower. ... Required down payment. Almost any kind of SBA or conventional business loan will require a down payment.Financial information. ... Franchise information.

Is it easier to get a business loan for a franchise?

Franchise owners benefit from online franchise loans, which have less-strict borrower qualifications than traditional business or SBA loans and put the funds in your account a lot faster. Generally, online loans have higher rates than bank loans.

Are franchises eligible for SBA?

The Directory will only include business models that are reviewed and found eligible under SBA's affiliation rules and other eligibility criteria. If an applicant's brand meets the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) definition of a franchise, it must be in the Directory in order to obtain SBA financing.

Do SBA loans require a downpayment?

Do SBA loans require a downpayment? Yes, the minimum SBA loan down payment requirement is 10% on 7(a) and 504 loans and is based on a business's cash flow and collateral. Weak cash flow or low-value collateral can increase the down payment requirement to up to 30% of the loan amount.

What franchise is the most profitable?

Most Profitable FranchisesDunkin'7-Eleven.Planet Fitness.JAN-PRO.Taco Bell.Orangetheory Fitness.Great Clips.Mac Tools.More items...•

What is the cost of McDonald's franchise?

Documents- ID cards, lease documents, etc. Franchise Investment Cost- In India, if anyone wants to start a McDonald's franchise in India, then their net worth should be between INR 10 to 15 Crore. Also, assets worth INR 5 Crore should be in the form of cash or liquid assets.

How do you start a franchise?

How To Start a Franchise in 8 StepsResearch Franchises. You can find franchise opportunities on websites like Franchise Direct. ... Evaluate Opportunities. ... Evaluate Costs. ... Draft a Business Plan. ... Get the Franchise License Agreement. ... Form a Business Entity. ... Choose Your First Business Space. ... Hire Employees.

How do I get investors for my franchise?

Top 10 Funding Sources For Your Franchise Venture1: Franchisor Financing Options. ... 2: Conventional Banks And Credit Unions. ... 3: Small Business Administration. ... 4: Business Partners. ... 5: Home Equities. ... 6: Borrowing From Friends And Neighbors. ... 7: Retirement Plans. ... 8: Stock Assets.More items...•

How do franchises get funding?

The SBA 7(a) loan program is one of the most popular for franchise financing. This program offers up to $5 million, usually with 10-year repayment periods, however, loans for equipment may extend to 25 years (or useful life) and real estate loans may also extend repayment periods up to 25 years.

What does SBA approved franchise mean?

In a franchise situation, that means vetting the franchisee and franchise system itself. Franchises that have received SBA approval are declaring that they've gone through a formal process with the SBA pre-vetting itself for future loan applications.

How do you determine if a business is a franchise?

However, franchised businesses typically post signage in their stores and notes on their marketing materials (brochures, websites, vehicles, etc.) indicating that they are independently owned and operated.

How should a potential franchisee obtain funds to finance a franchise system that he she wants to enter?

For well-established franchise brands, banks that specialise in franchising will consider lending up to 70% of the total start-up costs including working capital. For newer, less established franchise brands the available finance from a lender maybe lower.

Does the franchisor offer any help with financing?

Another simple way your franchisor may be able to help you obtain financing is by providing a bank credit report to your lender. This document gives your lender basic information about the franchise in terms that banks traditionally understand, which can speed up the approval process.

How do I get investors for my franchise?

Top 10 Funding Sources For Your Franchise Venture1: Franchisor Financing Options. ... 2: Conventional Banks And Credit Unions. ... 3: Small Business Administration. ... 4: Business Partners. ... 5: Home Equities. ... 6: Borrowing From Friends And Neighbors. ... 7: Retirement Plans. ... 8: Stock Assets.More items...•

How do you start a franchise?

How To Start a Franchise in 8 StepsResearch Franchises. You can find franchise opportunities on websites like Franchise Direct. ... Evaluate Opportunities. ... Evaluate Costs. ... Draft a Business Plan. ... Get the Franchise License Agreement. ... Form a Business Entity. ... Choose Your First Business Space. ... Hire Employees.

How to apply for SBA loan as a franchise owner?

The steps for applying for an SBA loanare similar to any other applicant with one exception: You must first verify your franchise brand is eligible for SBA financing. Confirm your franchise is eligible for SBA financing.

How to determine if a franchise is eligible for financing?

Review the SBA franchise directoryon the SBA website to determine whether your franchise is eligible for financing. When SBA franchise lenders review your documents, they will also reference the directory to confirm your eligibility.

What to do if your brand is not listed in the franchise directory?

If a brand is not listed in the directory, consider asking the franchiser if they have plans to be listed. The directory is updated weekly and there are no application fees.

What happens if you fail to repay a loan?

Alternatively, you may need to secure the loan with collateral — if you fail to repay the loan, then the lender can exercise its right to seize the collateral to recoup its loss.

How long can a 7A loan be?

Terms for a 7(a) loan can extend up to 25 years but will vary depending on the franchisee’s intended use of the proceeds. Interest rates can be either fixed (up to 11.25%) or variable (up to 8%).

What is a 504 loan?

Unlike the general-purpose 7(a) loan, the 504/CDC loan program is for securing major fixed assets, such as machinery and equipment, and can be used for purchasing real estate and remodeling buildings, too. A restaurant franchise owner, for example, may use a 504 loanto purchase commercial kitchen equipment. The 504 loan’s maximum amount for the CDC portion is $5 million, with terms extending up to 25 years.

Does the SBA loan directly to franchise owners?

Keep in mind that the SBA does not issue loans directly to franchise owners — you’ll need to apply through SBA-approved lenders. The SBA’s Lender Match Toolcan help connect you with qualified lenders in your area.

Why is it important to register your business name as a trademark?

One of the most challenging aspects of every business is building a trusting relationship with the customers and maintaining a good reputation. That is why it is crucial to protect your business name, logo, and slogan legally by registering it as a trademark. DoNotPay is here to help you do that hassle-free with our Trademark Registration tool. Need help checking for trademark violations once you register? There is no need to fret as we have a tool that can help you with that as well!

How to secure a small business loan?

The reliable way to secure any type of small business loan is to ensure that you meet the requirements. Meeting the application requirements includes submitting all the required documentation— which varies from one lender to another. Failure to submit even one document can result in a loan denial.

How much does it cost to start a franchise?

Besides the typical startup costs, you must pay franchise fees—which can range anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000— and regular royalties. Luckily, small business loans for franchises can help you jump over these financial obstacles.

How long does it take to know if a loan has been approved?

It can take two to three months to know if your loan has been approved.

Is the SBA loan a good loan?

If you want a longer loan repayment term, lower interest rates, and flexibility of use, SBA loans might be a good choice for you. They can be used to purchase equipment, pay daily business expenses, and more.

Can franchises get SBA loans?

Although the SBA loans are not meant for franchises specifically, here are the two great options you can take advantage of:

Do franchisors provide financing?

Some franchisors provide direct financing options as an incentive for joining the business. You should find out if the brand you are interested in provides in-house financing. If they do, compare the requirements and terms with external options to determine the best one for your budget and other needs. You can also find out if the franchisor has lending partners that you can approach.

Should You Fund Your Franchise With an SBA Express Loan?

First, it’s important to note that borrowers usually cannot use SBA financing, such as the SBA Express loan, to pay their franchise fees. In general, a franchise/franchisee must already be approved by the franchisor (and have fully paid their fees) before securing SBA guaranteed funding.

How to check if a franchise is eligible for SBA loan?

The fastest and easiest way to see if your franchise is eligible for an SBA loan is to check the SBA Franchise Directory. This directory, provided by the Small Business Administration, lists the name of every franchise that is currently approved for SBA funding in the United States. To qualify, the management of a franchise must submit a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to the SBA, after which they will determine whether it meets the SBA’s requirements.

How long does it take to get a SBA loan?

If you meet the criteria, and can get approved, however, SBA Express loans can offer loan amounts of up to $350,000, and can be funded in as little as 30-45 days, making them an attractive loan option for many businesses.

What is a FDD for franchise?

To qualify, the management of a franchise must submit a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to the SBA, after which they will determine whether it meets the SBA’s requirements. In order to be eligible, franchisors must not exercise excessive, direct control over their franchisees, and must not take a significant share of their profits.

Is SBA 7 A competitive?

Highly competitive interest rates. However, SBA 7 (a) loans do take longer to fund than some other types of non-SBA loans, and, they may be more difficult to qualify for, especially for business owners who may not have a strong credit score.

Can franchises be approved by the SBA?

In many cases, the answer is yes. Hundreds of franchises are eligible for SBA financing, but they must be approved by the SBA first.

How long does Applepie loan last?

ApplePie offers both SBA loans and conventional loans with a five to ten year repayment period at fixed or variable interest rates, depending on the loan product. Read our post on SBA franchise loans to learn more about SBA-backed franchise loan options.

What is franchise financing?

The best loans for franchise financing can help you open a new franchise, buy an existing franchise, or secure working capital for your franchise. Franchise financing includes SBA loans, term loans, lines of credit, and more. The following loans are faster than a bank loan, and you can apply entirely online.

What is funding circle?

Funding Circle was established in 2010 when one of its founders started a gym franchise and realized how difficult it was to obtain funding. Today, Funding Circle has numerous franchise partners across the US, including Papa John’s, Pinkberry, Quiznos, and many others. This lender is also very flexible, offering various loan products through partnered lenders for franchises in different stages of growth. For qualified applicants, Funding Circle has the advantage of offering faster funding than a bank loan would, as well as having relatively low rates and fees.

What is a smartbiz loan?

SmartBiz is a viable online loan option for franchise owners who want the security and low-interest rates of an SBA-backed loan but with the ease and speed of an online loan. SmartBiz is the number one marketplace for SBA 7 (a) small business loans online. It offers online SBA loans up to $5 million for commercial real estate purchases, loans up to $350,000 for debt refinancing and business capital, and bank term loans up to $500,000. This lender is only an option for established franchises. You’ll need at least two years in business, a positive cash flow, and good personal credit.

What does it mean to be a franchise owner?

Becoming a franchise owner gives you the flexibility of owning a business with the added security of being part of an established brand. However, as with owning any new business, startup costs can be high, and you may require infusions of capital if you encounter hard times. Franchisees must also pay a franchise fee when opening a new franchise as ...

How long does it take to get a loan from Ondeck?

The entire process from starting your application to receiving your funds usually only takes a couple of days.

Why is it important to have a business plan?

Having a solid business plan in place shows potential lenders that you know what it takes to run a successful business and will improve the likelihood that your application will be approved. Having a plan is essential not just for your loan application package but also to inform your decisions as a business owner.

Best SBA franchise loan options

Essentially, your best SBA franchise loan is one of two options (or a combination, more on that later): An SBA 7 (a) loan, or an SBA CDC/504 loan.

Funding a franchise with an SBA 7 (a) loan

As Smith notes, SBA 7 (a) loans often make the most sense for opening and running franchises, because you can use those funds for almost anything you need to get your franchise going. Here are the details.

Common uses for SBA franchise loans

We've told you all about your SBA franchise loan options, but we haven't talked about exactly what you'll need that money for.

Alternatives to an SBA franchise loan

You likely won’t find a franchise loan with a higher capital amount, longer term, or lower interest rate than an SBA franchise loan. But it takes time, patience and dedication to gather together your SBA loan application and wait for approval—it can take weeks, or even months, to complete the entire SBA loan process.

The bottom line

Clearly, you can’t secure an SBA franchise loan unless you're qualified for one. But if you are, your franchise will benefit from one of the most generous business loans you'll find anywhere.

What type of loan is best for franchise?

So, which type of franchise loan is the best? While that answer varies depending on your situation, if you’re exploring opening your first franchise, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are a good choice. SBA loans are government-backed loans made by banks and non-bank lenders to those who may not qualify for a conventional loan. There are a few different options, but the Flagship SBA loans 7a gives the bank a 75% guarantee if your loan defaults, lessening risk to the lender.

How long is the SBA loan term?

SBA loans interest rates are statutorily capped at Wall Street Journal Prime 2.75%, for terms of 7 to 25 years, depending on the use of funds. BoeFly can help you decide what kind of business loan is right for your franchise and simplify the process of finding your franchise loan.

Why do entrepreneurs choose to invest in franchises?

One of the reasons entrepreneurs choose to invest in a franchise rather than open an independent business is because franchise brands tend to offer corporate support, training and branding.

Who is Skylar Blacknall?

Skylar Blacknall is a hardworking Texas Smoothie King general manager turned Franchise Owner who was featured on an episode of CBS’s popular reality show “Undercover Boss”. Smoothie King CEO Wan Kim was so impressed with Skylar’s passion and work ethic that he gave Skylar $75k towards opening his own Smoothie King franchise.

Does Boefly offer franchise loans?

Individual banks can appear like a worthy solution, but BoeFly is uniquely positioned to help franchise brand CEOs and Franchise Owners by creating lender competition for their business and delivering an array of funding options, pricing and terms.

Can you team up with Boefly?

When you team up with BoeFly, you can be confident that your application is filled out correctly and that the lender has all the information they need to offer you a loan. We’ll help you get set up with a lender that fits your needs so you can get started on your franchise with ease.

What is SBA 7A?

SBA 7 (a) loans: Best for a variety of franchise purposes, top alternative to traditional bank loans

What is the best loan for franchise?

Therefore, you’ll find that overall, the best franchise loans are SBA loans or loans from alternative lenders. With either of these options, you’ll find convenient and accessible financing, that you can use to support a number of different purchases within your franchise business operations.

What is the most popular SBA loan program?

To start, the SBA 7 (a) loan program is the most popular SBA loan program and a great option for franchise finance.

What is an ondeck loan?

OnDeck provides short-term loans and short-term business lines of credit for franchisees that need fast access to capital, but don’t have the highest credit scores or longest time in business.

What is the next franchise finance solution?

The next franchise finance solution you’ll want to consider is an SBA 504/CDC loan.

How long is a 504 loan?

SBA 504/CDC loans can range in amounts of up to $20 million, with terms from 10 to 25 years. In addition to their specific purpose, SBA 504 loans are also different from SBA 7 (a) loans in the way that they work. Whereas 7 (a) loans are provided by an SBA partner, most often a bank, there are three parties that contribute to 504 loans: a bank, a Certified Development Company (CDC), and the borrower.

What is Apple Pie Capital?

Apple Pie Capital works exclusively with franchise businesses to help them find the solution that’s right for their needs.

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